Decorating fir tree on Christmas
Christmas is still a month away but with preparations going on, you can feel the festive mood in the air. Since it is a long vacation time in western countries, people plan in detail to maximize their time. Christmas is the biggest festival of Christians, so it requires grand preparations; cakes, pastries, cookies along with fun and frolic. Celebrating Christmas remains incomplete without decorating a fir tree. Why only fir tree there are many tales interpreting reasons behind it.
Fir as the Tree of Life
Among many legends about this tree, the most common is the story of Saint Boniface. It is said that while roaming around France and Germany, Saint Boniface came upon a group of pagans. Standing close to an oak tree, they were to sacrifice a small child to God In his attempt to save the child, Saint Boniface gave a might blow to the tree. While the oak tree fell down, but a small fir tree grew from that spot. That fir tree was told to be the Tree of Life and stood for the eternal life of Christ. Since then, fir tree has become synonymous with X-mas tree and been decorated to mark Christmas Day. People in Germany plant fir saplings on this occasion.
The legend of Martin Luther
As per a legend, Martin Luther who founded the Protestant faith was once walking through forest on a Christmas Eve. Suddenly he was taken aback by a beautiful sight when he visualized millions of stars glimmering through the branches of the evergreen trees. To preserve that moment in his memory he cut a branch and brought to his home. Later he lighted candles on its braches to recreate that same starlight beauty. That is why people hang star on fir tree and light candles around.
Fir tree as reward for the charity
As per another legend, a poor woodsman, while returning home met a hungry child who was lost in the woods. Since it was a Christmas Eve, the woodsman took the boy home and fed him as good as he could. When the woodsman woke up the next morning, he saw a glittering tree in his courtyard. It is said that Lord Jesus himself disguised as child and then blessed the woodsman for his good deeds.
Resources:
www.christmas-day.org/christmas-tree-legends.html
View More Christmas Gift Ideas
View More Gift Ideas
>> Go to Christmas Day Gifts
PerfectGiftChoices.com © 2008