Saga of Christmas Tree :

‘Christmas Tree’ has time since been a part and parcel of Christmas celebrations. The tradition of having an evergreen tree on the Christmas Eve is symbolic of the inability of coarse winters to effect life on earth.

Legend has it that way back in 7^th century there lived a monk who went to Germany to teach the word of God, who used the triangular shape of the Fir tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is ever since then that the Fir tree has been taken to be the God’s Tree and held in reverence especially during the Eve of Christmas.

However, the first decorated Christmas Tree has come into existence in 1510, in the last quarter of 16^th Century. It is held that Martin Luther, the founder of the protestant faith has come across a pretty Fir tree that was glistening in the twilight of the Moon and Stars, on his evening walk in the Riga forest at Latvia. Luther is said to have chopped down the Fir tree, brought home and decorated it with glowing candles with an intention to recreate the twilight for his children.

This has over the time become ritualistic of Christmas Eve. However, the tree is believed to be popularised with the rest of the world when German Prince Albert has brought it to England after he married Queen Victoria. The tree in those days was decorated of pieces of coloured paper, small toys, popcorn, candles and a bit of cotton here and there to resemble snow. These were over the days replaced by glittering balls, glass and metal figurines of angels, gingle bells, coloured ribbons, shining stars, balloons and electric lights that formed part of the décor.