An Alsatian local enjoys dinner in one of the decorated downtown restaurants in Sélestat. The sign indicates that hot wine is served. (Peter Jaeger / S&S)
An Alsatian local enjoys dinner in one of the decorated downtown restaurants in Sélestat. The sign indicates that hot wine is served. (Peter Jaeger / S&S)
St. George’s Church decks the halls with hanging Christmas trees. (Peter Jaeger / S&S)
Eight differently decorated Christmas trees are displayed throughout the old town center of Sélestat, France. This one stands in front of St. George’s Church. (Peter Jaeger / S&S)
Even the shops are decorated with hanging Christmas trees in Sélestat. (Peter Jaeger / S&S)
This Christmas tree highlights the humanistic library in the center of Sélestat. (Peter Jaeger / S&S)
During this season, decorated Christmas trees are a common sight around the world. But nowhere do their roots go deeper than in central Europe.
The Romans and other ancient cultures considered the evergreen tree the home of the gods, and consequently a symbol of life. Because life appears to never leave evergreens and the color green symbolized hope as well as fidelity, Romans collected evergreens to bring both into their homes.
As Christianity began to spread, it modified some of the pagan customs, including the use of evergreens. Trees were placed in church chancels and in the squares outside.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Christmas trees became symbols of Christmas time outside churches as well as inside.
Historical accounts show that in about the middle of the 16th century, small evergreen trees were being sold in Strasbourg, France, and were hung from the ceilings in private homes.
Later, the trees were decorated with red apples. The custom originated in the Middle Ages when the “paradise play,” showing how sin came into this world, was performed before Nativity re-enactments in churches. At the time, the Christmas tree was called the “paradise tree” or “Adam’s tree.”
Eventually the ornaments evolved into apples wrapped in gold or silver paper, with nuts, cookies and candy. After a while the apples wrapped in shiny paper were replaced by colored glass balls.
I heard a version on how glass ornaments came into existence during a recent study tour in the Alsace. We were told that one year there was a terrible drought, which resulted in a lack of apples. When it came time to decorate the trees, the apples were replaced by ones made made from thin colored glass. I like this version, and since a historian told it, I tend to believe him.
The castle of Duchess Dorothea Sybille of Silesia, part of what is now Poland, is said to have played host to the first tree lit with candles, in 1611. In the 18th century, Christmas trees became increasingly popular throughout Europe. Still small, they were put on tables along with toys and clothes for the children, cookies and sweets.
In 1780, the first Christmas trees appeared in Berlin, and in 1813 in Austria, according to some sources. Prince Albert, the German husband of Queen Victoria of England, took the Christmas tree across the English Channel. German emigrants brought the tree across the ocean to America.
Just south of Strasbourg is the town of Sélestat. It claims the honor of being the first place in central Europe to decorate Christmas trees. According to the Alsace tourism office, the claim is based on an entry in the municipal records of Dec. 21, 1521, to purchase a “festive tree” to be decorated as a sign of worship “to the eternal renewal of Nature” — a tradition that developed into today’s Christmas tree.
As a result, each year in December the town hosts a series of events tied to the tree’s history and Christmas traditions. One of them is a trail of trees through the old town. The trees are erected at historic sites and decorated in different styles, beginning with the end of the 15th century through the end of the 19th century.
At each site there is a small Christmas market, exhibition or religious display. The activities continue through Saturday.
Source: World Wide Web
