December: The Christmas Tree

Have you wondered each December, as you drag, push and pull a large fir tree into the house, and then venture into the loft trying to locate the “Christmas tree decoration box” - what on earth this is all about?

Well, back around 680 AD a boy called Wynfryth was born in Devon and it soon became apparent that he was a very gifted chap, so at the tender age of 13, he was sent to the Benedictine monastery at Nutscelle, a seminary of learning in the diocese of Winchester, situated between Southampton and Winchester, to further his studies.  The abbey of Nutscelle, or Nursling, was later destroyed by the Danes.

In 716, Wynfryth left to work in Friesland and within three years was made a Bishop by Pope Gregory the Second and given the name Boniface, meaning “Doer of good.” He then became a missionary to Germany and is credited with creating the Christian church there.

During the year of 722 he came across a scene where a young child was tied to an oak tree, about to be sacrificed to the sacred God of thunder, Thor. He immediately intervened, freeing the child and cutting down the oak. The Pagans were astounded that an angry Thor did not immediately strike him down with lightning, for stopping the sacrifice and began to take notice of this person among them.

A little later a small fir sprang up where the oak had been and Boniface declared it a holy tree, telling the heathen tribes: “its leaves remain evergreen in the darkest days – let Christ be your constant light. Its boughs reach out to embrace and its top points to heaven – let Christ be your comfort and your guide. Bring the humble tree into your houses and let Christ be at the centre of your households.” And so, the tradition of the Christmas tree was born.

It was sometime later around 1800, that the tradition was introduced into Britain by Charlotte, the wife of George 111. However, even then it did not become fashionable until Prince Albert popularised the practice in 1841, by putting up a big tree outside Windsor castle and for the first time, decorating it.

Young Victorian women loved the idea of making all sorts of things to embellish the tree and started well before December, making coloured paper twists filled with dates, silk and feather draw purses filled with sugared fruits or almonds and little cotton wool snowmen. They also used their macramé and lace skills to make doilies which they soaked in a dense sugar solution, which enabled them to be shaped and dried into decorative forms.

By 754, Boniface, who had by this time become Archbishop of Mainz, resigned his position to return to the Friesians. He was martyred the following year by Pagans in the town of Dokkrum, which is now part of Holland.

Some of the most popular species of tree used nowadays are the Norway spruce (Picea abies), Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana), Blue spruce (Picea pungens) and the Fraser fir (Abies fraseri). 

Different species of tree have different characteristics. Some, like the Fraser fir, are known for their stronger scents. The Nordmann fir, which is one of the UK's most popular trees, has a gentler scent and holds onto its needles (a good one to pick if you dislike hoovering!). 

The city of Oslo, Norway, presents a Christmas tree to the people of London every year as a symbol of gratitude for Britain's support during World War II. The tradition began in 1947 and continues today, with the tree typically displayed in Trafalgar Square.

So, the little boy from Devon, started a tradition that has now grown into a market, calculated to be valued at approximately £379 million, with an estimated 9 million trees sold each year – and that is just here in the UK! To grow enough trees for our home market, around 15,500 hectares (38,300 acres) of land is estimated to be used to maintain a constant, sustainable supply of commercial Christmas trees in the UK. 

That was some sermon Boniface gave to those Pagans in 722!