History of the Christmas tree

[Hurghada Lady]

History of the Christmas tree & an explanation on where one of the most focal points in celebrating Christmas originated and how far it has come.

The custom of having a tree as a central focal piece in winter holiday celebrations can be traced back hundreds of centuries.

The ancient Egyptians had a custom of bringing branches from palm trees into their homes on the shortest day of the year each December.

The Chinese and Hebrews from ancient history had similar traditions, too. The Scandinavians are attributed with beginning such customs as the Advent Wreath and the Yule Log, and were known to decorate their houses and barns with evergreens during winter celebrations.

The Vikings of Northern Europe believed the evergreen to represent the promise of the return to spring once winter had passed.

In Italy, Romans decorated trees with candles and trinkets during Saturnalia.

The Druids, in France and England, dressed oak trees with fruit in honor of the gods of harvest. Boughs from trees were use in several other Pagan winter festivals as well.

[Spike]

Here is one about the Angel on the top...

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drank all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said very cheerfully, 'Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?'


And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.