By the early evergreens, often first, were found in German homes decorated with apples going back to the original Tree of Knowledge and that is why so many early decorations were apples. Paper versions of apples and other fruit became popular when the real articles were unavailable. Candle lights were added to Christmas trees as symbol of the promise of life to come after months of cold winter. By then an old man, Joseph carried staff to aid in walking. While Britain had other varieties of hawthorn, this particular bush was the only one to bloom at Christmas time.
Again, however, legend plays an important part in determining how generations of people either did, or didnt, light their trees. The evergreen theme continues to weave its way through the history of Christmas trees as an attempt to further explain the story of Christmas. Whether true or not, it might help explain why, for decades, lighted Christmas trees were thought to be an integral part of the Protestant celebration of Christmas and thus were considerably less popular in Catholic homes and churches. Christmas trees were not limited to place of honor in the home.
This particularly holds true in Germany, the home of many of the legends we still honor in one way or another. Another saint ties together both the concept of the Christmas tree and the date when Christmas is celebrated. Upon reaching the crest of bluff above where his boat had landed, the tired and cold Joseph thrust his staff of hawthorn into the ground where it immediately took root and bloomed. Again, however, legend plays an important part in determining how generations of people either did, or didnt, light their trees.
By the early evergreens, often first, were found in German homes decorated with apples going back to the original Tree of Knowledge and that is why so many early decorations were apples.
Whether true or not, it might help explain why, for decades, lighted Christmas trees were thought to be an integral part of the Protestant celebration of Christmas and thus were considerably less popular in Catholic homes and churches. Christmas trees were not limited to place of honor in the home. more than percent of Americans at the turn of the Twentieth Century who did not, or could not, have tree in their homes. Some say that the tree represents the one whose wood was made into cross and used to crucify Jesus of Nazareth.