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st ise jhtribunb tuesday december 1 6 1 997 paradise tree is forerunner to todays christmas tree of all christmas customs per haps the most universally treasured is the christmas tree from the exciting moment when the tree is erected it commands a position of central importance dur ing holiday festivities so much so that it is difficult to believe that 200 years ago the cus tom of trimming a tree at christmas was not widely observed outside its native germany one legend credits martin luther the 16thcentury theologian with having set up the very first christ mas tree according to this legend luther conceived of a tree alight with countless candles as a way of representing to his children the glory of the starlit heaven however historical sources indi cate that the first christmas tree can be traced to the early 17th century when fir trees decorated with col ored paper gold foil apples toys and candies were reported in the german city of stasburg what are the antique origins of the christmas tree historians point to a multitude of sources among them the roman custom of decking residences with evergreens during the festival of the kalends many early christian beliefs stand behind the tradition of trimming a tree at christmas for instance it was customary for people to bring flowering trees like hawthorn or cherry indoors during the autumn so that they might bloom and bring forth fruit on christmas eve this tradition may be derived from the belief that st joseph of arimathea settling at glastonbury in western england planted his staff in the earth whereupon it became a thorn tree and sprouted leaves fur thermore it miraculously blos somed december 24 according to the old church calendar was the feast of adam and eve on which day it was traditional to hang a fir tree with red apples this paradise tree as it was called is certainly a forerunner of the christmas tree as it is known today there are some very pretty sto ries associated with both pine and fir trees among the most popular choices for christmas trees according to one legend the pine tree provided a hiding place for the holy family when they were fleeing from the soldiers of herod the fir tree according to another legend boast ed both flowers and fruits until eve discovered the tree and plucked its trea sures from that time on the legend continues only needles grew on the fir tree until on the evening of the nativity it suddenly blossomed once again holiday hours monday december 22 tuesday december 23 wednesday december 24- thursday december 25 friday december 26 saturday december 27 sunday december 28 monday december 29 tuesday december 30 wednesday december 31- thursday january 1 friday january 2 closed open closed closed closed open open closed open closed at 600 pm closed open from all of us at whitchurch stouffville public library happy holidays 1 don winti a christmas concert tickets 12 friday december 19th 8 pm tickets available at blue heron books encore music brock st uxb ridge st pauls anglican church 65 toronto st uxbridge extending our wishes for the happiest of holidays and warm thanks to our customers cashway building hwy 47 uxbridge 8527598 glad tidings the perfect gift stouffville therapeutic centre for massage shiatsu reflexology offers christmas gift certificates 500 off regular onehour sessions tffrftnra call 6424237 or drop in at 37sandiford drive ste 303 stouffville t a thems 9pthing in the wortdlike christmas in the country and we coutdnt be happier than to share it with such wonderfuc peopte to atc of you we wish a season fitted with warm fires good friends and dreams come true jbu are att invited to join us at our christmas cetebration thursday december 25 1997 at the stouffvitte country martlet auditorium jun starts at 11 with turfgy at noon mmmywt it i jor vendor market information 9056403813 oking great come and browse in our ten thousand villages craft section ceramics nativities conversation pieces toys jewellery tree ornaments musical instruments and much more all ten thousand villages items are new handcrafted items produced by artisans in the developing world by buying their products you enable them to feed clothe and house their family and to pay for schooling for their children ten thousand villages is a program of mennonite central committee ten thousand villages care share s h o p p e o a program of mennonito central committee 6280 main street stouffville 9056401410 open tuessat 930530 fri 930900