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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-12-03, Page 24Pogo Vow Tho Kaca¢o roHam Glows c6f4 Pl ac a nees ar rt of Christm l/''9 p0 S• ditiL a on The Christmas tree was retexred to by Charles Dickens as "that pretty German toy." However, the history of this symbol of Christmas goes back much further than that. Initially it was called theParadise Tree and the quotation from an old play, " an Adam's fall, we sinned all" describes the original setting in which it was presented. The Paradise play, a medieval drama about Adam and Eve, was presented during Ad- vent, the four weeks preceding Christmas. It dramatized the episodes in the life of our first parents and the story of their banish- ment from the Garden of Eden. In this play, a fir tree was used hung with apples representing the tree in the Garden of Eden, from which Eve picked the first "bad" apple. It was the only prop on the stage, and as such it naturally attracted the attention of the spectators, and in particular the c ldren. In Germany, where the play . was presented most often, the tree became a symbol of Christmas and this idea became firmly planted in the minds of the people. as such, it was called the Christbaum, and was decorated with apples representing sin, and wafers representing redemption. Eventual- ly the apples were replaced by cookies and pastries; and then at times the combination of all three were used. As time went on, the cookies began to assume fancy shapes and these eventually turned into the modern decorations as we know them today. We see then that the Christmas tree had its origin among the inhabitants, of Western Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Paradise tree in the form of a fir tree with its evergreen needles - evergreen being the symbol of immortality - and its pyramidal habit of growth was similar in shape to the wooden pyramid or Lichstock which held the candles. Both were set up in the best room of the house on the same day of the year, December 24. The two, when combin- ed, made a symbol gleaming with light to teach the children that Christ was the light of the world. The star from the top of the pyramid was eventually placed at the top of the Paradise tree and a Christmas crib was set up at the base near it. This picture needed no words to convey its message. Fir boughs and trees decorated in the above manner are still found in sections of Bavaria where they are known as Paradeis. In many parts of central Europe the same wooden pyramid or Lichstock lighted with tapers and hung with decorations with its star at the top is still used side by side with the Christmas tree. The star from the top of the pyramid was eventually placed at the top of the Paradise tree and a Christmas crib was set up at the base near it. This picture heeded no words to co vey its message. Fir boughs and trees decorated in the above manner are still found in sections of Bavaria where they are known as Paradeis. In many parts of central Europe the same wooden pyramid or Lichstock lighted with tapers and hung with decorations with its star at the top is still us- ed side by side with the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree had been used exten- sively for many years in Germany before its eventual popular recognition in England as a symbol of Christmas. Perhaps 200 years before Christmas, 1841, German people had been celebrating the festive season in front and around the Christmas fir. However, in. that year, which was the Christmas after the birth of his first son, the Consort of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, who was from the German Province of Saxe -Coburg, entertained children, including no doubt his first son, with an elaborate Christmas tree which was set up in great style at Windsor Castle. But it was not until seven years later that the Illustrated London News described by means of a full-page engraving in its `I► arr.' ,Il 111 1 (IJ ze 1111111i,, Christmas supplement the eight -foot r tree with its tiers or branches then being used regularly by the Royal Family. Although the Christmas tree had been us- ed to some extent in England before this oc- casion, it was undoubtedly its acceptance a:ad well-known usage by the Royal family that caused its popularity to spread throughout England, and for it to be ac- cepted as the Christmas symbol in most English homes. So real or artificial, with electric light or flickering candle, it seems that our Christmas tree is after all the sym- bol. Perhaps it doesn't matter -as long as we still have one. Ahhhh.1. So irresistible.... Christmas has never looked so good! Sweaterskisr :Shirts' JPants*r 4. S,ports Jackets' he 775 Queen. St. Kincardine - 4e° Larry Stanley u.00m396 4545 �7maillon Debbie Sullivan Santa's Little Helpers are in Paradise! And you can be, too! PARADISE TRAVEL 811 Queen, Kincardine 3963346 (locally . owned 'and operated)