I know this is a stupid question, but why do we put trees up for Christmas?

Question

I've always wondered this and would love to know! ♥

Answer 1

Patron trees (for example, the Irminsul, Thor's Oak and the figurative Yggdrasil) held special significance for the ancient Germanic tribes, appearing throughout historic accounts as sacred symbols and objects. Among early Germanic tribes the Yule tradition was celebrated by sacrificing male animals and slaves by suspending them on the branches of trees.

According to Adam of Bremen, in Scandinavia the pagan kings sacrificed nine males of each species at the sacred groves every ninth year. According to one legend, Saint Boniface attempted to introduce the idea of trinity to the pagan tribes using the cone-shaped evergreen trees because of their triangular appearance.


Dionysus in his Triumphant Return; behind the god, Victoria holds an evergreen.The Christmas tree is often explained as a Christianization of the ancient pagan idea that the evergreen tree represents a celebration of the renewal of life.[citation needed]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_trees

Answer 2

Not a stupid question at all. The Christmas tree, (and it is that, not a "Holiday Tree,") has many stories, and I suspect they are mostly accurate. By the way, I am Native American and non religious, but I have no problem with Christian holidays. Part of the USA heritage. However, I am repelled with the commercialization of a religious holiday. Most people pay only lip service to the first of the two most important events in their religion. If your are not going to celebrate it as a religious holiday, then don't call it Christmas.
So, one story is that Saint Francis, who loved animals and nature, was walking in the forest one night and was so fascinanted by the stars shining through the trees he went back to his home, cut a small tree, brought it inside and set candles on the branchs to simulate the stars. Charming story.
More likely is the European habit of bringing sweet smelling herbs and branches inside the home during the winter months to freshen the air. Remember, this custom dates back several hundred years, and life was much different. No hot showers or tubs. No washing machines and you only had a couple set so clothes. Homes were closed against the fierce cold and heated by smokey coal and peat, so they were pretty stinky. The Yule Log was a large cut of wood that burned with a pleasing scent and it was saved for the Christmas celebration. In Nordic homes, beds were often lined with tree branchs as a mattress. No innerspring or air mattresses back then. Many pine and cedar trees repelled insects, so it helped with the bed bugs. It was also the only greenry available to decorate with for the most important winter holiday. Small trees were a promise of the coming spring, which in turn was symbolic of Christ's promise of salvation. The damned in old Europe were faced with an eternity of ice and cold, instead of fire in Hell.
Northeastern USA homes often have a few branches of herbs tied into a bundle and hung on the wall for a natural air fresher during the winter. Much nicer to our noses than chemical sprays. And when they are dusty and dried up you just toss them on the compost pile. No cans to recycle. By the way, if you are headachey this winter, get rid of your air freshners. They are bad news.
So the wreath or garland you hang in your home was originally a way to make the place smell better.
The Christmas tree, instead of being a monument to Chinese made ornaments (and Chinese are not Christians, so don't expect them to make you Nativity scene figures look like the icons in your church) is a lovely green in the snowy world of Europe, so it became representative of the hope of life after death. The early settlers in American brought a lot of traditions with them. Many Christian symbols share a past with pagen icons. The actual birth of Christ was probably not near the Winter Solstice, but in the spring or summer. We really don't know. The early Catholic chuch determined many of the holy dates of Christianity and even set up a calender. That's fine.
Just don't be a hypocrite. If it's a religious holy day, fine. If it's a winter holiday, Ok. What ever you celebrate, a wreath of fresh pine or fir will freshen your home and remind you that no winter lasts forever. Spring is coming.

Answer 3

that is easy it is a left over of a pagan phalic cult who worshipped of the golden penis of horus,the tree was symbolic
,there was also a Roman tree worshipping cult ,but they are related concepts

and father Christmans(old Santi Claus)was related to a mushroom cult in lapland ,
the Amanita Muscara ,the Laplanders used to follow the reindeer that ate the mushrooms ,and when they urinated they caught the golden liquid in a bucket and drank it
this made the people have out of body experiences which started by loss of feeling from the feet upwards ,and one tohought hat one was weightless .
many laplanders ended up in the chimneys
trying to get to the roof
hence the chimney bit for santa and the flying reindeer.

all of this is not a joke ,it is absolutely true ,but you can imagine why mammies did not tell their babies these things ,and still dont.

Most of Christianity comes from deviated or disguished Pagan worship.

Answer 4

For the festival atmosphere and to liven up the mood. Not everyone have a garden to grow trees in, especially Christmas tree. Most of us like in apartments.

Answer 5

Its a tradition that plays with evergreens. As you can imagine some people never watered their evergreen and had a combustible death trap. A pine wreath on the door makes more sense because taking branches off a living tree won't kill it.

Answer 6

Someone went to Germany, from Devon to tell people about God. (I think he was a monk, or a priest)
Apparently he used a tree, because of its triangular shape to explain about God, Trinity etc.
Then the germans called it the "god tree" and eventually it became a sign of christianity.
It all started from there, and developed into a world wide thing.

Answer 7

We stole it from the Germans who used to put up "winter trees".

Answer 8

are you high right now??? just curious.

well I think it's beacause of tradition, to put the gifts under it., it sets people in the xmasey mood, it looks beautiful.

It's just tradition all over the world. that's all I gotta say. i've grown to always put one up during xmas time. Other wise it's not xmas.

Answer 9

to celebration Jesus birthday he was born at midnight on DEC 24 and 25 it was a special give to think what Jesus do four us.

Answer 10

Not sure think it's something to do with the country Norway...but not sure why or how