In Thurgungia region of Germany in the early 700s, St. Boniface felled a particularly massive tree called the "thunder oak" and a chapel was built from its wood. pinetree hill showroom  Though the region was supposed to be largely Christian, it was politically unstable. Roaming bands of murderous and thieving hooligans were not uncommon, making travel unsafe. At that time, the area was largely illiterate and many who were superstitious, were amazed St. Boniface was not struck by lightning for cutting down the tree.

Some accounts assert a fir sapling grew out of the trees stump the following spring. Other accounts hold the sapling grew where the mighty tree's shadow would have been. The writings of St. Boniface tell us, he dug the sapling up and took the small tree inside his house right before Christmas and put it on a table. To him the tree seemed to point to heaven, reminding him that Jesus is alive in heaven and sitting at the hand of His Father.

Soon the tradition of bringing a small tree into the house at Christmas caught on in the region. The new tradition rapidly spread to all of Germany, and then throughout Austria. By the next century Christian Germans and Austrians were decorating their inside pine pinetree hill showroom  with small Christmas gifts they intended to give to family members. Such things as bits of sugar candy for children were hung from the trees' branches, as were home knit socks for the man of the house, or a crocheted scarf for the lady of the house.

Boniface went on to Hessia and there with the assistance of two tribal chiefs set up a monastic cell Amonebury on the River Ohm. There he trained native German clergy and started a literacy campaign whereby many were taught to read and write. He recruited both priests and nuns to come from England with books to help him in this endeavor. He then went on to Bavaria and revitalized the clergy there insisting on literacy.

He was ordained a Bishop and then an Archbishop by the pope. In his later life he resigned the lofty title of Archbishop and went to Zuder Zee (in what is now modern Holland) as a simple missionary. The region was dangerous with marauding bands, much as Thurgundia had been years before. Boniface was murdered while traveling with other missionaries.

Many believe the cut evergreen tree in a house to be a pagan symbol, but that is not true. The cut pine tree is entirely a Christian symbol, as is the small potted Christmas tree. Ancient pagans didn't cut down entire pine trees and bring them into the house. They brought in pine branches for sweeping and for a fresh pine aroma. They also made wreaths for their doors and mantle pieces out of pine branches. The idea of a pine tree coming into the house at Christmas originated with St. Boniface.

The Christmas tree is such a dear symbol to Germanic Christians they have a beloved song about this very thing, O Tannenbaum.

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, Wie sind deine Blatter! -- or in English -- O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, How are thy leaves so

verdant!

Today, many assume paintings and drawings of an ancient fiugre depicted wearing a blue Santa-like suit carrying a small Christmas tree to be St. Nicholas. However, this rendering is more rightly of St. Boniface.