Best-Selling Author Marlow Kelly
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Why We have a Christmas Tree at Christmas

12/8/2015

 
Stonehenge at the Winter SolsticeStonehenge photo attribution: By Mark Grant
​For Christmas 2013 I wrote a post entitled Merry Christmas or a Happy Winter Solstice where I explored the fact that people of the northern hemisphere have celebrated the winter solstice for millennia. Then for Christmas 2014 I wrote about Oliver Cromwell, The Man Who Banned Christmas whose attempt to ban Christmas was doomed to fail.
Why?
Because I believe when the world is at it’s darkest we need to celebrate the light, and what better way to do that than with family, friends, good food and presents. But lets look at the trappings of our traditional Christmas. Where did they come from? Especially that icon of the season, the Christmas tree.

St. Boniface and the Christmas TreeSt Boniface Bernhard Rode
​St. Boniface is believed to be responsible for putting the Christmas tree into Christmas. He was an eighth century missionary sent to convert the Germanic tribes to Christianity. He came upon a human sacrifice at the foot of an oak. He chopped down the tree and pointing to an evergreen said,
“This humble tree's wood is used to build your homes: let Christ be at the center of your households. Its leaves remain evergreen in the darkest days: let Christ be your constant light. Its boughs reach out to embrace and its top points to heaven: let Christ be your comfort and guide.”
And so the tradition of using a fir tree to celebrate Christ’s birth was born. It wasn’t until German settlers came to the United States that the idea of a Christmas tree began to spread outside of Germany.
Although we know that Pennsylvania German settlements had trees as early as 1747 they were still seen by some as a pagan tradition well into the 19th century.
So what changed?

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert celebrating ChristmasThe royal family celebrating Christmas.
​Queen Victoria’s German consort, Prince Albert, brought his Christmas traditions with him to Windsor Castle. In the 1840's illustrations of the royals celebrating around a Christmas tree were published worldwide And let’s face it, if it’s good enough for the royal family it must be good enough for the rest of us. And so the modern tradition of the Christmas tree was born.


I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a very happy holiday.
​
Please visit my fellow authors listed below. I believe that some stops are offering prizes.

Trans Canada Romance Writers
Tuesday, December 8, 2015 TransCRW Christmas Blog Tour

Krista Ames - www.kristaames.com 
Annette Bower - http://annettebower.com/blog/
Denyse Bridger - www.fantasypages.ca 
Linda Carroll-Bradd - http://blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com
Stacy Dawn - www.writerknapsack.blogspot.com
Darlene Fredette - http://www.findingthewritewords.blogspot.ca/
Lori Power – http://www.loripowerwriter.com/words--more
Gini Rifkin - http://ginirifkin.blogspot.com/
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Krista Ames - www.apassionforromance.blogspot.com
Picture
Annette Bower link
12/8/2015 06:20:16 am

Good morning Marlow,
Thank you for sharing your knowledge about how the tree came to be a standard symbol of Christmas.
Happy holiday to you and your family.

Marlow
12/9/2015 10:40:31 am

Thanks for stopping by Annette

Darlene
12/8/2015 08:29:34 am

Great post, Marlow! Love learning the history Christmas traditions.

Marlow
12/9/2015 10:40:55 am

Thanks Darlene

Gini Rifkin link
12/8/2015 10:11:11 am

So many wonderful stories, myths, and legends woven around this delightful season. That was a very interesting post, and not information I'd heard before. Happy Holidays to you as well.

Marlow
12/9/2015 10:41:54 am

Thanks Gini, I love all the myths and legends too. They add a touch of magic to the season.

Stacy D. Holmes link
12/8/2015 11:33:05 am

I love the history of traditions!

Marlow
12/9/2015 10:42:22 am

Me too stacy

Mary Gillgannon link
12/9/2015 07:28:17 am

Great post! I love Christmas trees and will insist on having a real one until I die, no matter how much work it is.

Marlow
12/9/2015 10:39:51 am

Thanks Mary. We always have real Christmas tree too. It just wouldn't be the same without one.


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“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”
—Ernest Hemingway
Photos used under Creative Commons from mararie, libertygrace0, Renaud Camus, David Holt London
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