Do your children know the history of the Christmas Tree?

There are many different stories, but by far the most popular the most popular one is the St. Boniface story, and even this one is open to several different endings.

The basic story comes from Germany where to convince a group of pagans in Germany, who refused to believe his teachings, St. Boniface cut down a huge Oak Tree.  The pagans believed the oak, which they called the “Oak of Thor”, was sacred to their gods and that no harm could come to their tree. When the tree smashed to the ground, the pagans were immediately converted to St Boniface’s teachings.

There are several stories as to why they converted, such as:

• When they saw that no harm had come to St Boniface, they became Christians.

• When the tree was cut down a small fir tree emerged from the roots of the oak tree and St. Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith.

• When the Oak tree fell, it split into four parts that landed on the ground in the shape of a cross.

This might explain why the Christmas tree has become part of Christian households.

Finally, did you know they were not brought inside until the 16^th Century?

The History Portal tell this story in our Christmas Musical. What happened on the journey is the subject of our musical The Magic Tree – A Story for Christmas which has twelve original songs that you children will walk round the school singing.  

To hear two of the songs and read two pages of script please go to https://www.history-portal.com/index.php/product/the-magic-tree/

Enjoy the show, your children will love it.

10 questions to discuss:

1. 1. Beyond the versions mentioned, are there any other historical accounts or oral traditions relating the story of St. Boniface and the oak tree?
   2. What evidence exists to support the various endings of the story, and how do they reflect different interpretations of its purpose and symbolism?
   3. Were there other pagan beliefs or rituals associated with trees in Germanic cultures, and how might they have influenced the interpretation of the story and the adoption of the Christmas tree?
   4. Beyond St. Boniface, were there other historical figures or religious leaders who contributed to the development of the Christmas tree tradition in Europe?
   5. The blog mentions the 16th century as the time when Christmas trees were brought inside. What might have led to this shift in tradition, and were there any regional variations in its adoption?
   6. How did the symbolism of the Christmas tree evolve over time, and how might it differ between religious and secular contexts?
   7. Are there any environmental or ethical concerns associated with the modern use of Christmas trees, and how do these compare to potential ecological practices linked to earlier traditions?
   8. The blog focuses on the German story. Are there similar myths or traditions in other cultures that connect trees or other plants to religious conversions or festive celebrations?
   9. How has the story of St. Boniface and the oak tree been used in art, literature, or popular culture, and how do these interpretations reflect changing cultural values and perspectives?
   10. What ongoing research or archaeological discoveries could shed new light on the origins and evolution of the Christmas tree tradition and its connection to historical figures like St. Boniface?

To learn more about Christmas Trees

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees#:~:text=Germany%20is%20credited%20with%20starting,candles%20if%20wood%20was%20scarce.

https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/christmas-trees

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/christmas-tree-customs

© Tony Dalton