December 19, 2007
A Fresh Take on the Origin of the 'Christmas Tree'
My view: Even the most spiritual and abstract rituals are rooted in practicality.
Ancient people of northern climes rarely opened their window shutters and doors during the dark, chilly depths of winter.
Coop up an extended family of a dozen or so into a small house with little soap and then add in a few dogs and livestock that you don't want to freeze to death. What do you get? A household that probably started smelling awfully ripe around the end of December.
Solution: Air Freshener. A young evergreen tree running flush with fragrant, tangy sap smells wonderfully green....
Opinions vary: on the origin of the Christmas tree, but most concede that dragging trees and boughs into the home long predates Christianity. Some say it was an early Egyptian and Middle Eastern tradition. Others credit the Romans. Most are certain Northern Europeans in prehistory were bringing trees into their homes at winter solstice time.
History.com offers a simplified take:
Before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.And, as I already explained, to also keep the stink away.
Posted by davidphinney at 07:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack