Origin of the Custom of the Christmas Tree?
Adam, Eve & the Paradise Tree
By: Elaine Jordan
What is the origin of the delightful custom of the Christmas tree?
I am happy to state definitively that it had nothing to do with the
heresiarch Martin Luther, who is often reported to have set up the first
Christmas tree. There is absolutely no scholarly basis for this legend.
It is just another Protestant attempt to steal from the Catholics and
deny the enormous legacy of good that came from the Middle Ages.
The Paradiese Tree was one of the
most popular medieval mystery plays
most popular medieval mystery plays
For the roots of the Christmas tree are medieval, and it is the Germans, with their innate sense of the innocence of Christmas, who spread the custom. Let me tell the true story.
Catholic History of the Christmas Tree
Christmas Eve is the feast day of our first parents, Adam and Eve, who
are commemorated as Saints in the calendars of the Catholic churches of
Eastern rites. Their veneration spread also to the West and became very
popular toward the end of the first millennium. Although the Latin rite
of the Catholic Church never officially introduced their feast, it did
not oppose their popular veneration. In many old churches of Europe
their statues may still be seen among the images of the Saints.
Around the 12th century the custom began of celebrating this feast on December 24 with the Paradise Play, which became one of the most popular medieval mystery plays. The
Paradise Play depicted the story of the creation of Adam and Eve,
their sin and their banishment from Paradise. The play ended with the
promise of the coming Savior and His incarnation.
One of the few props in the play was a large evergreen tree called a Paradise Tree, its branches laden with red apples.
The Germans enter the picture
With the rise of Humanism, Renaissance and Protestant Revolution the customs of perform the Paradise Play vanished. In fact, Germany had no theater for several centuries. But the German Catholics did not abandon the Paradise tree.
There, it became the custom to put up a “paradise tree” in the home to
honor the first parents. This was a fir tree laden with apples, the
symbol of Adam’s fall. They also decorated the tree with white wafers,
representing the Eucharist, the symbol of man’s redemption and
salvation. It was customary as early as the 16th century in Germany to
ring the tree with candles because the Paradise Play was enacted in such a ring.
Christmas in Germany, 1881
In fact, we find first mention of the Christmas tree as early as 1419 at
the Freiburg Fraternity Baker’s Apprentices of the German Alsace. We
also have a letter written by a Strasbourg resident in 1605 who
describes the established custom, "At Christmas they set up fir trees in
the parlors at Strasburg and hang thereon roses cut of many-colored
paper, apples, wafers, gold-foil, sweets.”
Until the 19th century, mostly edible items were used as tree
decorations. Then, in 1880 glassmakers in Thuringia, Germany, discovered
how to make blown glass balls and bells, and these soon replaced the
apples.
The custom spread naturally. From the Alsace the tree made its way to
other regions of Germany and France. German settlers and soldiers
brought the Christmas tree to America in the colonial period. The German
born Queen Victoria formally introduced the Christmas tree in England
in 1841 where it was warmly received, and soon the English were
pretending that it was their idea, as is their habit.
Thus, we find the roots of our modern Christmas tree: It is actually the
medieval Paradise tree, a reminder of the fall of our first parents and
the promise of the coming of a Savior.
Other Adam tidbits
In addition to our Christmas tree, we owe many expressions in our language to Adam.
When we speak of "the old Adam" in us, we mean that part of us that tends to yield to temptation.
When St. Paul speaks of "the last Adam" (1 Cor 15:45) he means Christ,
who by his obedience repaired the disobedience of the first Adam.
Since God ordered Adam to till the ground after his expulsion from Eden,
gardening is called "Adam's profession," and in fact Adam became a
Patron Saint of gardeners.
Excellent article, as usual. May I add a few details?
ReplyDeleteIt is reported that, in the 7th century, Saint Bonifacius challenged the germanic pagans by cuttingtheir "sacred" oak to prove that it was a mere idol. As the massive tree fell, it crashed all the surrounding objects and vegetation, except for a small fir. The saint therefore declared it to be "the tree of the Infant Jesus", and this would be the origin of the Christmas tree in the German tradition, which was slowly exported to the whole Western world. This custom would also be the root of the "Paradise tree" you mentionned which can be traced back to the 11th century.
A for it's import to North America, the first Christmas tree was erected in my hometown of Sorel by the wife of Baron Von Riedesel, commander of the Hessian mercenaries who fought on the British side during the American revolution. Frederika Von Ridesel had it installed in the "House of the Governors" (which survived to this day) on Christmas eve of 1781. Than the tradition spread to both Canada and the United States. Its association with "Victorian" traditions is ALSO due to the german traditions imported to the Royal court of England by queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert.
As a tree, It is a powerful symbol of eternity since it will retain its needles and green color during Winter, when all other trees enter a death-like period.
Thanks again for your outstanding work defending the true Faith!
All my wishes for a saint and blessed day of the Nativity of Our Lord,
Louis
Yes so true thank German Catholics
ReplyDelete