Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1918 — St. Winnifred and the Tree [ARTICLE]

St. Winnifred and the Tree

One story of the origin of the green tree as the Christmas tree among the people of northern Europe is given in a legend of St. Wlnnifred. It is one of the many thousands of those simple and beautiful beliefs that have attached themselves to the midwinter festival and which generally pass now under the name of “Christmas myths.” It is related that St. Winnifred, a great Christian missionary, began cutting down a’“sacred” oak which had been the object of worship by the northern pagans whom he was seeking to lead aright. While he was hewing down the huge tree it was blamed by a sudden whirlwind. 'Close beside it was a young fir tree, which was not harmedeither by the whirlwind or by the fall of the giant oak. Then St. Winnifred is reported to have spoken as follows to the pagans: “This little tree, a young child of the forest, shall be your holy tree tonight. It is the wood of peace, for your homes are built of it. It is the sign of an endless life, for its leaves are always green. See how it points toward heaven I 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 acts of kindness.” The fir tree, the common evergreen of the northern regions, became the holy tree of the converted pagans, and ln> its honor or in memory of the thoughts it stood for they decorated it with lights and gifts at Christmas.