Martin Luther Christmas Tree
As the story goes back in 1536 luther was walking through a forest near his home in germany when he happened to catch a glimpse of stars through a pine tree s branches.
Martin luther christmas tree. Germany forms the background for many of the west s perceptions of christmas and this little book brings them to life with warmth and joy. While walking through snowy woods under a bright starlit sky the beauty of the scene so moved luther that he wanted to recreate it at home. Legend credits the protestant. The first person to bring a christmas tree into a house in the way we know it today may have been the 16th century german preacher martin luther.
There is a 16th or a 17th century claim made by the early lutheran church that the protestant reformer martin luther was the first one to come up with the idea of having a christmas tree in the home. Yet martin luther had placed this little tree upright in a pot high on the table. The story goes like this. Soon martin luther called his family in so he could tell them about his long walk through the dark and dangerous forest.
A story is told that one night before christmas he was walking through the forest and looked up to see the stars shining through the tree branches. Start with the tree. This exceedingly rare and beloved tale recounts martin luther s life and teaches children about the christmas heritage purported to derive from luther. Whether history or legend the tale of martin luther s christmas tree is a heart warming story about how luther used christmas trees to illuminate the way christ brought god s light into the world.
One winter s night in 1536 so the story goes luther was walking through a pine forest near his home in wittenberg when he suddenly looked up and saw thousands of stars glinting jewel like among the branches of the trees. Martin luther the protestant reformer helped re ignite pun intended interest in christmas trees. Then martin luther put candles on the tree saying the candles remind us of the star that led wise men to the christ child that was probably the first decorated tree. This inspired him to bring a tree inside and decorate it with candles to remind children about the wonders of heaven.
Legend has it that queen charlotte s compatriot martin luther the religious reformer invented the christmas tree. When all was done he sat his children down and taught them a new carol he had written. Everyone gasped at the sight of the little fir tree for it was customary to hang christmas trees upside down from the ceiling beams and leave them undecorated. Luther was one day in the woods and he saw the trees amongst the snow and thought it would be a good idea to cut down a tree and put candles on it to remind people of christ s birth.
The candles had been removed from the triangle shaped holder.