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A Christmas tree is a custom to many people in today's world. But what does the true meaning of bringing a tree into your home mean. There are many legends to the meaning of a Christmas tree.

One of the earliest legends states of a man in Germany in 722 who came across some people who were going to sacrifice a baby at the base of an oak tree. So he cut the tree down so they couldn't sacrifice the baby. Then a fir grew where the oak tree had been. It was said the tree was known as the holy tree. A symbol of his promise to everyone for eternal life. Such a beautiful reason to put a tree up every year.

Another reason people think is the reason for the tree also comes from Germany. It was said that they would put evergreen trees just outside of their doors and hope that they would bring spring sooner. Another story from Germany is of Queen Victoria. She had relatives in Germany and went to visit them a lot. One visit she met and fell in love with Prince Albert. They married and decided to move back to England to raise their family. Each Christmas they would put a tree up and decorate it. And The people loved their queen so much they copied her by putting up a tree with decorations. And it has just become custom there.

There is also a legend that has to do with Martin Luther King. It hasn't been proving but it says that he was walking in woods and noticed the beautiful trees with all the snow on them. He thought they were so beautiful that as soon as he got home he set up a tree and decorated it. He told his kids about the beautiful story of the birth of Jesus. He had put candles on the tree and after telling that stpry he lite the candles to celebrate the story.

There are still a lot of stories about the origin of the tree. It is also said that greenery was brought into the homes during stormy,snowy, winters. People think that the tree is named after the yule tree. But there is no proof of that. There is proof of the tree possibly being named after the paradise tree. The story goes back to the 11th century and the plays they put on. The play was about the banishing of Adam and eve and their sin against God. Then the play goes on to show their banishment from paradise. The only prop that was on the stage was a paradise tree that held apples. At the end of the play the Savior would promise his coming and his incarnation. After awhile people got accustomed to the paradise tree and would put up one in their homes on the 24th of December.

We can pass along any story that we want as to what the Christmas tree means. To me the tree means a time to celebrate friends and family. To give and receive with love. And the most important thing to remember we need to remember the birth of Christ. That is my favorite reason to put up my Christmas tree.

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