The Christmas Tree






Centuries before Christ, people who worshipped nature brought evergreens into their homes during festival time as a proof of continuing life.

Legend has it, the first Christmas tree was an evergreen that sprang from the center of an oak cut down by St. Boniface in Germany in the 8th century. The oak was sacred to the pagan religion practiced then, and chopping it down symbolized that the old beliefs were no more. As the new tree reached up to the sky, St. Boniface told the crowd: "This... shall be your Holy Tree. It is the sign of endless life, for its leaves are evergreen. See how it points toward the heaven. Let this be called the tree of the Christ Child; gather about it in your homes and surround it with loving gifts and rites of kindness."

However, it wasn't until the early 17th century that the Christmas tree really became a part of the holiday celebration. European families brought it into their homes and decorated it with homemade ornaments, such as paper roses, candies and cookies, and with candles, which represented the stars in the sky over Bethlehem. Later, as immigrants came to America from all over Europe, these beautiful traditions came with them.

Magic Window Cookies

Use your favorite sugar cookie recipe. Cut out Christmas shapes and place on cookie sheets which are covered with foil. Cut out a small square in the center of the cookie and place a lifesaver, piece of hard tack candy, or a piece of homemade sucker in the hole. Use a straw to make a hole in the top of the cookie. Bake. Cool on the foil. When cool, string yarn through the hole and hang on your Christmas tree.

Suckers

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup Karo

Add coloring and flavoring to your liking.

Cook to hard crack or 300 degrees. Pour into molds or make small circles and use toothpicks for sticks. You can also pour it on a greased plate to cool, break in pieces to use in Magic Window Cookies or break into pieces and roll in powdered sugar for use in candy dish.

Make small red suckers and wrap in plastic wrap. Tie with green yarn and stick in a styrofoam cone. This makes a pretty Christmas Tree to give away.

Cover styrofoam cone with wrapped candy using pins to secure, or use toothpicks and cover with green gumdrops.

Cinnamon rolls can be placed to look like a tree. Frost, then decorate using a cake decorator or small candies.

Popcorn Trees

1/2 lb. butter or margarine
1 large pkg. marshmallows
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. spice gumdrops
Nuts if desired
10 qts. popped corn

Melt marshmallows and butter. Add nuts, vanilla and gumdrops. Stir and pour over popped corn. For standing trees press into buttered funnel or you can form a flat tree.


Collection and Design by Nina Whitehead, ©1996, Orem, Utah.