Hi this is this is Tutor Nick P and this is Word Origins 94. Today the word origin is
Christmas tree. So this video is going to try to cover the idea of like you know,
where did the Christmas tree come from ? Because obviously you know, Christmas is
supposed to be the birth of Jesus. So where did the ...? Where did it exactly did
the Christmas tree come in? Why is it associated with Christmas ? How did that
come about ? So this is what this this is the origin of that. Okay. So let's look at
the first note here. The Christmas tree is a decorative tree put up each year to
celebrate the Christmas season. Okay. Some people may set up a real evergreen tree
that must be replaced each year. Or some people simply put up an artificial tree
that can be stored away. You know, probably in somebody's attic or
something like that. And put back up again the next year. Okay. The custom
putting up a Christmas tree is said to have started in Livonia which is
present-day Estonia. You know, in Eastern Europe. So that's where they think it
first started. The customs soon spread to Germany and I think Germany popularized
it even more. Let's continue. Many believe the custom may have been related to the
idea of the Tree of Paradise you know like in the story of Adam and Eve. The
trees were originally decorated with apples to represent the forbidden fruit.
Remember-, the forbidden fruit of the tree . Remember like with the snake that
convinced Eve to bite the Apple. So and the wafers to represent the Eucharist.
The Eucharist you know, that's the you know, the body and blood of Christ. And
every Sunday when they go to Mass that is the Eucharist. So they put wafers on
there too. And the Redemption, the Redemption you know, the fact that you
know, Jesus rose again after three days. All right. Let's continue. The Protestant reformer
Martin Luther you know , like a one sect of the Christian religion is Lutheran.
Some people are Lutheran. So Martin Luther was the first one that started
that. That's where Lutherans come from. So the Protestant reformer Martin
Luther is believed to be the first person to add lighted candles to the
tree. So they actually put real candles on trees you know, you do wonder about
that. It sounds very dangerous, but anyway that's what they first used. Because this
was done long before the invention of electricity that they started putting
lighted candles on the Christmas tree to make it look more beautiful. Let's
continue. The tree was eventually moved into the home and Christmas bulbs
replaced the apples which made more sense because you know if you put it up
especially for Christmas season I don't know if the apples can last through the
whole season. And Christmas strings of electric lights
were used after the introduction of electricity in the homes. And that makes
a lot of sense anyway because if you put lighted candles on a Christmas tree
that's a real fire hazard. You don't . You won't want to do that with a tree
inside your home. Okay. Let's continue here. All right. The practice of placing
gifts around a tree became popular in 1846 after Queen Victoria and her German
husband Albert were drawn in an illustration of the London news in front
of a Christmas tree with four children and many gifts. And of course today just
about every house that celebrates Christmas
whether you're Christian or not. A lot of people it's still an American custom.
Many people do it and around the world now many people will put up a Christmas
tree even if they are not Christian too . So the Christmas tree is you know, all over
the place. It's ubiquitous. It's everywhere. It can be found around
Christmas time. Okay. Good. And of course. We just give one example
of its use. So they placed a star on the top of the Christmas tree.
Yeah. Very often a lot of Christmas trees may have a decoration of a star put on
top as well. And that you know, that's supposed to you know, be symbol a symbol
of you know, the star they the three wise men followed,
you know to find Jesus to give him some gifts at his birth. Okay. Anyway, I hope
you got it. I hope it was clear. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.