The Christians Stole Christmas (part 5)

King Tut never saw a Christmas tree, but he would have understood the tradition which traces back long before the first Christmas, says David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture with the Springfield Extension Center.
The Egyptians were part of a long line of cultures that treasured and worshipped evergreens. When the winter solstice arrive, they brought green date palm leaves into their homes to symbolize life's triumph over death.

The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a fest called Saturnalia in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. They decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts. They gave coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness, and lamps to light one's journey through life.

Centuries ago in Great Britain, woods priests called Druids used evergreens during mysterious winter solstice rituals. The Druids used holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life, and place evergreen branches over doors to keep away evil spirits.

Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early traditions.

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Mistletoe and Holly

Two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Druids used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. They would gather this evergreen plant that is parasitic upon other trees and used it to decorate their homes. They believed the plant had special healing powers for everything from female infertility to poison ingestion. Scandinavians also thought of mistletoe as a plant of peace and harmony. They associated mistletoe with their goddess of love, Frigga. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe probably derived from this belief. The early church banned the use of mistletoe in Christmas celebrations because of its pagan origins. Instead, church fathers suggested the use of holly as an appropriate substitute for Christmas greenery.

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http://hiddenmysteries.net/newz/article.php?story=20061217190131424
The Christians Stole Christmas (part 1)

http://hiddenmysteries.net/newz/article.php?story=2006121719292878
The Christians Stole Christmas (part 2)

http://hiddenmysteries.net/newz/article.php?story=20061217193930445
The Christians Stole Christmas (part 3)

http://hiddenmysteries.net/newz/article.php?story=20061217194519235
The Christians Stole Christmas (part 4)

http://hiddenmysteries.net/newz/article.php?story=20061217202131846
The Christians Stole Christmas (part 6)

http://hiddenmysteries.net/newz/article.php?story=20061217203527234
The Christians Stole Christmas (part 7)

http://hiddenmysteries.net/newz/article.php?story=20061217204620505
The Christians Stole Christmas (part 8)

http://hiddenmysteries.net/newz/article.php?story=20061217211335628
The Christians Stole Christmas (part 9)

http://hiddenmysteries.net/newz/article.php?story=2006121721343128
The Christians Stole Christmas (conclusion)