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VISITING
AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE
DECEMBER
2010
Christmas
Trees From Around The World
Forwarded
by Jon C. Zimmerman
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Christmas
Trees From Around
The World
Seasons Greetings
to All!
Make sure you read
all the way to the
pictures and
information about
Arlington Cemetery
in the winter before
Christmas. It
is beautiful! |
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There is one
Christmas Carol that
has always baffled
me. What in the
world do leaping
lords, French hens,
swimming swans, and,
especially the
partridge who won't
come out of the pear
tree, have to do
with Christmas?
This week, I
found out.
From 1558 until
1829, Roman Catholics
in England were not
permitted to practice
their faith openly.
Someone during
that era wrote this
carol as a catechism
song for young
Catholics. It has two
levels of meaning: the
surface meaning plus a
hidden meaning known
only to members of
their church.
Each element in the
carol has a code word
for a religious
reality which the
children could
remember.
-The partridge in a
pear tree was Jesus
Christ.
-Two
turtle doves were the
Old and New
Testaments.
-Three French hens
stood for faith, hope
and love.
-The four calling
birds were the four
gospels of Matthew,
Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings
recalled the Torah or
Law, the first five
books of the Old
Testament.
-The six geese-a-laying
stood for the six days
of creation.
-Seven swans-a-swimming
represented the
sevenfold gifts of the
Holy Spirit--Prophesy,
Serving, Teaching,
Exhortation,
Contribution,
Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids-a-milking
were the eight
beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing
were the nine fruits
of the Holy Spirit --
Love, Joy, Peace,
Patience, Kindness,
Goodness,
Faithfulness,
Gentleness, and Self
Control.
-The ten lords-a-leaping
were the ten
commandments.
-The eleven pipers
piping stood for the
eleven faithful
disciples.
-The twelve drummers
drumming symbolized
the twelve points of
belief in the
Apostles' Creed.
So there is your
history for today.
This knowledge was
shared with me and I
found it interesting
and enlightening and
now I know how that
strange song became a
Christmas Carol...so
pass it on if you
wish.'
Merry
Christmas Everyone |
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The Capitol
Christmas
tree in
Washington ,
D.C., is
decorated
with 3,000
ornaments
that are the
handiwork of
U.S.
Schoolchildren.
Encircling
evergreens
in the
'Pathway of
Peace'
represent
the 50
U.S. States. |
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The
world's
largest
Christmas
tree display
rises up
the
slopes of
Monte Ingino
outside of
Gubbio, in
Italy's
Umbria
region.
Composed of
about 500
lights
connected by
40,000 feet
of wire, the
'tree' is a
modern
marvel for
an ancient
city. |
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AChristmas
tree
befitting
Tokyo's
nighttime
neon display
is projected
onto the
exterior of
the Grand
Prince Hotel
Akasaka. |
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Illuminating
the Gothic
facades of
Prague's Old
Town Square,
and casting
its glow
over the
manger
display of
the
famous
Christmas
market, is a
grand tree
cut in
the Sumava
mountains in
the southern
Czech
Republic. |
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Venice's
Murano
Island,
renowned
throughout
the world
for its
quality
glasswork,
is home to
the tallest
glass tree
in the
world.
Sculpted by
master glass
blower,
Simone
Cenedese,
the artistic
Christmas
tree is a
modern
reflection
of the
holiday
season. |
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Moscow
celebrates
Christmas
according to
the Russian
Orthodox
calendar on
Jan. 7. For
weeks
beforehand,
the city is
alive with
festivities
in
anticipation
of Father
Frost's
arrival on
his magical
troika with
the Snow
Maiden.
He and
his helper
deliver
gifts under
the New Year
tree, or
yolka, which
is
traditionally
a fir. |
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The largest
Christmas
tree in
Europe (more
than 230
feet tall)
can be found
in the Praça
do Comércio
in Lisbon,
Portugal.
Thousands
of lights
adorn
the tree,
adding to
the special
enchantment
of the city
during the
holiday
season. |
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'Oh
Christmas
tree, oh
Christmas
tree': Even
in its
humblest
attire,
aglow beside
a tiny
chapel in
Germany's
Karwendel
mountains, a
Christmas
tree is a
wondrous
sight. |
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Ooh la
la Galeries
Lafayette!
In Paris,
even the
Christmas
trees are
chic. With
its
monumental,
baroque
dome, plus
10 stories
of lights
and high
fashion,
it's no
surprise
this
show-stopping
department
store draws
more
visitors
than the
Louvre and
the Eiffel
Tower. |
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In addition
to the
Vatican's
heavenly
evergreen,
St. Peter's
Square in
Rome hosts a
larger-than-life
nativity
scene in
front of the
obelisk. |
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The
Christmas
tree that
greets
revelers at
the Puerta
del Sol is
dressed for
a party.
Madrid's
two-week
celebration
makes
millionaires
along with
merrymakers.
On Dec. 22,
a lucky
citizen will
win El Gordo
(the fat
one), the
world's
biggest
lottery. |
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A token of
gratitude
for
Britain's
aid during
World War
II, the
Christmas
tree in
London's
Trafalgar
Square has
been the
annual gift
of the
people of
Norway since
1947. |
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Drink
a glass of Gluhwein
from the
holiday
market at
the Romer
Frankfurt's
city hall
since 1405
and enjoy a
taste of
Christmas
past. |
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Against
a backdrop
of tall,
shadowy
firs, a
rainbow trio
of Christmas
trees lights
up the night
(location
unknown). |
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CHRISTMAS
AT ARLINGTON
CEMETERY |
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Arlington
National
Cemetery |
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Rest
easy, sleep
well my
brothers.
Know
the line has
held, your
job is done.
Rest
easy, sleep
well.
Others
have taken
up where you
fell,
the
line has
held.
Peace,
peace, and
farewell... |
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Readers may
be interested to
know that these
wreaths -- some
5,000 -- are donated
by the Worcester
Wreath Co. of
Harrington, Maine .
The owner, Merrill
Worcester, not only
provides the
wreaths, but covers
the trucking expense
as well. He's done
this since 1992. A
wonderful guy. Also,
most years, groups
of Maine school kids
combine an
educational trip to
DC with this event
to help out. Making
this even more
remarkable is the
fact that Harrington
is in one the
poorest parts of the
state.
Please share this
information. You
hear too much about
the bad things
people do. Everyone
should hear about
this.
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GOD
BLESS AMERICA
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