Holly hello H-ýELENý WEINDORFER, a volunteer with the Lung Association, presents Harold Kelsy of Fairview .Lodge with a basket of fresh holly. More than 60 'volunteers delivered 100 baskets of holly to nursing home residents, elderly shut-ins and chronie care patients last Friday and Saturday. Free Press photo WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1987, PAGE 23 Christmas tre taditin Each year, about three million Canadian families bring a natural Christmas tree into their homes to become the warm and friendly, living centre of their Christmas celebration. The tradition endures year after year. But how did it get started? *Historians trace countless sources that developed into our present day customn of using a Christmas tree. Legends tell of the decorated tree used in winter celebrationis lnng before there was a Christmas. Egyptians brought green palm branches into their homes in late December as a symbol of growing things. Romans trimmed evergreen trees with trinkets and topped them with an image of their sun. god to celebrate Satumnalia. Druid sorcerers hung golden apples and lit candles on oak trees to celebrate the winter solstice. In the middle ages, the feast of Adam and Eve was held on Dec. 24; a fir tree hung with red apples called the Paradise tree was its symbol. Lt is generally agreed, however, that the use of an evergreen tree as part of the Christian Christmas celebration started 400 years ago in Germany and spread to most of northern Europe by the l9th century. Canada was first introduced to the Christmas tree in 1781 in Sorel, Quebec by German immigrant Baron Fiedrerick von Riedesel. The baron's tree was balsam fir cut from the sense forest of Quebec and was bedecked with myriads of white candies. A fw years later in the 1790's, white candies began twinkling on Christmas trees in Ontario. Afrer the War in Independence in the United States, German-speaking settlers, including Mennonites, who wanted to remain loyal to King George because of his German connections, headed to Canada and brought the custom of the Christmas tree to their settiements around Kitchener. Toronto was next to adopt the customn when in the late 1790's a group of Lutherans, Pennsylvania "Deutsch" and Mennonites helped found the communities of Markham,> Unionville and Stouffville and, of course, made the Christmas tree the focus of their Yuletide celebrations. The custom of the Christmas tree gradually spread and is now an enduring symbol of hope and a part of our Canadian heritage. Tiree facts Each year approimately three million Canadian families enjoy a natural Christmas tree. Growing lime for a Christmas tree is seven to 15 vears. The major Christmas tree producing provinces are Nova Scotia, new Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. Each year new Christmas tree seedlings are planted to replace thé harvested trees. Thousands of people are employed by the Canadian natural Christmas tree industry. Each acre of trees provides the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people. In eastern Canada, the most Canadian grown Ùhristmas trees are -in important export commodity. teplace for.. & RIBS Reserve now for Christmas get-togethers 2 miles N. of Brooklln on Hwy 12 655-8911 19 Cassels Rd. East, Brooklin Rev E. Frazer Lacey, B.A. B.D., SUNDAY WORSHIP & CHURCH SCHOOL- i1A.M. NURSERY CARE AVAILABLE AILL WELCOME CIIURCH OFFICE: 655-4141 $(K/à ~ Gift Baskets of Distinction for Holiday Giving eEach basket individually created for An excellent corporate gift for both that specîal someone employees and clients *Ideal for family, neighbours, teachers and other special friends * Delivery available Open 'Ibesday - Friday 9:30 - 4:00, Sattirday 9:30 - 5:00 4 Roebuck Street,. Brooklini, Ontario (Hwy. 12 just north of Hwy. 7) 655-8021 (24 hrs.) 4