Some history of Christmas trees for those who might like to know- and Little Paxton’s trees

A little bit about Christmas Trees.

Thousands of years ago, there were people who believed that evergreen trees were magical. Even in winter, when all the other trees and greenery were brown and bare, the evergreen stayed strong and green. People saw the evergreen as a symbol of life and as a sure sign that sunshine and spring would soon return. Candles, or the electric lights we use to decorate our trees today, are also an ancient symbol. They represent the light of spring triumphing over the darkness of winter.

In ancient Rome, people decorated their homes and their temples with greenery during a special December feast called Saturnalia. It was a happy time. No battles could be fought, the schools were closed, and people everywhere joined in the carnival-like atmosphere and gave each other presents. Romans exchanged branches and twigs of evergreens as a good-luck blessing.

Many historians believe that the early peoples of Scandinavia were the first people to bring actual trees indoors-a mid-winter symbol of the promise of the coming warmth of spring.

The German Saxons may have been the first to light their trees with candles, and to adorn them with decorations-trinkets of good fortune. The tradition of the indoor evergreen was so strong in Germany, it’s believed that the first use of Christmas trees by Christians developed there, with some experts placing its origin as far back as the eighth century.

There is indeed a legend about a saint called Boniface . Boniface had been   “baptised “ in his home country of England with the name of  “ Wynfrith” which means “ friend of peace”. He later was given the name of Boniface by the then Pope before beginning his 35 years of missionary work in Germany in 719.

According to tradition one frosty night in December he was in a wood in Germany and found people worshipping the pagan God Thor.  Their worship was focused on a mighty oak believed to have supernatural power – but as  Boniface bravely cut down the oak it is said that  a tiny fir tree growing in its roots  was revealed.

Boniface saw this as the new Christian symbol. He told the people around him:

- “This humble tree’s wood is used to build your homes: let Christ be at the centre of your households.
- Its leaves remain evergreen in the darkest days: let Christ be your constant light.
- Its boughs reach out to embrace and its top points to heaven: let Christ be your comfort and your guide.”

So the fir tree became a sign of Christ amongst the German peoples, and eventually it became a world-wide symbol of Christmas.

Legend has it that Martin Luther, a monk and church reformer  began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. One crisp Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of a group of small evergreens. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moonlight. When he got home, he set up a little fir tree indoors so he could share this story with his children. He decorated it with candles, which he lighted in honour of Christ’s birth.

We often think that the first Christmas Trees in England were due to Prince Albert introducing them, but in fact they came early in the 1800’s through the marriage of George 3^rd and Queen Charlotte from Germany. I have it on first hand knowledge that Queen Victoria as a child was familiar with the custom. In her journal for Christmas Eve 1832, the delighted 13-year-old princess wrote, “After dinner…we then went into the drawing-room near the dining-room…There were two large round tables on which were placed two trees hung with lights and sugar ornaments. All the presents being placed round the trees..”.

After her marriage to her German cousin Prince Albert, by 1841 the custom became even more widespread throughout Britain. In 1847, Prince Albert wrote: “I must now seek in the children an echo of what Ernest [his brother] and I were in the old time, of what we felt and thought; and their delight in the Christmas-trees is not less than ours used to be”

Here are some pictures of the Little Paxton Tree Festival today:

First of all Pauline looking a bit worried as she discusses cake recipes with Leslie.

Below: The Freinds of Paxton Pits Tree

Trees in the south aisle with more cakes for sale

The Tale of the Stubborn Tree.

The Stubborn Tree

The  Woods family had a large garden. And in one corner they grew little fir trees.

So every Christmas Eve, instead of buying a Christmas Tree, Grandad  Woods  used to go out into the garden and pull up one of the trees. We would promptly carry it into the house, and plant it into a bucket of earth. Then the four Woods children would decorate it with tinsel and lights.

One Christmas Eve it was snowing very hard. Grandad put on a red scarf and a little bobble hat and a think red coat and trudged out into the snow. The children sat in the window to watch.

Grandad  knew which tree he wanted. He brushed snow off the branches and began to pull.  He pulled and he pulled and he pulled – but it would not come. He pushed it forward and back, hoping to loosen the roots, but still it would not come.

He felt a little bit silly, knowing that the children were watching him – and probably laughing at him. But he had to trudge back to the house and ask the oldest child called Matthew to help him.

Matthew was 12 – and Grandad was sure that between then they could pull up the tree. So Matthew put on his hat , and trudged through the snow with Grandad. He stood behind him with his arms round him tummy and together they pulled and they pulled and they pulled….but the tree would not budge.

Now they felt silly – Matthew trudged back and fetched Mark who was 9. Mark put on his hat  put his arms round Matthew’s tummy and  they pulled and they pulled and they pulled- but the tree would not  budge.

Now they felt very stupid. Mark trudged back and fetched Luke – aged 6. Luke put on his hat and put  his arms round Mark and they pulled and they pulled and they pulled. But still the tree would not  budge.

They began to think they wouldn’t have a  Christmas Tree this year – only Jane was left back in the house and she was only 3. They did not think she would be much use. But Luke trudged back to get her.

Jane felt a bit frightened as she put on her coat and scarf – she did not think she could make any difference and she was worried her big brothers might make fun of her.

They formed a line – Grandad in front holding the tree. Then came Matthew, holding Grandad. Then came Mark holding Matthew, then came Luke holding Mark. And finally little Jane holding Luke.

One, two three – HEAVE! Shouted Grandad – and they pulled and they pulled and they pulled!.

Suddenly they could hear the root snap and the tree lifted out of the ground. As it came, they all fell backwards into the snow laughing with pleasure.

When they had  carried the tree back to the house and taken off their coats, Grandad gave Jane a big hug.

“Well”,  he said, “ I think we have all learned t something about Christmas this year. The smallest child makes the greatest difference. And just as little Jane caused the stubborn tree to move, so the little child Jesus can move the most stubborn, sad or lonely  hearts at Christmas time”

We pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the love and peace and hope which Jesus brings into our lives. Help each of us to welcome him into our lives afresh this Christmastime. Amen

” Village Vicar clocks up 5th toilet – at her own convenience!”

The above is a headline from a national paper which cant be mentioned for copyright reasons…. but it is an impressive tribute to someone who is just obsessed with bringing loos into village churches.   Paxtonvic can give an exclusive picture of the Great Paxton Toilet revealed for the first time……

Hey – they dont get better than that!!

Sometimes things dont go quite according to plan….. and when the new tower arch screen  arrived on Thursday at Great Paxton it wouldnt go through the church porch doors…… some praying was needed!

Thanks to my sister and nephew for helping out there…..

For more action shots of the final stages of the Great Paxton Living Water Project, please go to www.greatpaxtonchurchonline.wordpress.com

Christmas Tree Fest at Little Paxton Church – December 12th/13th

Lovers of Christmas Tree Festivals need to get themselves to Little Paxton Church this week-end ( December 12th – 13th) to enjoy the splendid collection of festive trees on show – all dressed by local village groups.

The Chrch will be open from 10.00am – 4pm on Saturday and 2pm – 4.30pm on Sunday. There will be refreshments available ad a cake stall and book stall as well. The week-end will be rounded off with a Carol Service at 4.30pm.

I have had a sneak preview and I can say that a visit will enchant and inspire you.

These trees pale into insignificance compared to the ones in Little Paxton Church…..

The First Christmas

The First Christmas.

There were no Christmas stockings hung

On that first Christmas day

Just a lonely manger

And a lowly bed of hay

There was no jovial Santa Claus

With toys and gifts galore

But shepherds came from out of the fields

To worship and adore.

There was no Christmas tree that day

Bedecked with tinsel bright

Bit in the East there was a star

That dazzled with its light.

There were no Christmas carolers

To serenade with song

But hosts of angels gathered round

To watch the whole night long.

No fast last minute shopping

And no Christmas cards to send

But hope was born in one small child-

For new life without end.

( Sorry, author unknown)

It will soon be here….Christmas night by Max Lucardo

Christmas night  adapted from writing by Max Lucardo.

It’s Christmas night. The house is quiet. Even the crackle is gone from the fireplace. Warm coals issue a lighthouse glow in the darkened den. Stockings hang empty on the mantle. The tree stands naked in the corner. Christmas cards, tinsel, and memories remind Christmas night of Christmas day.

It’s Christmas night. What a day it has been!

Spiced tea.

Santa Claus.

Cranberry sauce.

“Thank you, so much.”

“You shouldn’t have!”

“Grandma is on the phone.”

Knee-deep wrapping paper.

“It just fits”

Flashing cameras.

It’s Christmas night. The girls are in bed. In their new Santa pyjamas.

It’s Christmas night.

Presents are now possessions.

Wrapping paper is bagged and in the recycling bin

The dishes are washed and leftover turkey awaits tomorrow’s sandwiches.

It’s Christmas night. The last of the carolers appeared on the ten o’clock news.

The last of the apple pie was eaten by my son.

The singing of White Christmas to a  Kareoke has finished ( thankfully!)

It’s Christmas night.

The midnight hour has chimed and I should be asleep, but I’m awake.

I’m kept awake by one stunning thought. The world was different this week. It was temporarily transformed. The magical dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be.

We forgot our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stop watches and weapons.

We stepped off our racetracks and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star of Bethlehem.

It’s the season to be jolly because, more than at any other time, we think of him.

More than in any other season, his name is on our lips. And the result?

For a few precious hours our heavenly yearnings intermesh and we become a chorus. A ragtag chorus of  shop assistants,  business people, grandparents,  immigrants, housewives, school children, , and a thousand other peculiar persons who are banking that Bethlehem’s mystery is in reality, a reality. “Come and behold him” we sing, stirring even the sleepiest of shepherds and pointing them toward the Christ-child.

For a few precious hours, he is beheld. Christ the Lord. Those who pass the year without seeing him, suddenly see him. People who have been accustomed to using his name in vain, pause to use it in praise. Eyes, now free of the blinders of self, marvel at his majesty. All of a sudden he’s everywhere.

In the emotion of the father who is too thankful to finish the dinner table prayer. He’s in the tears of the mother as she welcomes home her son from overseas.

He’s in the heart of the man who spent Christmas morning with homeless people in a city centre.

He’s in the comforting hands of the hospice nurse and the calm efficiency of the ambulance crew.

He’s in the failing voice of the elderly residents in a home and the wonder in the eyes of a toddler’s first Christmas.

Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near.

It’s Christmas night. In a few hours the cleanup will begin — lights will come down, trees will be thrown out. Size 36 will be exchanged for size 40,  decorations will be on sale for half price.

Soon life will be normal again. December’s generosity will become January’s payments and the magic will begin to fade. But for the moment, the magic is still in the air. Maybe that’s why I’m still awake. I want to savour the spirit just a bit more. I want to pray that those who beheld him today will look for him next August. And I can’t help but linger on one fanciful thought: if he can do so much with such timid prayers lamely offered in December, how much more could he do if we thought of him every day?

Paxtonvic adds: I wonder how you are imaging your Christmas Day to be this year?

A prayer for Christmas

This is one of my favourite Christmas Prayers:

Walk softly, as you go through Christmas, That each step may bring you down the starlit path, to the manger bed. Talk quietly, as you Speak of Christmas that you shall not drown out the glorious song of angels . Kneel reverently as you pause for Christmas, That you may feel again the Spirit of the Nativity, rekindled in your soul. Rise eagerly, after you have trod the Christmas Path, That you may serve more fully, the one whose birth we hail.

( Source unknown)

A homily in honour of St Nicholas of Myra ( the real father Christmas?)

Whether St Nicholas of Myra is actually remembered in the Church Lectionary remains  a bit of a puzzle to me as he isnt listed in the  lectionary  Ive got. If you want to read more about that question- there’s a very good web-site which discusses that issue:

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=234

However, December 6th is traditionally the day when the old saint is remembered and Im very grateful to Nick G  for his thoughts on St Nicholas. I have adpated it a bit for my own use – but Nick’s thoughts are at the heart of the text.

Sermon for St Nicholas ( based on words by Nick Gellatly – December 6^th 2009)

The Real Santa.

We know Christmas is just around the corner when Delia Smith appears on TV. And there she was this week with her fantastic array of seasonal recipes – making everything look so easy when it comes to preparing Christmas food. Me and cooking have never really seen eye to eye and I’m very pleased that when it comes to Christmas Day, I stay out of the kitchen and let those who are more able than me – and more willing get on with the job!

Now I don’t know whether you’ve made your Chrsitmas pudding crackers or decided what kind of turkey( or vegetarian option| you’re going to have )– or even started your Christmas shopping  but there is no doubt Christmas is on at full steam out in the shops and streets around us. Santa was out in St Neots last Saturday – I had a little chat with him outside the museum and although I don’t have any, he asked if I would like to bring my grandchildren in to see him.  I wonder – if we spent a couple of hours in town and asked people who is heart at the heart of Christmas – what the response would be? I  hope Jesus might come up as the answer, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Santa was up there in the popularity charts.

This service on the 2^nd Sunday of Advent  is an opportunity today to stop for a moment, draw breath and reflect in a joyful way on one of the greatest of all Saints. A man who was so great that it is hard to believe he was real. In fact some people say he doesn’t exist. I am talking none other than Saint Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra – you might know him better as Santa Claus or Father Christmas.

I know why some people don’t believe in Saint Nicholas – it’s because he is too good to be true. If you Google his name you’ll find 1,640,000 pages about him on the internet and there are more than 500 Church of England churches named after him. He’s the patron Saint of many churches in Scotland and a very popular saint in the Orthodox Church .So what is it about Saint Nicholas that makes him our favourite Saint?

The story goes that he provided the dowry money for three women in distress whose father could not raise the money. They’d have had a horrible life if they couldn’t marry well so good old Nicholas drops in gold coins to save them.

Another of the stories is the incredible restoring to life three boys who were being pickled during a time of great famine to be sold for food. Nicholas wanders through the woods and comes by the butchers inn and restores the boys to health.

Maybe it’s because Nicholas symbolises that which is at the heart of our Christian faith which is the ability to give, to give, and to give again. To love, to love, and to love again. And to care, to care, and to care again.

Nicholas did just what Jesus would do. And he is one of the primary examples of what it means to be a follower of Christ. As we look at the lives of the Saints, Nicholas holds up for us an example how God can use us when we least expect it. Nicholas being chosen as a Bishop came as complete surprise to him as he entered the Cathedral of Myra and was pointed out by an elderly churchman as the next bishop.

Nicholas was a wealthy man and yet he realised to have true wealth was to give away all that he could. I’m sure Saint Francis of Assisi and other great Saints were influenced by the example of Saint Nicholas. Nicholas gave his all to the Church. He stood firm in the faith even under persecution—like so many Christians face today in parts of the World like Sudan, Pakistan, India. People facing persecution for what they believe because what they believe is a faith based upon a man who gave his life that all the world might have eternal life.

A new way of looking at the world, a new way of looking at God, a new way of looking at each other and a new way of looking at one’s self. Jesus Christ.

Diocletian threw Nicholas in prison, but Nicholas was supported by the prayer of hundreds of people in his diocese, survived and under Constantine was released from prison and lived out his years as a working Bishop.

I love Christmas – even the commercialised bit. I really enjoy buying presents for people I love, the busy-ness and the fun.

When you hear carols in the shops it reminds me that whether people realise it or not they are celebrating the birth of Christ. We might like it if they came to church more often but this whole festival religious and secular proves the reality that you can not take the Christ out of Christmas. Saint Nicholas, whether we think of him as the Bishop of Myra, Santa Claus or Father Christmas, doesn’t compete with our exisitence as Christians, he enriches it and helps us to celebrate the good news.  That’s why we should celebrate Saint Nicholas Day by trying to be a bit more like St Nicholas ourselves.

Some of you may not be quite as fetching as others in a red suit and a bag of toys over your shoulder so what we need is a warm, giving heart, a loving soul and a willingness to share.

To share our faith, our hopes and dreams, even our money and ‘things’ with the people we meet. We may not dress up and sit in a grotto dispensing gifts, but we can be ready to give of ourselves this Christmas time and equally be ready to receive with pleasure the gifts of others. And best of all, God’s gift of eternal life by receiving Jesus Christ into our lives – whether for the first time or in a sense of grateful renewal.

Let us pray

Loving God,

Fill our hearts with the Advent spirit.

Allow us to overflow with the real gifts this season of preparation has to offer.

May we take time to enjoy the blessings of Advent

Let us stop the rush and allow the  risen Lord Jesus to enter our being.

Let us clear our vision and deepen our concern.

May we move  from concern for self,

To a place where we give freely of ourselves

And receive with joy the great gift of salvation the Christ child brings.

Through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

Christmas at garden centres

Thanks to David Keen who sent in this comment to my previous blog about garden centres and Christmas:

Our local garden centre was doing some late-night opening for Christmas a few years back, and wanted people to come and do some carol singing. We offered to do a Christingle service, and they said yes immediately. It’s now a standard part of their Christmas, and pulls in a good crowd, as well as a bit of business for the centre. About 1/3 of my Christmas services this year are in non-church buildings: garden centre, community hall, College etc.

 

Brill ideas – thanks David

Santa and the dizzy heights of Kings College spires

Santa hats appear on all four spires of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge

Students have placed red Santa hats on all four 150ft spires of King’s College Chapel at Cambridge University in an end of term prank.

By Alastair Jamieson
Published: 9:53AM GMT 28 Nov 2009

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6677125/Santa-hats-appear-on-all-four-spires-of-Kings-College-Chapel-Cambridge.html

 

Santa hats placed on all four spires of King’s College Chapel at Cambridge University Photo: GEOFF ROBINSON

 

This general view of the college shows just how high the students had to climb to put the hats in place

The hats will have to be removed from the ancient spires by a professional steeplejack.

It is thought to be the first time in the 563 year history of the late Gothic chapel that scholars have scaled all four spires as the route to the top involves an 80ft external climb.

College authorities have failed to see the funny side of the prank and want the hats removed before the Chapel’s Christmas Eve service, which is broadcast to millions around the world.

A porter at King’s College said: “The hats must have been put on the spires during the night as they suddenly appeared.

“The college authorities are not happy about it and are arranging to have them removed as soon as possible by a professional steeplejack.

“I’ve never heard of this happening before and it must have taken a lot of skill to get the hats on the spires, I wouldn’t fancy going up there myself.”

It is not known how the students managed to scale the tall buildings, but one suggestion is they used the book The Night Climbers of Cambridge, originally published in 1937, which offers a guide to the roofs of the city’s ancient buildings.

Last year students fastened a Santa hat to the fire of the Gate of Humility at Gonville and Caius College. It was removed by three fire engines because college authorities considered it a health and safety risk.

In 1958 a group of Cambridge engineering students hoisted an Austin Seven onto the roof of the Senate House at night and left it balancing there.

Students also dangled a car under the Bridge of Sighs at St John’s.

King’s College Chapel, started in 1446 by Henry VI, is noted for its amazing acoustics and the world famous chapel choir which sings at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve.

It took over a century to build and has the largest fan vault ceiling in the world and some of the finest medieval stained glass.

It was originally built as a place of daily worship for the College scholars, and today the choir still sing evensong during term time.

 

Paxtonvic says : what a mighty silly thing to do – and very dangerous too – but a friend of mine who viewed this spectacle had to admit that loads of people were standing around looking at this feat and finding it very amusing.

Maybe the hats were dropped off as the reindeer flew over……??