- "As laymen joined with
the clergy, the individual plays were arranged in a lengthy series or cycle throughout the
church year" (Foley, pg. 39).
In this way, peasants were taught about the Old and New Testaments of the bible.
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- During the Christmas season,
the Paradise play was presented. This play depicted Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.
On stage was an evergreen tree, covered in apples, which showed Adam and Eve's sin and later
banishment from the garden.
The tree received particular attention because it was the only prop on the stage.
This symbol remained firmly planted in the minds of spectators and actors. Later, after the
plays "ceased to be performed in Germany" ( Foley, pg. 41), people began putting
their own trees in their homes.
-
- This early Paradise tree
had a lot of value to the Germans.
- By having the tree in their
home they were able to teach their children the story of Adam and Eve.
They taught this story through symbols. The evergreen tree symbolized immortality because it
stays green all year.
The apples on the Paradise tree symbolized Adam's sin. Round wafers and cookies were also
added as decorations. They represented the fruits of redemption.
-
- Candles were also important
symbols to the Germans. The candle was their main source of light, and it represented Christ
being the Light of the World.
The candles were placed on a wooden pyramid structure with shelves called the lightstock or
Christmas pyramid.
This pyramid stood next to the Paradise tree. This candle holder was also decorated with
tinsel, paper or cloth roses, and a star was usually placed on top.
-
- After some years the two were
combined. The Christmas tree we know today is a combination of the Paradise tree and the
Christmas pyramid.
From Germany, the idea of a Christmas tree spread. As Germans left the Rhineland to settle
in other countries,they took their proud custom
with them.
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- In England, then America,
German settlers had brought the idea of a Christmas tree over.
The Christmas tree soon spread to all corners of the Globe, celebrating our redemption,- "The birth of our Saviour"
