Origins of the
Christmas Tree
Legends dealing with the orig
in of the use of the Christmas
tree go as far back as the Tenth
century when George Jacob, the
Arabian geographer, declared
that all of the trees in the forest
blossomed and bore fruit the
night of our Lord’s Nativity.
It Ls believed that Jacob’s sto
ry might have led to the later cus
tom of hanging apples and fruits
on the evergreen tree, and, as is
the habit in certain parts of Eur
ope, of using a blossoming cherry
sapling in the home as a Christ
mas tree.
One August Imgart introduced
the Christmas tree to America 100
years ago in Wooster, Ohio, and,
in so doing, preserved the tradi
tion that had been handed down.
In 1851, Rev. Henry C. Schwan,
pastor of Zion Lutheran church
in Cleveland, Ohio, put up the
first Christmas tree in a church
in this country, for which he and
his parishioners were severely de
nounced by other congregations.
One of the most beautiful leg
ends concering the Christmas tree
is the ancient tale dealing with
the forester and his household,
who had just gathered round the
fireside on Christmas Eve when
they heard a timid knock on the
SEASON S
BEST
A truly Merry
Christmas
to our good
friends and
neigh
bors.
BOARD OF TRADE
door.
The forester opened the door
to behold a little child shivering
on the steps. Touched by the
child’s cold and apparent exhaus
tion, the forester took him in, and
he was welcomed by the whole
family and warmed and fed. La
ter, the forester’s son, Hans, gave
up his bed to the little child.
In the morning, the family was
awakened by the singing of a
choir of angels, and looking at
their little guest saw him standing
transfigured in their midst. They
recognized him as the Christ
child. As the Lord Jesus bade the
family farewell, He broke off a
branch from a fir tree, set it in
the earth and said, “Behold, I
have gladly received your kind
gifts and this is my gift to you.
Henceforth, this tree shall always
bear its fruits at Christmas time
and you shall always have abund
ance.”
The first community Christmas
tree was set up in Paris, France,
in 1840, but was not popularly
accepted throughout the world
until the advent of electricity,
when the lighting could be stabi
1 lized and proper effect given to
| its display.
Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha,
"XMAS" IS OKEH
FOR ABBREVIATION
While many people frown on the
use of “Xmas” for Christmas, this
abbreviation has an authentic
basis in history.
The "X” is the first letter of the
Greek word for Christ. Christian
scholars of the middle ages are
said in their writings to have ab
breviated the spelling of the Na
tivity celebration into X-mass or
simply Xmas. In the same way
“Xn” was used for Christian and
“Xty” for Christianity.
In the catacombs of ancient
Rome X is often found to stand
for Christ. The earliest Christian
artists, when making a representa
tion of the Trinity, would place
either a cross or X beside the
Father and the Holy Ghost.
Christmas Cards
Make <your own Yule cards by
; using decorative papers or by
making use of a linoleum block.
If you are artistically inclined,
paint some for your favorite
friends.
who came to England in 1840 to
wed the young Victoria, is credi
ted with the bringing the Christ
mas tree to the British isles.
, ✓ .
Youth and old
age will be served
with a Merry
Christmas
this year
CREAM
CENTER
G. MADSEN
K. HEDREEN
SEASON’S GREETINGS
POLAR
BAR - CURIO SHOP
IJQIJOR STORE
PHOTO SHOP
NOME, ALASKA
A VERY
MERRY CHRISTMAS
TO EVERYONE
NOME HARDWARE
DIESEL OIL SALES
U. S. MERCANTILE CO.