There are numerous legends associated with the
Christmas tree and how it came to be associated with Christmas. As per
one legend, today's version of the Christmas tree dates back to the
Pagan Yule celebration. The Pagan families used to believe in the wood
sprits. They would bring a real tree inside their home in winters, in
order to provide a place to the spirits to remain warm during the cold
months. Pagans even hung bells from the branches of the tree so that
they would know when a spirit came inside their home. Food items were
also hung on the branches and a five-pointed star, the pentagram, was
placed on top of the tree.
Another version of the legends about the Christmas tree goes back to the
1300's. During that time, artists used to roam around in the streets
carrying huge pine boughs, loaded with apples. This act was a kind of
advertisement for the miracle plays they used to stage on the steps of
the church, the plays about Adam and Eve, with the boughs representing
the Garden of Eden. Slowly and gradually, this 'paradise tree' came to
be associated with life and was named as the 'Christ Child's Tree'.
Yet another legend of the Christmas tree revolves around the story of a
Christian monk who used to spread Christianity amongst the Druids in
England, in the early days of the religion. One day, he struck down a
huge oak tree, which was believed to be an object of worship as per the
Druid religion. As the tree fell to ground, it splintered and from
within it, a fir tree sprung up. The monk declared the fir tree to be
the 'Holy Tree', a symbol of endless love, peace as well as the Christ
Child. One of the first written references to a Christmas tree was made
in 1605. In that year, a German tourist reported seeing a tree decorated
with apples, gilded candies, paper roses and thin wafers.
