| In Thurgungia region of Germany in the early 700s, | | | | whereby many were taught to read and write. He |
| St. Boniface felled a particularly massive tree called | | | | recruited both priests and nuns to come from |
| the "thunder oak" and a chapel was built from its | | | | England with books to help him in this endeavor. He |
| wood. Though the region was supposed to be largely | | | | then went on to Bavaria and revitalized the clergy |
| Christian, it was politically unstable. Roaming bands of | | | | there insisting on literacy. |
| murderous and thieving hooligans were not | | | | He was ordained a Bishop and then an Archbishop by |
| uncommon, making travel unsafe. At that time, the | | | | the pope. In his later life he resigned the lofty title of |
| area was largely illiterate and many who were | | | | Archbishop and went to Zuder Zee (in what is now |
| superstitious, were amazed St. Boniface was not | | | | modern Holland) as a simple missionary. The region |
| struck by lightning for cutting down the tree. | | | | was dangerous with marauding bands, much as |
| Some accounts assert a fir sapling grew out of the | | | | Thurgundia had been years before. Boniface was |
| trees stump the following spring. Other accounts hold | | | | murdered while traveling with other missionaries. |
| the sapling grew where the mighty tree's shadow | | | | Many believe the cut evergreen tree in a house to |
| would have been. The writings of St. Boniface tell us, | | | | be a pagan symbol, but that is not true. The cut pine |
| he dug the sapling up and took the small tree inside | | | | tree is entirely a Christian symbol, as is the small |
| his house right before Christmas and put it on a table. | | | | potted Christmas tree. Ancient pagans didn't cut |
| To him the tree seemed to point to heaven, | | | | down entire pine trees and bring them into the house. |
| reminding him that Jesus is alive in heaven and sitting | | | | They brought in pine branches for sweeping and for |
| at the hand of His Father. | | | | a fresh pine aroma. They also made wreaths for |
| Soon the tradition of bringing a small tree into the | | | | their doors and mantle pieces out of pine branches. |
| house at Christmas caught on in the region. The new | | | | The idea of a pine tree coming into the house at |
| tradition rapidly spread to all of Germany, and then | | | | Christmas originated with St. Boniface. |
| throughout Austria. By the next century Christian | | | | The Christmas tree is such a dear symbol to |
| Germans and Austrians were decorating their inside | | | | Germanic Christians they have a beloved song about |
| pine trees with small Christmas gifts they intended to | | | | this very thing, O Tannenbaum. |
| give to family members. Such things as bits of sugar | | | | O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, Wie sind deine |
| candy for children were hung from the trees' | | | | Blatter! -- or in English -- O Christmas tree, O |
| branches, as were home knit socks for the man of | | | | Christmas tree, How are thy leaves so verdant! |
| the house, or a crocheted scarf for the lady of the | | | | Today, many assume paintings and drawings of an |
| house. | | | | ancient fiugre depicted wearing a blue Santa-like suit |
| Boniface went on to Hessia and there with the | | | | carrying a small Christmas tree to be St. Nicholas. |
| assistance of two tribal chiefs set up a monastic cell | | | | However, this rendering is more rightly of St. |
| Amonebury on the River Ohm. There he trained | | | | Boniface. |
| native German clergy and started a literacy campaign | | | | |