The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree

It is impossible to imagine the New Year without a beautiful fluffy Christmas tree. For the New Year holiday, forest beauty is dressed up by children and adults. A few decades ago there was no tradition of decorating a Christmas tree in our country. So where did she come from? This is what will be discussed in our article.

Where did the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree come from?

The Germans claim that the origins of the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree came from Germany. Initially, trees were decorated for Christmas. Tradition was born during the Middle Ages.

Residents believed that decorated trees on Christmas bring a rich harvest. Ancient Germanic tribes had a belief that local forest spirits live in the crowns of conifers. Tribal residents with great respect and respect for the environment. They believed that if it was good to appease the spirits they would be protected.

People in the forests regularly dressed up conifers. Twigs of pine needles were decorated with nuts, fruits, sweets and fresh home-made bread. The Celts believed that trees were endowed with a magical meaning and did not succumb to destructive power. Over time, local residents began to dig up fir trees with roots and transplant them near their home. It was believed that the old spruce would be a good talisman.

In Europe, most residents refuse standard Christmas-tree decorations. They are happy to decorate the tree with sweets, sweets, dried fruits. It looks beautiful, original. Sweet tooth can take off sweets at any time.

The legend of Luther King: where does the Christmas tree

At the time of the birth of Christianity in Europe, the ancient inhabitants remained a tradition of decorating a Christmas tree in the forest. Decorated with sweets, sweets, ginger cookies, fruits, berries. The ritual decoration of conifers was more reminiscent of pagan rites than traditions in Christianity. This bothered a local priest named Martin Luther King.

One winter evening, he went to the nearest forest to understand why people come here to dress up handsome conifers. Walking along the snowy forest paths, his eyes fell on a tall beautiful spruce. It was powdered with silvery snow and lit by heavenly moonlight. The picture he saw was reminded of his biblical story of the Star of Bartholomew.

In the priest’s head an idea arose to bring the Christmas tree home and dress it with lights in the form of stars. So he did. Since then, it has been born among Christians around the world for the New Year to decorate the tree with toys, bright lights, streamers, rain and tinsel.

In the annals you can find records dated to the 17th century, which mention Christmas trees. Since the 19th century, the tradition from Germany to decorate a Christmas tree before Christmas has moved to other European countries: England, Finland, France, Hungary, Slovenia and others. At the beginning of the 20th century, tradition passed from Europe to America.

The tradition of decorating the Christmas tree in Russia

The great tsar and commander of All Russia Peter I in the XVII century issued a law on the celebration of the New Year. By the holiday, the house was decorated with spruce branches and various treats were served on the table. The first Christmas tree, as an attribute of the celebration of the new came, came to Russia with the ascension to the throne of Tsar Nicholas I.

It was he who ordered in the palace to decorate coniferous spruce for the New Year, according to European traditions. Citizens followed the example of Nicholas I and in their homes, estates dressed up for Christmas and New Year. From this time began the tradition of decorating the Christmas tree for the New Year. In the 19th century, German culture, poetry, and literature were popular in Russia. Therefore, the tradition in the houses to decorate the Christmas tree quickly took root in all walks of life.

Watch the video: Traditional Family Christmas Tree. Christmas Decorations 2018 (March 2024).

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