3/19/2023 0 Comments Origin of christmasWith that, Hunrad approached the children, group together around the fire. Thor claims your dearest and your noblest gift.” More costly is the offering that shall cleanse your sin, more precious the crimson dew that shall send new life into this holy tree of blood. ![]() When the last sounds faded, Hunrad pronounced, “None of these things will please the god. Answer me, you people, are not these things true?” The people sounded their approval and then began a chant of praise to Thor. Therefore, the plague has fallen on your dwellings, and the dead are more than the living in all your villages. Therefore, the harvests have failed, and the wolf-hordes have ravaged the folds, and the strength has departed from the bow, and the wood of the spear has broken, and the wild boar has slain the huntsman. Therefore, the Slavs and the Saxons have beaten us in battle. Therefore its leaves have withered before the time, and its boughs are heavy with death. Long is it since an offering has been laid upon his altar, long since the roots of his holy tree have been fed with blood. This night the great Thor, the god of thunder and war, to whom this oak is sacred, is grieved for the death of Baldur, and angry with this people because they have forsaken his worship. This night is the hour of darkness and the power of winter, of sacrifice and mighty fear. Hunrad then said to them, “Stand still, common man, and behold what the gods have called us hither to do! This night is the death-night of the sun-god, Baldur the Beautiful, beloved of gods and men. Hunrad, the old priest of Thor, welcomed St. Boniface continued, “Your kinsman am I, of the German brotherhood and from Wessex, beyond the sea, have I come to bring you a greeting from that land, and a message from the All-Father, whose servant I am.” Boniface and his companions approached the fire, the eyes of the townspeople were on these strangers. Boniface interrupted their meeting, “Hail, sons of the forest! A stranger claims the warmth of your fire in the winter night.” As St. The townspeople surrounded the fire facing the sacred oak. Boniface proclaimed as he held is bishop’s crozier high with its cross on top, “here is the Thunder-oak and here the cross of Christ shall break the hammer of the false god Thor.” Continuing on, they came to a glade in the forest, and there appeared the sacred Thunder Oak of Geismar. Only the noise of hounds and horses broke the quiet. They could see houses, but dark and seemingly vacant. After a while, the road opened to a clearing. But we are sent to lighten their darkness and we will teach our kinsmen to keep a Christmas with us such as the woodland has never known. For this is the Yule-tide, and the heathen people of the forest have gathered at the Oak of Geismar to worship their god, Thor and strange things will be seen there, and deeds which make the soul black. Oh, that I might escape from this wild, storm-tossed sea of Germany into the peaceful haven of my fatherland! But we have work to do before we feast tonight. Well know I that you are weary and my own heart wearies also for the home in England, where those I love so dearly are keeping feast this Christmas Eve. God’s moon will light us presently, and the path is plain. Boniface encouraged them to push forward, saying, “Courage, brothers, and forward yet a little. Although several suggested that they camp for the night, St. Their breath could be seen in the crisp, cold air. Snow covered the ground, muffling their footsteps. Boniface was traveling through the woods along an old Roman road one Christmas Eve. ![]() At this point we can begin our story about the Christmas tree. Known as “the Apostle to Germany,” he would continue to preach the gospel until he was martyred in 754. He knew that his greatest challenge was to eradicate pagan superstitions which hindered the acceptance of the gospel and the conversion of the people. ![]() Boniface as a bishop with jurisdiction over all of Germany. Boniface travelled to Germany through the Alps into Bavaria and then into Hesse and Thuringia. Boniface changed his name from Winfrid to Boniface.) St. The Pope charged him with preaching the gospel to the German people. After one brief attempt, he sought the official approval of Pope St. Boniface decided he wanted to be a missionary to these people. Later Boniface became the director of the school.Īt this time, much of northern and central Europe still had not been evangelized. Boniface was the pupil of the learned abbot, Winbert. When he was fourteen, he entered the abbey of Nursling, in the Diocese of Winchester. At the age of five, he wanted to become a monk, and entered the monastery school near Exeter two years later. Boniface was born about the year 680 in Devonshire, England. Boniface, whose name was originally Winfrid. The story of the Christmas tree is part of the story of the life of St.
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