A Christmas tree is an inseparable attribute of modern Christmas. However, not everyone is aware of the fact that the tradition of decorating trees has been present in various cultures for a very long time. The very custom of bringing fir and spruce to the house was most likely spread by German Protestants.
Decorating trees in other cultures
Religious customs of decorating trees he is very old. Even the ancient Romans, wanting to appease the god of harvest, decorated them with ivy or laurel deciduous trees.
The Celts used it for this purpose mistletoeand the Egyptians by day winter solstice they brought leaves to their homes date palm trees. It was supposed to symbolize the triumph of life over death. For our native Slavic druids, in turn, live holly branches meant eternal life.
Christmas tree
Roots, however, contemporary Christmas tree should be sought in the German Protestants. It was they who popularized the custom decorating spruce or fir. In Poland, this custom was adopted only in the eighteenth or nineteenth century with the advent of the Prussian partition. Initially, the Christmas tree was prepared mainly by representatives of the aristocracy. It appeared in the villages only in interwar period.
Symbolika
Christmas tree for the holidays it is a symbol of life, fertility and rebirth. In the past, the tree was decorated mainly with everyday objects, as well as nuts, apples, lights, chains, etc.
Each ornament it had its own symbolism, and some of them are still derived from pagan beliefs. And so: nuts are a symbol of prosperity and strength, apples symbolize health, beauty, and also refer to the biblical apples. Strings, on the other hand, are a symbol bondage by sinand mistletoe is precious for lovers and quarreling couples.
Christmas tree yesterday and today
Nowadays, the symbolism of Christmas tree decorations is not so important anymore. This custom has definitely evolved and the decorations are there more and more sophisticated. The time when the ornaments are also has changed hung up on the Christmas tree.
Not so long ago it was obligatory on Christmas Eve itself. Today we do it a lot already a few weeks before Christmas. Mainly to Christmas atmosphere it came to our homes faster.
