"O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree
Thy leaves are so unchanging,

Not only green when summer's here
But also when it's cold and drear.." is the famous traditional German song associated with the Christmas tree sung as a Christmas Carol.

When Christmas is near and most of us celebrating must have decorated our homes with Christmas tree adorned with hanging crystal balls, goodies, stockings and candies, let me throw light on how it came to existence.

Legend says St. Boniface who is known for converting many Germans to Christians came across a group of Pagans worshipping an oak tree. Seeing this, St. Boniface cut down the tree in anger. And what sprouted up was a fir tree from the roots of the oak tree. This was taken as a sign from God, they decorated it with candles and ever since then it became a universal Christian Symbol.

Yet another story says, during the 16th century the German preacher Martin Luther was the first person to bring the Christmas tree to his home. On the night before Christmas while he was walking through the forest, looking into the sky he saw stars shining through the branches. To see such a beautiful sight he bought a fir tree home, told his children that it reminded him of Jesus who left the star of heaven to come to earth on Christmas, that the fir tree shape were pointing towards heaven. Thus they decorated it with candles tied to celebrate the birth of Christ.

However the first documented use of Christmas tree is in Northern Europe in Riga, the capital of Latvia. Where there is a plaque that is engraved "The First New Year's Tree in Riga in 1510", in eight languages. By 1840 history records, Prince Albert gifting Queen Victoria's a Christmas tree which was set up in Windsor Castle. In 1848, drawing of "The Queen's Christmas tree at Windsor Castle" was published in the Illustrated London News, 1848 making it popular in UK and US. Now, all we have to wait for is Santa to give us presents!
Today, as the message spreads across, this tree shows that even in the heart of winter, when everything is dry and the trees have no leaves, it is still green and so a tree which symbolizes life. And this life has a name - Jesus Christ." Let this Christmas fill us all with new spirit, life and hope for a wonderful new year ahead.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and A Happy New year!

God Bless us all!