Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 3, 1892.djvu/174

 GERMAN CHRISTMAS AND THE CHRISTMAS- TREE.

LL over the world wherever Germans dwell, whether in their own land or in foreign countries, the Christmas-tree is for them the chief ornament and symbol of Christmas-time. Wherever you trace the origin of the Christmas-tree outside Germany, you will find that it has been introduced from the Fatherland. Up to the year 1840 Great Britain did not know it. It was the Prince Consort Albert of Sachsen-Coburg who brought it to the Court of St. James. From there it slowly found its way through the aristocracy and the wealthier merchant classes to the whole of the city of London. Nowadays the custom of having a Christmas-tree is very common all over England. In Scotland and Ireland few are to be found in families. In Scotland the tree plays its part only at children's parties or charitable festivities. But while in Germany the Christmas-tree is used entirely as a bright ornament, presents, often wrapped in paper, are hung on it in England, which spoil its appearance. In some parts the tree is so small that it is handed round after dinner, before the ladies retire, with all the presents hanging on it, and everyone takes off the gift intended for him. In Germany all the presents lie on the table, bright with the light from the many candles and the reflection of all the gold and silver tinsel which decorates the large Christmas-tree.

In France, especially Paris, the Christmas-tree has only been known for the last sixty years. In 1830, the Duches Helena of Orleans imported it from Germany. From the