Legend has it that, in the 8th Century, St. Boniface traveled to northern Germany to convert pagan Frankish tribes to Christianity. It is said that the saint used the triangular shape of a fir tree in order to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity. This is the Christian concept of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit being a single, unified entity. Despite this, there is scant factual evidence to support it.
What we do know is that, in the past, people used to decorate trees that lost their leaves during winter. They believed that spirits had abandoned them, so they took to decorating the trees in order to attract the spirits back, thus continuing to give them life. That’s how the tradition of Christmas trees we know and love today was born.
The Star
• Red symbolizes the blood that Jesus shed for the redemption of humanity, according to Christian tradition.
• Silver and gold symbolize the rich blessings that we receive in life.
• Green symbolizes the vitality of trees and nature and reminds us that we can only survive thanks to this vitality (as we all live either directly or indirectly off the land of the Earth).
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