by Jonnie Chastain

Created on: December 01, 2007

O CHRISTMAS TREE, O CHRISTMAS TREE

If you Google Christmas tree' you will find as many legends, superstitions, controversies, and traditions as there are ornaments for the tree. Answering the question, is the Christmas tree a religious symbol', quickly becomes an exercise in frustration, if not futility.

Every year, when Christmas trees begin to make their annual pilgrimage into the shopping frenzy that surrounds the holiday season, people around the world choose sides and once again debate the issue of exactly what role the trees play in the festive celebration. Every year, when the last Christmas tree is dismantled and hidden away from public view and conscience, the issue is tabled. Leaving us with the question still unanswered.

IS THE CHRISTMAS TREE A RELIGIOUS SYMBOL?

As for myself I could give a quick and decisive "NO". But what would be the fun in that? Besides which you could say, and rightfully so, that such a statement is just the opinion of one person.

It is, by far, more interesting to take a peek at some of the legends, superstitions, controversies, and traditions that dangle like odd ornaments from the branches of the Christmas tree.

THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS

In the 4th century the Catholic Church, in an attempt to compete with a pagan festival, decided on a celebration (Christ Mass) for Christians. Thus, Christians would honor the birthday of the SON OF GOD, while pagans celebrated the birthday of their sun god'. (Fact? Fiction? Legend? I have no idea. I'm just telling you what Google told me.)

LEGENDS

Legend tells us that St. Boniface took an axe and gave the sacred oak of Thor' several whacks (some believe he only whacked it once but I was severely tempted to say he gave it 40 whacks.) Out of the felled oak sprang a Fir tree. St. Boniface used the triangular shape of the Fir to teach the pagans about the Holy Trinity.

Another legend centers around the American Revolutionary War. The time is December 24, 1776. The place is Trenton, New Jersey. Hessian mercenaries, seeing a celebration around a candlelit evergreen tree became so homesick they abandoned their posts to hold their own celebration. Washington attacked and defeated them, turning the tide of the war.

My favorite of all the legends I found is as follows:
The three virtues, Faith, Hope and Charity found the first Christmas tree. They were sent from Heaven to find a tree that was as strong as faith, as high as hope, and as sweet as charity, and bore the sign of the cross on every bough. Their search

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