Page 53 - CHRISTMAS
P. 53

many stories of pagans in various countries



           who decorated trees and what it symbolized



           long  before  the  birth  of  Christ.  Many



           historians agree that the practice of putting



           up trees and decorating them for Christmas



           arose in Germany in the early 16th century at



           the beginning of the Reformation.  Many will



           agree on that, and I've got quotes here that



           mention  a  decorated  tree  in  one  house  in



           1605, and around 1700, the Christmas trees



           were appearing in the New World as German



           immigrants came to America.  Actually, 1830



           would  be  the  first  record.  Most  Americans



           regarded  them  at  that  time  as  pagan.    It's



           amazing  how  things  are  accepted  as  time



           goes on — stood against hard at one time,



           but as years go by, the compromise begins,




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