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Christmas Traditions, Old and New Column published: 16 December 2006 By: Rick Roberts, Biography & Archived Articles Christmas is the premier religious Holiday of the year for millions of Christians around the world. Practising Christians focus celebrations of the Holiday season on the birth of Christ. However, for most Christians and for those of other faiths, the season has also become a time to celebrate family, renewal, and the spirit of sharing. A time to reflect on our common values and to extend goodwill to others. The adoption of some Christmas traditions by non-Christians is a highly appropriate development insofar as so many modern Christian traditions are "borrowed" from other faiths and earlier social customs. The Christmas tree is one example.  It is often explained as a Christianization of the ancient pre-Christian idea that the evergreen tree represents a celebration of the renewal of life. Christians began to adopt the symbolic "Christmas tree" as recently as the 16th century. The earliest record that supports the idea of a Christmas tree being used as part of Christmas tradition is in the Bremen (Germany) guild chronicle of 1570. It records that "a small fir was decorated with apples, nuts, dates, pretzels and paper flowers, and erected in the guild-house, for the benefit of the guild members' children, who collected the dainties on Christmas day". The people of the Rhine River valley, didn't start bringing "Christmas trees" into their homes until the 17th century where the custom carried on exclusively for almost two hundred years. It was regarded as a Protestant custom by the Catholic majority along the lower Rhine and was spread there only by Prussian officials and royalty who moved there after the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The Christmas tree became popular among German royalty who regularly intermarried with the royal houses of countries from Russia in the east, to England in the west. The relocation of newly-wed royals to foreign courts enabled the tradition to spread. Princess Henrietta von Nassau-Weilburg introduced the Christmas tree to Vienna in 1816, and the custom spread across Austria in the following years. In France, the first Christmas tree was introduced in 1840 by the duchess of Orleans. In Britain, the Christmas tree was introduced by King George III's German Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz but did not immediately spread much beyond the royal family. Queen Victoria, then a 13-year-old princess, wrote in her journal for Christmas Eve 1832: "After dinner...we then went into the drawing-room near the dining-room...There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with lights and sugar ornaments. All the presents being placed round the trees...". After her marriage to her German cousin, Prince Albert, the custom became widespread though out the British Empire. Sometimes well-intentioned members our modern society toss out common-sense in the name of political correctness. This week in Toronto, a judge ordered that a Christmas tree be removed from its traditional public location in the main lobby of a provincial court building, to a back hallway, out of sight of the entrance. The judge reasoned that the Christmas tree was a "Christian symbol" that might alienate people of other faiths who visit the building. The judge, though probably well-meaning, just doesn't get it. By that I mean that there are dozens if not hundreds of different religions represented in our population. All of those faiths have Holidays that have important and positive themes. A better solution would have been to use the space where the Christmas tree stood as a place where different faiths' special occassions could be celebrated. It would be great opportunity for us to learn more about each other. Today, Jews are celebrating Hanukkah, an important religious observance and time of reflection. Hindus and Sikhs annually celebrate Diwali (also called Deepavali) a victory of brightness over darkness, a metaphor for the victory of good over evil. Muslims stress prayer, fasting, charity, and self-accountability during their Ramadan celebration each year. All faiths have their specific observances. Many religions have different denominations, or branches within their faith, that worship differently than the original body. We benefit by learning about each other's beliefs. We can also enjoy traditions of other faiths without diminishing our own. One of my fondest memories is of attending a friend's son's Bar Mitzvah. The family is of Moroccan Jewish descent. I was honoured to be invited and delighted by what I learned by the experience. During this season of religious observance, family celebration, renewal, and the spirit of sharing, may you and yours have a very Merry Christmas :) Shopping Cart & Order Desk Global Genealogy & History Shoppe 1-800-361-5168 ( 9-5 Tuesday to Saturday )
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