In "YOUR" country? What are we, "chopped liver"? Yes, Germany was first and Queen Victoria introduced it to the Brits through her German husband Prince Albert, later introduced into the United States, during the Victorian period. However the "customs" of Christmas evolved, the overcommercialization of one of the Churches most sacred days cannot be overemphasized. For me, Good Friday, is the most sacred of all Holy Days. "For God so gave the world, His only begotten Son". Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, ring true for me, followed by Pentecost.
No need to argue over who started what, because like a child, I still believe in Santa Claus or the very idea of him. --- In [email protected], "justifiedright" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Interesting historical perspective about other parts of the world. > > In my country, a christmas tree has been accepted as a part of the > American celebration. > > > --- In [email protected], "dfsavgny" <dfsavgny@> wrote: > > > > --- In [email protected], "justifiedright" > > <justifiedright@> wrote: > > > > > > Because they aren't holiday trees. They are Christmas trees. > > > > > > Truth in advertising. > > > > > > > > > > There has historically been opposition to the custom of the > Christmas > > tree because of its alleged pagan origins. Thus, Oliver Cromwell > > preached against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols and > > decorated trees. As pastor Henry Schwan of Cleveland OH in 1851 > > decorating what was likely the first Christmas tree in an American > > church. His parishioners condemned the idea as a Pagan practice. > > > > There are various legends regarding the origin of the Christmas > tree, > > often relating to Saint Boniface. Thus, in one version, Boniface > > disrupted a pagan child sacrifice at an oak tree, flattening the > oak > > with a blow of his fist. A small fir sprang up in place of the oak, > > which Boniface told the pagans represented Christ.[1] In some > > accounts, Martin Luther is credited with adding lights and > decoration > > to fir branches traditionally hung from ceilings.[2] > > > > Condemnation of the Christmas tree as pagan has been based on a > > passage in Jeremiah, > > > > "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be > not > > dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at > them. > > For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out > of > > the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. > They > > deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and > with > > hammers, that it move not." (Jeremiah 10:2-4, KJV). > > > > Christmas traditions in general have often been associated with > > paganism in 19th century scholarship. Robert Chambers in his 1832 > Book > > of Days notes that the festivities of Christmas originally derived > > from the Roman Saturnalia , had afterwards been intermingled with > the > > ceremonies observed by the British Druids at the period of > > winter-solstice, and at a subsequent period became incorporated > with > > the grim mythology of the ancient Saxons. Two popular observances > > belonging to Christmas are more especially derived from the > worship of > > our pagan ancestors—the hanging up of the mistletoe and the > burning of > > the Yule log. Regarding the Christmas tree itself, Chambers notes > that > > it seems to be a very ancient custom in Germany, and is probably a > > remnant of the splendid and fanciful pageants of the middle ages. > > Other traditions relating to Christmas that may derive from > Germanic > > pagan practices include the Christmas ham, Yule Goat, stuffing > > stockings, elements of Santa Claus and his nocturnal ride through > the > > sky, and elements of Alpine folklore.[3] > > > > There are also some accounts that place the earliest Christmas > trees > > in the Baltic (variously Estonia or Lativa), while in actuality the > > custom was introduced there in the 1920s. > > > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
