The Christmas tree as a symbol of ….
Probably everybody decorates a Christmas tree every year during Christmas season. However, are you aware of why we do that every year? Is there a deeper meaning of it or is it just a nice tradition that makes our houses beautiful?
It’s difficult to say exactly when and where it started. Several countries claim to be the birthplace of the Christmas tree. But while Christmas trees appear around the world, their origins are traced to regions with huge areas of evergreen forests—especially those in northern Europe. Here’s a quick look at how the Christmas tree evolved into a modern icon—and inspired new customs along the way.
The oldest references to a decorated tree for Christmas come from Alsace. They mention conifer trees decorated with heavenly apples, walnuts and paper ornaments. These sources come mainly from 15th and 16th century church sermons. That custom was criticized as a pagan. Despite this, decorating trees during the Christmas holidays was gaining popularity. A great supporter of this custom was Martin Luther, who recommended spending holidays in the privacy of your home. So Christmas trees quickly became popular in Protestant Germany. The oldest evidence to this tradition is an engraving by Łukasz Cranach the Elder from 1509. It shows a Christmas tree decorated with candles, which depicted the heavenly tree of life. It was also supposed to bring hope and symbolize a new, reborn life. The clergy began to encourage people to put green trees in their homes and decorate them to celebrate Christmas.
In the XIX century, the Christmas tree became popular in England and France, and then in the countries of Southern Europe. It travelled to England with the German husband of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert Sachsen-Coburg-Goth and today is the most recognized symbol of Christmas in Europe. Emigrants from Germany also popularized Christmas trees in the United States, although at first Americans found the custom of decorating trees bizarre. In the 1890s, however, the popularity of Christmas trees grew there, too.
Decorations such as apples reminded of original sin, and were also a symbol of fertility. There were also candles, a symbol of the Light of the world, that is Christ. Lighting the Christmas tree prevented the access of evil powers. Different decorations were hung on the trees depending on the region. In addition to apples, there were nuts, cookies, dried fruit and hand-made decorations produced of straw and paper. Bells signified good news and joyful events. At the top of the tree, there was a star of Bethlehem - a sign of Christ's birth, which was believed to help people return home from distant places. Christmas balls appeared much later. They were made of thin glass. The beginnings of their production date back to 1847. Nowadays, depending on the country, Christmas trees are decorated differently - with baubles, candies, paper decorations (as before), silver and gold angel hair. Traditionally, whole families are busy to do their best to make their tree look gorgeous in this magic time.
Karina Sępoch
Praca anglojęzyczna powstała pod kierunkiem prof. Kingi Samólnik
The Christmastreeis one of the most beautifultrees , whichispresentathome in theChristmastimeloved by everyone. It shinesbright and makesanatmosphere of warmth and love and understanding. It also brings great joy during decorating and makes the whole family involved in the activity. However, itisgood to know more about this tree.
In manycountries, the coniferoustree was considered a symbol of life and rebirth. It isknown to everyone as the Christmas tree, but in factit has appeared much earlier as the "paradisetree of the knowledge of” good and evil". What’s more , the whole tradition of Christmas trees was bornalready in Alsace where coniferous trees were decorated with paperornaments and apples, which referred to the paradisetree. The custom of decorating a evergreen tree was adopted by the church and spread first in Northern and Central Europe and later in many other countries. This way, the Christmas tree became a symbol of Christmas.
But how did it happen that the Christmas tree ended up in the house? Well, the villagers used to cut down a Christmas tree from the forest, on Christmas Eve in the morning, which was formerly considered a different world. In thisway, the tree was believed to bring good luck to the people of the house.
We all love to decorate the Christmas tree, choose the decorations, but did you know that the ornaments that are hung on the Christmas tree have some secret meaning? For example, the star of Bethlehem means coming home from distant places. The lights of the Christmas tree were to defend home against the evil powers but also the glow that the Christmas tree symbolize Jesus Christ, who was the light for pagans. Angels were to take care of the house, and mistletoe was to keep peace among people . In Christianity, the whole tree has become a symbol of Christ as the source of life. An interesting fact is that in some regions of Poland Christmas trees were hung under the ceiling, upside down as in the photo.
Amanda Bacher
Praca anglojęzyczna powstała pod kierunkiem prof. Kingi Samólnik
Źródła:
