Hope is on the way 7: Why we have Christmas trees?

Today, Tia, Rebekah and Elizabeth is helping Louise to put the Christmas decorations and off course decorating the Christmas tree. The three of them were in charge of putting the Christmas tree up. Not forgetting Louise, Hannah and Michal, they are the member of the congregation and there were in charge of putting the Christmas decoration up.

You guess what songs the three young adults sang of course O‘Christmas tree only the first verse.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!

The three of them put the Christmas tree up and decorate.

Rebekah asked Elizabeth “Why do have a Christmas tree?”

Everyone stopped what they were doing and listened to what Elizabeth has to say.

“Well Rebekah, what a good question. “The evergreen fir tree was traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals (Pagan and Christian) for thousands of years.

Michal carried on what Elizabeth said “Pagans used branches of the fir tree to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it made them think of the spring to come. The Romans used Fir Trees to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturnalia. Christians use it as a sign of everlasting life with God. Sorry for interrupting Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth said to Michal, “No worries.”

Tia said to Elizabeth “When was the Fir three was was first used as Christmas trees”

Elizabeth answered Tia question “Nobody is really sure when Fir trees were first used as Christmas trees. It probably began about 100 years ago in Northern Europe.”

Tia said to Michal, Who was the first person to bring Christmas trees to their house?”

Michal answered Tia question, “The first person to bring a Christmas Tree into a house, in the way we know it today, may have been the 16th century German preacher Martin Luther. A story is told that, one night before Christmas, he was walking through the forest and looked up to see the stars shining through the tree branches. It was so beautiful, that he went home and told his children that it reminded him of Jesus, who left the stars of heaven to come to earth at Christmas. Some people say this is the same tree as the 'Riga' tree, but it isn't! The Riga tree originally took place a few decades earlier. Northern Germany and Latvia are neighbours.

Elizabeth said “I remember my Mom telling me how the fir tree became the Christmas tree?”

Rebekah went, “Elizabeth can you tell that story to us?”

“Of course I can Rebekah. This is the story of how the fir tree became the Christmas tree. At the time when the Christ Child was born all the people, the animals, and the trees, and plants were very happy. The Child was born to bring peace and happiness to the whole world. People came daily to see the little One, and they always brought gifts with them.

There were three trees standing near the crypt that saw the people, and they wished that they, too, might give presents to the Christ Child.

The Palm said: "I will choose my most beautiful leaf, and place it as a fan over the Child."

"And I," said the Olive, "will sprinkle sweet-smelling oil upon His head."

"What can I give to the Child?" asked the Fir, who stood near.

"You!" cried the others. "You have nothing to offer Him. Your needles would prick Him, and your tears are sticky."

So the poor little Fir tree was very unhappy, and it said: "Yes, you are right. I have nothing to offer the Christ Child."

Now, quite near the trees stood the Christmas Angel, who had heard all that the trees had said. The Angel was sorry for the Fir tree that was so lowly and without envy of the other trees. Therefore, when it was dark, and the stars came out, he begged a few of the little stars to come down and rest upon the branches of the Fir tree. They did as the Christmas Angel asked, and the Fir tree shone suddenly with a beautiful light.

And, at that very moment, the Christ Child opened His eyes—for He had been asleep—and as the lovely light fell upon Him He smiled.

Every year people keep the dear Christ Child's birthday by giving gifts to each other, and every year, in remembrance of His first birthday, the Christmas Angel places in every house a fir tree, also. Covered with starry candles it shines for the children as the stars shone for the Christ Child. The Fir tree was rewarded for its meekness, for to no other tree is it given to shine upon so many happy faces.”

Since everyone has finished making the Chapel very festive, they walked around the Christmas tree and sang rockin around the Christmas tree.

Rocking around the Christmas Tree
at the Christmas party hop
Mistletoe hung where you can see
Ev'ry couple tries to stop

Rocking around the Christmas Tree
Let the Christmas Spirit Ring
Later we'll have some pumpkin pie
and we'll do some caroling

You will get a sentimental feeling
When you hear voices singing
"Let's be jolly; Deck the halls with boughs of holly"

Rocking around the Christmas Tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone's dancing merrily
In a new old fashioned way

You will get a sentimental feeling
When you hear voices singing
"Let's be jolly; Deck the halls with boughs of holly"

Rocking around the Christmas Tree
Have a happy holiday
Everyone's dancing merrily
In the new old fashioned way