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\ 1 t A History of the Christmas Tree Our Modern F estive Trees Originated in Ancient Egypt Section Three The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, December 20,1989 Part One Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special special meaning for people in winter. Just as people decorate their homes at Christmas with pine, spruce and fir trees, ancient ancient people hung evergreen evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries, people believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness. illness. The ancient Egyptians worshipped a god called Ra, who had the head of a hawk and who wore the sun as a blazing disc in his crown. At the solstice, when Ra began to recover from illness, the Egyptians Egyptians filled their homes with green palm rushes which symbolized for them the triumph of life over death. Across the Mediterranean Mediterranean Sea, the early Romans Romans marked the solstice with a feast called Saturnalia Saturnalia in honour of Saturn, Saturn, the god of agriculture. agriculture. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs. The Saturnalia was a special time of peace and equality when wars could not be declared, when slaves and master could eat at the same table, and when gifts were exchanged exchanged as a symbol of affection and brotherhood. brotherhood. In» northern Europe the mysterious Druids, the priests, of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The fierce Vikings in Scandinavia Scandinavia thought that evergreens evergreens were the special plant of the sun god Balder. Balder. Many historians believe believe that our word for Yule came from the Norse word "rol", the Gothic word "huil" or the Saxon word "hweol", all of which mean wheel and refer to the cycles of the sun. When families bring home their Christmas tree from a sales lot or a choose-and-cut tree farm they are following a tradition tradition that is more than a thousand years old. "Bringing in the Yule log" was a ritual that began in Great Britain and that spread throughout Europe, Europe, eventually reaching North America. On Christmas Eve, the large central trunk of a great Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season from your friends and neighbors at Dennison Manufacturing Canada Inc. 200 Base Line Road East, Bowmanville tree was dragged from the forest. Everyone in the family, both adults and children, helped with the job by pulling on ropes. When tne log was finally brought into the house, it was thrown on the family fireplace where it burned for the twelve days of Christmas. Part Two In the fourteenth century, century, when few knew how to read, churches held "miracle plays" to tell people in villages and towns stories from the Bible. The play that was held every December 24, which was Adam and Eve's Day, was about the Garden of Eden. The play showed how Eve was tempted by the serpent, how she picked the apple from the forbidden tree, and how the couple was expelled from Paradise. The time of year that the play was held created a problem for the actors and organizers of the play. How do you find an apple tree with leaves on it in the middle of winter? In Germany, the problem was solved by cutting down an evergreen tree, probably a spruce or pine, and tying apples onto it. As well, the tree was hung with round, white wafers to remind the audience audience that even though Adam and Eve were expelled expelled from Paradise, the birth of the baby Jesus would bring redemption. The idea of a Christmas Christmas tree hung with apples apples amused people in Germany so much that before long many families were setting up a "Para- deisbaum", or paradise tree, in their own homes. The custom persisted long after the miracle plays were no longer performed. performed. Ever since, red and green, the colour of the apples hanging on a pine tree, have been the official colours of Christmas. Christmas. The wafers that once hung on the Paradise tree were replaced with cookies cookies in the form of hearts, bells, angels and stars. With time, perhaps because because so many decorations decorations got eaten before the tree was taken down, the cookies were replaced with decorations made out of thin, painted metal. metal. When families combined combined the decorations on the Paradeisbaum with the candles on Martin Luther's Tannenbaum, they created the Christmas Christmas tree that is still found in homes today. Part Three The first Christmas tree in Canada was set up in Sorel, Quebec in 1781 by Baron Friederick von Riedesel. The baron, who was born in Germany, Germany, selected a handsome Our Very Best Wishes viA One of the nicest things about Christmas is remembering our special friends whose business we've enjoyed throughout the year. _ From Gwen, Sue, Lynda and Marietta GUYS and GALS Shear Magic less all the dear children in Thy tender care, And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there. --from "Away In À Manger" To all the loving families we're so proud to call friends, our thanks and best wishes for a wonderful Christmas season. since 1962 Upholstery and Carpets Fop your good friendship throughout the year, we offer our most festive wishes for a season filled with lots of cheer. Have a wonderful time! It's a pleasure to greet our many friends and patrons at this time of year! ORONO FUEL and LUMBER Station St., Orono 983-9167 Hamiltons Insurance Service Orono 983.5115 balsam fir from the forests forests that surrounded his home and decorated it with white candles. The next recorded Christmas tree appears in Halifax in 1846 when William Prior, a local merchant, cut down an evergreen and decorated it with glass ornaments ornaments imported from Germany to please his German wife. After that, the custom spread quickly quickly as German and British pioneers settled throughout throughout the growing nation. The Christmas tradition tradition that is celebrated in Canada today has borrowed borrowed many customs from many lands, but families who have come from all over the world have all adopted the Christmas tree as the symbol and centerpiece of the festive season. As much as decorating the tree, choosing the tree has become a tradition tradition of its own. Bundled in boots and winter coats, families walk through the snow to Christmas tree lots in the city or drive to plantations in the country country in search of just the right tree. On some choose-and-cut farms, the growers may welcome the family with hot chocolate, a bonfire or a wagon ride through fields covered with beautifully shaped trees. Making the right choice is never easy, especially especially when it comes to Christmas trees. Discussions Discussions on the matter are always lively. Is the tree big enough or will it fit in. the house? Is it full on eveiy side? Is a pine tree with its long soft needles more beautiful than a spruce or fir with their shorter, stiffer needles? Decisions are difficult but sooner or later everyone agrees on the perfect tree. Decorating the tree is an especially important job that is shared by everyone everyone in the family. These days, glittering glass ornaments, electric lights and shining tinsel have replaced the gilded fruits, pine cones, sweets, apples and candles that were once used as decorations! decorations! But the ceremony itself has changed little over the centunes. Glittering Glittering with colour and light and topped with a star or radiant angel, the Christmas tree, green and lush in the winter, is a symbol that life is eternal eternal while the gifts below it are reminders of the love, joy and close ties that are shared by families families and friends. The German folk song, "0 Tannenbaum", says: Not only in the summer's summer's glow But 'mid the winter's frost and snow 0 faithful pine, 0 faithful pine, You're true and green forever. As it has for centuries, the evergreen still sym bolizes our belief in renewed renewed life and the hope and faith that lives in all mankind, regardless of race or creed. It is a symbol symbol of joy and a delight to all. The Christmas Santa Did Not Come It was a week before Christmas and everyone was ready, I mean Katie, Tyler and Lisa. You see me Carly and Tara couldn't find a present for Tyler so on Friday we went to the mall and headed for the pet store. When we came out we had a puppy. We got Katie Katie and Squeaky mouse and Lisa a kitten. Before we went home we went to our grandma's house to drop the Dog and Cat off. We went home and our mom called all of us to the living room. It was Christmas eve and Tyler was being punished. Because Because he started a food fight with Lisa and now it was time to go to sleep so Santa could come. It was morning and Lisa woke me up and Tyler woke Tara up and we all went down stairs. Nothing was under the tree only our presents were under the tree. So Tyler and Lisa started to cry mom said, "I'm sorry that Santa did not come." À week passed and Santa did not come. One morning morning Lisa said to Tyler, "Let's go to see Santa and tell him we did not get any presents." So after that they always had Christmas. THE END By Carly Cooper g 3 Mrs. Tbrovichs 3/4. May all your wishes come true We extend our sincere wishes for a very joyous holiday season. Thanks for your valued business^ Abol L/bo nterprises 623-3221 HEFnKXM 77CW AND AF.COUmtONm • SALES AND SERVICE Enjoy this season to the fullest! from Ron and Shirley Brock Al and Sheila Brock Ron _ Rob -- Chris -- Steve -- Dave of Brock's Service Centre Ltd. Authorized Petro-Canada Dealer 20 King St. E. 623-5487 Bowmanville Closed at 6 p.m. Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day Cheery holiday greetings to all our good friends and patrons. It's been a pleasure serving you. Tim's Rent-All 623-4321 Tim's Party Centre 623-9838 King St. W., Bowmanville $ 8 }