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December 18, 2020Have you ever wondered how we ended up with a fir tree in our living room to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, especially when all you could find in Oriental Bethlehem would be palm trees?
A mixture of mostly facts with a dash of legend points to the seventh century monk, Saint Boniface and his mission to Germany to teach the word of God.
Every year the locals of Geismar would gather around an enormous oak tree known as Thunder Oak, which was dedicated to the god Thor, and sacrifice a small child. Saint Boniface put an end to this by chopping down the tree (and here’s where the legend steps in) with one blow and a great gust of wind toppled the tree. No matter how the great oak fell, what remained was a small fir tree which Boniface deemed “the wood of peace...the sign of endless life for its leaves are ever green.” He related the shape of the tree to the Holy Trinity and urged the people to use this tree as a reminder of God’s love with no blood shed, only acts of love and kindness.
This tradition spread quickly throughout Germany and then to the United States in the eighteenth century through German immigrants.
As you sit in the glow of the soft Christmas tree lights this advent season, let us reflect on the many blessings bestowed upon us by God’s greatest gift he could have given us, his own beloved Son.
To Better Connection in Christ Jesus,
Fr. Brian