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HOW DID THE CHRISTMAS TREE COME ABOUT? ✦ Ever wondered how Christmas trees started? Who first thought of the idea of lugging a massive tree into one's house?
W
hile the image of families at the beach celebrating Christmas in Australia with their Santa hats may seem strange to people on the other side of the globe, one thing we all share in common is the eternal Christmas tree smack in the middle of the living room.
Symbol of Eternal Life It was the ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Hebrews who believed evergreens were symbols of eternal life and who brought trees and branches into their homes. Nothing like a bit of green to remind one that spring will return once again and warm the earth, after a cold winter. Fast forward to the 16th century in Germany.
Trees started sprouting in people's homes and this was the start of what we know today as the Christmas tree. The 17th century saw the Puritan Americans going on a rant against the Christmas tree because they saw it as a pagan symbol. In fact, their feathers got so ruffled they even went so far as to fine people who insisted on celebrating this pagan holiday! Thankfully their antiChristmas spree did not last long as the German and Irish settlers were so numerous they made sure nobody stifled the merry making that we associate with Christmas today. In the 19th century, the Christmas tree shot to fame when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were seen in a family portrait with a Christmas tree. This was when Christmas trees became a must-have item in every household as December approached.
