Christmas Tree

The habit of installing a Christmas tree as decorations began from Germany. Installation of Christmas trees that are generally of spruce, fir or adapted form, it began in the 16th century.

When the German population spread to many regions including America, they were often put up fir evergreen trees belonging to the Christmas decorations in the house. From the records, the Pennsylvania Germans in the United States display a Christmas tree for the first time in the 1830s.

The Christmas tree is not a necessity in the church and at home because this is just a symbol of the spiritual life that we always grow and become a wonderful witness for others "evergreen". Christmas tree (pine) also symbolizes the "eternal life", because in general, in winter nearly all the leaves fall off trees, except pine trees are always green leaves.

Installation of fir trees, both native and which are made of plastic, in the city or in public places was a familiar sight around Christmas. One of the biggest trees in RockefellerCenter on 5th Avenue New York, United States.

Legend

There are several legends / stories circulating among Christians themselves the origin of the Christmas tree.

Experience "supernatural" St. Boniface

According to a legend, there was an Englishman named pastor of St. Boniface, who led several churches in Germany and France. One day on his way he met with a group of people who would sacrifice a child to the god Thor in an oak tree. To stop their evil deeds, miraculously St. Boniface knock down oak tree with his hand punch. After an amazing event in place of a fallen oak tree grew a fir tree.

Martin Luther and the yew tree

Another story tells of events as Martin Luther, the Reformation of the Church leaders, was walking in the woods one night. Impressed by the beauty of millions of stars sparkling in the sky that shine through the branches of pine trees in the woods, Martin Luther cut down a small fir tree and bring it home to their families at home. To create a sparkling star as seen in the woods, Martin Luther put candles on each branch of the pine tree.

Controversy

Regardless of the truth of the stories above, to this day Christmas Tree installation still causing the pros and cons among Christians. For people who are not pleased with the Christmas tree, tells us that in ancient times the Romans used evergreen trees for the celebration of Saturnalia, they decorated it with small ornaments and small masks, because on December 25 th is the birthday of the sun god, Mithras, the sun god originally from Iran who then worshiped in Rome. Similarly, Sunday is the day to worship the sun god fit of the meaning Zondag, Sunday or Sonntag. Please also note that other sun gods such as Osiris, the Egyptian sun god, was born on December 27. Similarly sun god Horus and Apollo was born on December 28.

Therefore there is some church schools that forbid the Christmas tree tradition, because they considered it as a worship of the sun god. Installation of the tree is considered a form of idolatry. Rejection reaction was even initially had characterized the German government's decision to fine anyone who put up fir trees as Christmas trees.

That began to change, when the image of Queen Victoria of England, Prince Albert of Germany, and his children with a background pine tree, illustrated in the London News. Since the figure of Victoria is very popular, it's loading images in the mass media was making a fir tree as a Christmas tree common choice.

Tradition

After the U.S. follow the lead of the UK using evergreen trees at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, was duniakita.info industry grow and spread to various countries. Includes a variety of industries such as Christmas tree ornaments hanging balls, trinkets Santa Claus, tinsel (sort of tasseled rope wrapped around the tree), and others.

Because the use of evergreen trees is a European tradition, joyful expression symbolized by the many decorations were different in each country. Indonesia and the Philippines is a country deeply affected European tradition until finally the Christians bought an artificial tree but an important form of fir.

In South Africa where the Christmas tree is not something common. While the people of India, prefer mango trees and banana trees.