The Christmas tree represents the central element of the holidays ahead. With its presence, it provides a festive atmosphere for both children and adults. And whether it is artificial or real, the symbolism of the Christmas tree remains the same.
In the past, autumn represented dying for many peoples. The trees slowly change their color at that time, and winter creeps in very quietly, making sure that the last leaves fall from them. Some trees "die" during this time, while others simply go to "rest" and will come back to life in the spring months. Evergreen vegetation but it is the one that is also in winter preserves vitality and beauty, so many peoples worshiped him as a symbol of immortality. And this is exactly the role that the Christmas tree played - a symbol of life and hope.
The origin of Christmas trees goes back very far in history. to the Egyptians represented the victory of light over darkness, as after the winter solstice the day began to lengthen again and thus overcome the night. Even the ancients celebrated the solstice Romans, and evergreen branches were used in the ceremony. Later, in the Middle Ages, Scandinavians and Germans placed evergreen trees in their homes because they symbolized hope for the coming of spring.
The trees were also decorated
The first decorations on the trees were red apples. With them, the Christmas tree symbolized the tree of paradise. Later, people also began to decorate them with candles and other decorations, which illustrated the gifts of fields, orchards, the sea, forests... The tradition of decorating trees is said to have started Martin Luther. One of the legends says that one Christmas evening he was walking through a snowy forest when a group of evergreen trees completely overwhelmed him with their beauty. The branches, which were covered with snow, glowed magically in the moonlight. When he got home, he put a tree in the house so that he could share this experience with his children. He decorated it with candles that symbolized the starry sky. The habit of decorating trees is said to have been brought to us by a German brewer Peter Luelsdorf. He should have already placed the Christmas tree in his inn in Ljubljana in 1845.
Today, the Christmas tree is mainly represented a central element of the holidays, around which the whole family gathers and decorates it with their joint efforts. But the decoration is completely different. What remains in common is that the color red is still extremely popular, but otherwise we resort to very diverse decorations, often making them ourselves. For ideas on how to decorate a tree, we recommend browsing Lidl catalog.
Once upon a time, every ornament had its own meaning, and it's nice to remember that even today. Candles represent the reflection of the stars, strips and bows but the connection between us.
And why is the Christmas tree a fir and not some other conifer? Apparently, the reason is hidden in its shape - the fir, more than any other tree, resolutely climbs towards the sky. It is a symbol of the journey to the star that shines on the top of the fir tree and symbolizes the destination of our journey, a place of peace. Check also other symbols associated with the holidays.
You probably put up a tree every year, but you rarely ask yourself why this tradition was created. Maybe this year, when you know the symbolism, it will be different.
