2006-12-21 15:27:44 · 8 answers · asked by lauren 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
it started in Germany to celebrate life in the winter
2006-12-21 15:29:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the 7th century a monk from Crediton, Devonshire, went to Germany to teach the Word of God. He did many good works there, and spent much time in Thuringia, an area which was to become the cradle of the Christmas Decoration Industry.
Legend has it that he used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2006-12-21 15:42:51 · answer #2 · answered by Gnome 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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. In Roman mosaics from what is today Tunisia, showing the mythic triumphant return from India of the Greek god of wine and male fertility, Dionysus (dubbed by some modern scholars as a life-death-rebirth deity), the god carries a tapering coniferous tree. Medieval legends, nevertheless, tended to concentrate more on the miraculous "flowering" of trees at Christmas time. A branch of flowering Glastonbury thorn is still sent annually for the Queen's Christmas table in the United Kingdom.
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.
2006-12-21 17:44:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it stays green throughout the winter, an evergreen tree symbolizes life and hope, that spring will come again, and so on.
2006-12-21 15:40:26 · answer #4 · answered by mom of 2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tradition. Check out history too! This one u can look up on the net and read about! http://www.christmas-tree.com/where.html
2006-12-21 15:31:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it was pagan practice at first. But, hey I'm not a expert! lol
2006-12-21 15:31:27 · answer #6 · answered by Edsmack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We put one in our house because my husband does it. If he didn't, we wouldn't have one because I'm not that interested.
2006-12-21 15:36:19 · answer #7 · answered by No Shortage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all i know is that the germans started it
2006-12-21 15:30:16 · answer #8 · answered by kate315109 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋