Christmas Eve

Christmas Day only days away. Christmas ornaments started to liven up the atmosphere of welcoming Birthday Baby Jesus (warning). Buildings and shops have started slicked up with Santa Claus dolls, Christmas presents, twinkling lights, ornaments and also unforgettable Christmas tree ranging in size from miniature to giant. Christmas trees began to adorn the streets, shopping malls, train stations and urban centers around the world. Every year is always hectic perched Christmas tree and decorations are beautiful without the presence of us know to be true meaning of Christmas tree on Christmas Day. For those of us that Christianity is sometimes too easy to say, Christmas came also means there are Christmas trees.



Symbolic Meaning of Christmas tree

Christmas tree growing from Europe. A tree in the ancient German culture refers to the meaning of life and holiness. Ancient German people believe that in a living tree spirits are good. The trees are inhabited by the spirit of good character. They are called by humans through a certain ritual to be present to assist and protect human life from the threat of evil that comes from evil spirits.



The meaning of life revealed in the belief that trees become a place to live the good spirits and these spirits to maintain, protect and help mankind. The meaning of purity represented in nature and deeds spirits who live in this tree that is a good example and also always invite people to remain living in the goodness and maintain life. Trees with a pointy twigs and remains green indicating that the tree was always inhabited by good spirits and is directly visible presence who always keep the man from any disaster, threat and disaster. Such beliefs are still believed to be human at that time even though they know the teachings of the Christian religion.



In subsequent developments ornaments on Christmas trees will be interpreted as fertility expectations and hopes of human prosperity. In many literature, information on preferential decorate the Christmas tree as a big party at Christmas time began to emerge in the period prior to the reform within the church. In those days the church experiencing renewal (reform) from Martin Luther, Christmas tree theologically interpreted in the sense parallel with the tree in the garden of Eden in Genesis. Trees that are in the middle of the garden of Eden is called the tree of knowledge of good and evil.



Theological Meaning

Baby savior (Jesus) and mother (Mary) than theologically in the corridor that contrasts with figures of Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve fell into sin after Eve seduced by the serpent that is by following the seduction of snakes and eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The first man's fall into sin is redeemed by the birth of baby Jesus, the Savior.



In relation to the Christmas tree, the events of salvation through Jesus' birth means the old sin of Adam and Eve because God has ignored the ban and eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, have been redeemed.



Christmas tree with an ornament of apples and candied decorations appear to represent the first human sin of Adam and Eve and the salvation of man through Jesus Christ.



The tree that symbolizes mankind's fall into sin first began to grow and spread in 1570 came from Alsace and Switzerland and first flourished in the Protestant church. Catholic Church itself did not want to parallelize the theological significance of the extreme safety with Christmas trees, so explicit in recent literature. However, it is also possible that the identification Christmas tree with the tree of knowledge of good and bad no doubt.



Starting in 1730 the Catholic and Protestant churches accept the trappings of Christmas tree ornaments in the form of candles. Christmas tree ornaments filled with candles began to shine after the age of enlightenment that is in the XVIII century. Apple ornaments began also colored in red and gold colors.



Because the people of that age want to preserve the tree as a sign of major and typical of the period of Christmas and want to perpetuate the existence of the tree until the arrival of a party of three kings from the east who visit and worship the baby Jesus, Christians decorate with carefully so full of Christmas trees can survive long. Since this period also presents Christmas began to fill the gaps under the Christmas tree. More interestingly, children's dreams and desires of small Naka in writing and beautifully decorated, or even put in a special miniature began to hang on Christmas tree branch.



Only in the twentieth century, Christmas trees and Christmas cage combined presence at Christmas time in the church and its presence characterizes the Christmas period until now. Starting this twentieth century also has seen common people have a Christmas tree and cages in their homes.



Lively Christmas Eve

It is interesting that in Switzerland, France, Britain and Sweden have a unique tradition of blessing and burning of wood logs with a log of wood called Christmas. With the ashes from wood logs this Christmas the priest blesses the people, domestic animals and livestock, homes and city. There are also many people who then took a piece of charcoal or ashes from wood logs that have been burned to the natal homes and stores them until Christmas next year arrives. They believe salvation is obtained by grace to save it. Especially in England, during the Christmas log burning, people should throw away leftover food into the fire.



The tradition of burning wood logs this Christmas on Christmas Eve turned out to grow and spread until the U.S. especially among the black slave. They gathered on Christmas Eve in a special place and log burning Christmas tree. During combustion, the applicable rules of peace. The slave should not be punished on the eve of Christmas. They are free from work and may celebrate Christmas Eve.



In the Balkan tradition of burning wood logs this Christmas still survive until today. Before burning party on Christmas Eve, there is a special procession. Eik special log of wood, as long as three feet and was only 3 (three) years, kept in a house of a girl like Jesus who was conceived of a virgin. Wood logs are then wrapped with white cloth. Eik wooden spindle which is now a wooden spindle on crutches and paraded Christmas. Each person must apply ointment or special oils that smell good. Christmas wood logs were also punched for people to pour oil into it and other fragrances. In the procession to the center of the party, people sprinkled perfumes and spices. Christmas is the peak night of the burning wood logs accompanied Christmas prayers.



In India ceremonies Christmas trees are related with the Christian prayer. Decorated Christmas tree that has been planted in the yard and all family members gather to pray by holding a lit candle. In this family party, they listened to the reading of scripture story of Jesus' birth. Next they put a candle still burning on the tip of the branches of Christmas trees. Because it's become tradition that at this feast they also lit a bonfire, there is also a unique tradition. They jump over the embers while making wishes and dreams.



The presence of Christmas trees and Christmas Eve in the history and tradition was interpreted specifically and not just the obligatory rituals with no special meaning. Hopefully this paper is useful for those who will welcome and celebrate the Christmas feast, the feast of salvation.



Directly translated from: http://gendhotwukir.multiply.com/journal/item/218 (without editing, forgive me)