Thank Catholic Innovation for – Christmas Trees

Posted: 11/30/2021 | Innovation

Many are familiar with Thor, the God of Thunder, as a beloved character in the Marvel Universe. But many centuries ago, the pagans worshiped Thor among other gods, and that is where the story of the Christmas tree begins.

In the eighth century, St. Boniface was sent as a missionary from Rome to Hesse, Germany to preach the Gospel. When he arrived, things were not as he had hoped; the Germans had returned to their pagan ways. An old priest of Thor greeted St. Boniface and his companions and shared that they were preparing to celebrate the winter solstice by sacrificing a young man under the Oak Tree of Odin, Thor’s father.

History states that St. Boniface did, in fact, cut down the oak tree to prevent the child sacrifice. Legend presents a more riveting account: at the first swing of St. Boniface’s axe, a mighty gust of wind blew through the village and knocked down the oak tree. A humble fir tree was left standing amidst the debris, so the villagers, at St. Boniface’s instruction, took the little tree to the village, where it was placed in the duke’s great hall. The villagers gathered around the tree, including the former priest of Thor, to listen intently to St. Boniface as he told the story of the birth of Christ, the Savior of the world.

St. Boniface also told the villagers to take home a fir tree of their own for it would remind them of three things: the importance of peace, indicated by the wood of the fir tree, which was known as a symbol of peace; the joy of endless life, symbolized by the evergreen leaves; and the hope of heaven, which is where the shape of the tree points our gaze.

When you put up a Christmas tree in your home this year, remember these lessons from St. Boniface so you can keep your heart focused on the true meaning of Christmas.

Share