The history of Christmas trees goes back to the symbolic use of evergreens in ancient Egypt and Rome and continues with the German tradition of candle lit Christmas trees first brought to America in the 1800s.
Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remain green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.
Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce.
It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.
I – Word Understanding
Evergreens – plants that retain green leaves throughout the year
Bough – branch / main branch of a tree
Sermon – a long speech/lecture/talk on a religious or moral subject
II – Have Your Say
1, How do you celebrate christmas?
2, Do you prepare a christmas tree? What are the most common christmas decorations in your country?
3, What is your understanding of why we celebrate christmas?
