Today in History

Today in History

1856

President Franklin Pierce placed the first Christmas Tree in the

White House.

Origin of the Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree's origins can be traced back to the 200 AD's, when the early church father Tertullian wrote: "You are the light of the world, a tree ever green, if you have renounced the heathen temple."

St. Boniface (680-755), also called Wynfred, was Apostle of the Germans, being sent forth by Pope Gregory II as a missionary to heathen Germany. In the year 716, St. Boniface confronted the Chieftain Gundhar, who was about to offer the little Prince Asulf as a "bloody sacrifice" to Thor, their pagan god who supposedly lived in the huge "donar" oak tree at Geismar.

St. Boniface boldly took an ax and after a few swings at the mighty "blood" oak, an enormous wind blew the tree over. The heathen throng was in awe and converted to Christianity. Then pointing to an evergreen tree that had miraculously grown up, St. Boniface said:

"This is the word, and this is the counsel. Not a drop of blood shall fall tonight, for this is the birth-night of Saint Christ, Son of the All-Father and Saviour of the world.

This little tree, a young child of the forest, shall be a home tree tonight. It is the wood of peace, for your houses are built of fir. It is the sign of endless life, for its branches are ever green...

See how it points toward Heaven! Let this be called the tree of the Christ Child; gather about it, not in the wild woods but in your homes; there it will shelter no deeds of blood, but loving gifts and lights of kindness."