Going for the Christmas Tree: A True Story
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Evergreen trees and plants have been used to celebrate winter festivals for thousands of years, long before the advent of Christianity. Pagans in Europe used branches of evergreen fir trees to decorate their homes and brighten their spirits during the winter solstice. Early Romans used evergreens to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturnalia, while ancient Egyptians used green palm rushes as part of their worship of the god Ra. There are several theories and legends as to how the evergreen fir tree went on to become a symbol of Christianity.
One is credited to the English Benedictine monk Boniface, famous for his missionary work in Germany during the eighth century. Modern Christmas trees emerged in western Germany during the 16th century as Christians brought trees into their homes and decorated them with gingerbread, nuts and apples. The custom became popular among nobility and spread to royal courts across Europe in the early 19th century.
But in places like the United States, having a Christmas tree was often viewed as a foreign pagan custom until the midth century. While the Christmas tree originated in Germany, it was Britain's Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who popularised it in the s and s. But the idea of decorating a whole tree was not common among Brits until a drawing of the royal family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree in Windsor Castle was published by the Illustrated London News in Victoria and Albert were popular royals and soon every British home had a tree decked out with decorations, candles and sweets.
The same image was published two years later in the United States in Godey's Lady's Book — though Victoria's tiara and Albert's moustache were removed to make the image more American. It was the first widely circulated picture of a decorated evergreen Christmas tree in the US and soon the Christmas tree was in vogue.
History of Christmas Trees
Today, Christmas trees come in all different shapes and sizes from traditional fir to artificial. The tradition of decorating a tree is embraced by millions of people worldwide of different faiths and cultures. While it is still a symbol of Christianity to some, to others it is simply part of December celebrations. First posted December 19, Christmas wishes made before a long-abandoned house that start coming true lead an elementary schoolgirl to discover a reclusive woman living inside.
A cynical workaholic gets suspicious of her banker father's sudden departure from his career and city life to move to a small town with unusually strong ties to Christmas. While visiting her school's forbidden attic, Mandie stumbles upon the mystery of a long forgotten Christmas. This film brings to life a famous Norman Rockwell painting. Samuel Cavanaugh, a Scrooge like character, revisits the frozen pond each year to relive the happier moments in his life. A shop owner who is being evicted at Christmas rescues her Scrooge-like landlord from an accident.
Flight attendant Sydney Brooke Burns is tasked with looking after Leah, an eight-year-old unaccompanied minor flying back to Chicago after visiting family. Sydney is charmed by the little It's Christmas and once again, Dale Landis places a tree on his roof and ends up in court. No one in the small town knows why he continues the practice, but idealistic attorney, Sarah Wright is determined to give Mr.
Landis his Christmas wish and keep him out of jail. Judge Conner has different ideas when he puts Sarah and and aggressive prosecutor John Keaton together to figure out the mystery behind the rooftop Christmas tree. The two must come together to find a solution and in the end find out more not only about Mr. Landis, but about each other.
This heartwarming holiday movie is inspired by a true story and will restore your faith in miracles. Written by Landria Onkka. The UP movies feel more real, with more genuine characters.
Tim Reid steals this movie. His character's sadness and gentle dignity is amazing. It's hard to imagine him as Venus Flytrap after this movie! The female lead is certainly less attractive than most of the Hallmark leads, but that lets the director focus on the story. Start your free trial.
Find showtimes, watch trailers, browse photos, track your Watchlist and rate your favorite movies and TV shows on your phone or tablet! It's a lovely story about an orphaned girl, Anna, who in her loneliness befriends a tree. As she grows up in a convent, she becomes very attached to 'Tree'. The narration goes back and forth between a horticulturist who is searching for a Christmas tree for the Rockefeller center and comes upon 'Tree' on the grounds of the convent, and the now grown girl who is Sr.
An What a delightful little book. Charming details, and lovely illustrations.
The edition I got from the library was a small one, so the pictures were very small. I wish the book were bigger in size, so I could appreciate the drawings more. Other than that, this was a wonderful book to read. Short too, can be read in a day's time. Hilary Sounds lovely, I must look out for this! Dec 14, Dec 25, Heidi rated it it was amazing. This is a book I want to read each Christmas season. I first found out about this book after having seen the movie years ago while visiting my mother. My aunt had taped it for me to see. I just had to read the book and found it at a bargain price at the bookshop.
This little hardback book is charming not only for its story but also for the little illustrations. Sister Anthony and Tree have been friends since she was a little girl so when she is approache This is a book I want to read each Christmas season. Sister Anthony and Tree have been friends since she was a little girl so when she is approached about giving the tree to be used in New York City at Rockefeller Center, she has much to consider. The chief gardener of the Center befriends Sister Anthony and learns what is so special about Tree but also finds his life changed by the nun's stories in a way he had never expected.
This Christmas story never grows old to me as I enjoy it each new holiday season A nun has this unusual, sixty year relationship with a Norway Spruce she calls, Tree. Nov 27, Laurie rated it it was amazing. This little book really moved me.
The History of Christmas Trees The evergreen fir tree has traditionally been used to celebrate winter festivals pagan and Christian for thousands of years. Love of nature, friendship, sharing. I fell in love with the simple storyline, and although not a Catholic myself, have always found stories about nuns and people who meet them endearing. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. I am so very glad my library was able to find a copy of this little book for me.
What a tender, loving story. A quick read that warmed my heart. Great for the Christmas season. Dec 28, Mj rated it really liked it Shelves: To my surprise and joy, The Christmas Tree by Julie Salamon turned out to be a wonderful Christmas story for tiny tots and older folks alike. While the illustrations in The Christmas Tree are delightful there is only 1 illustration about every 6 pages or 20 pictures in a page book.
They definitely add to the story and give us a sense for the time and place where the story takes place. I was definitely not disappointed with The Christmas Tree. It is a delightful story of Anna, orphaned at 5 years of age in New York City, who comes to live with some nuns — an arrangement made be her aunt, her only surviving relative is an nun and working in foreign countries a lot.
Tree is a wonderful confidante and throughout the years, Anna tells Tree her problems, her dreams, her joys and her stories. They grow up and old together enjoying nature and the great outdoors with its abundance of birds, flowers, other trees, the sun, the clouds and fresh air.
Tree becomes a favourite spot for visitors to the convent to sit under — especially the children who come to learn about nature from Anna, now Sister Anthony, and to listen to her wonderful stories. The story is very refreshing. Anna, even as grown up Sister Anthony, has a child like innocence and wonderful joy about her that is contagious. She comes alive on the page and I wanted to listen to her stories in person just like the children did. I could imagine her sparkling eyes and her sense of awe and wonderment.
Even the cynical chief gardener of the Rockefeller Centre in New York City who chooses the Christmas tree to be decorated and lit each year one of the biggest live Christmas trees ever , is impacted by this wonderful nun. The chief gardener is looking for his next Christmas tree for Rockefeller Centre and visits Sister Anthony at the convent because he thinks Tree would be perfect. This is also something I like about the book — all the trees including Tree and everything else in nature sharing the earth with Sister Anthony are talked about and discussed as if they had their own real energy and life, which of course they do.
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The Christmas Tree is a story I would recommend for older children and adults alike. It is a special, touching book that I plan to read again next year. In fact this holiday season, I took the time to read it twice. I liked it that much. Dec 18, Samantha rated it really liked it Recommended to Samantha by: That is the mission of the main character in this book.
He spends an entire year, just looking for the perfect tree. Amidst all the trees, he finds a Norway Spruce that is absolutely perfect. Unfortunately it is the best friend of Sister Anthony, a nun at Brush Creek. After hearing her story, he decides to go about his business and leave Tree al 'Tis the season to find a Christmas tree for Rockefeller Center.
The Christmas Tree by Julie Salamon
After hearing her story, he decides to go about his business and leave Tree alone. Never expecting to hear from her again, he is surprised when he receives a call from Sister Anthony. Oct 29, Lori Henrich rated it liked it. Jesse King is the man in charge of finding the Christmas tree for Rockefeller Center.
He starts early so that he has plenty of time to get a back up just in case. He finds the tree he wants on the grounds of a beautiful convent. When he goes to make inquiries about the tree he is interested in, he discovers that there is one particular nun that he has to win over.
Her name is Sister Anthony. Sister Anthony has a long history with the desired tree Over the span of a fee years he hears the story o Jesse King is the man in charge of finding the Christmas tree for Rockefeller Center. Sister Anthony has a long history with the desired tree Over the span of a fee years he hears the story of how a little girl named Anna comes to live at the convent, how she came to be Sister Anthony and to find out why she has such a strong bond with "Tree".
This was a fun story to read. I really liked it. Mar 22, Judy rated it really liked it Shelves: A Christmas story with a totally different plot. Not much about Santa or JMJ, but trees are central to the story. Nov 29, Julie rated it it was amazing. What a great story!!
Christmas Traditions and Customs
I will read this for many years to come at Christmas time. Jan 05, Edan DeVilbiss rated it it was amazing. This book is endearing and heart touching based on a true story. Told in first person, the main conflict is between Sister Anthony and herself. Flying above the plains, a Rockefeller Center gardener spots the "perfect" Christmas tree.