History of Christmas Trees

In 680 AD the Saxon Boniface was born in Crediton, Devon. Boniface grew up to become a monk, missionary and finally a martyr but before fulfilling his final destiny Boniface travelled to Germany to spread the word of God.

Whilst in Germany, legend tells that Boniface used the triangular shape of the fir tree to demonstrate the holy trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to the German people but first he had to overcome the local people’s superstition.

Until then the people had revered the oak. One story tells of how Boniface felled Thor's sacred Oak at Geismar, in front of hostile tribesmen by his own hand and it was here that he laid the foundation of a new church. The church grew to flourish and soon the local people began to worship the fir tree as God’s own tree.

Jump forward 500 years or so to the twelfth century and records show the fir tree was now becoming more commonly used in worship. All across Central Europe people were hanging fir trees upside down as a symbol of Christianity at Christmas time but it was another few centuries before the first decorated tree was recorded at Riga in Latvia, in 1510.

The Christmas Tree in England

It was the Georgian Kings from Germany and German merchants who first brought the Christmas tree to England. However, the British people of the time were not overly keen on the German monarchy so the fashion never reached the common people.

It was not until 1846 that the Christmas Tree took root in the nation's conscience. Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, appeared in the Illustrated London News stood around a Christmas Tree with her children. Victoria was a popular Queen and the fashion took off. The Christmas Tree as we know it was born.

A Very British Festival of Christmas

Sprouts I find are a bit like 'Marmite' - you either love them or hate them - there doesn't seem to be any half way house or take it or leave it when it comes to sprouts. Whether you like them or not, you may find it surprising to know that recently in Worcester the humble sprout was the centre of attraction at "The British Sprout Festival" where there were all sorts of events 'sprouting'. They had a sprout garden, sprout cookery demonstrations, sprout marbles and even sprout dancing (the mind boggles).

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