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<v Steve>Hi, this is Steve Webb, your OG Godcaster.

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<v Steve>You're about to hear the LifeSpring Advent Calendar, which was recorded in 2006.

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<v Steve>It's a daily show which will run right up to Christmas Day,

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<v Steve>so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

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<v Steve>Now, the story of Advent and Christmas is a timeless story, so it doesn't age.

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<v Steve>However, the links and the phone numbers mentioned on the podcast have all changed but one.

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<v Steve>WhyChristmas.com is still current and active,

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<v Steve>and it's the best Christmas information website on the Internet.

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<v Steve>LifeSpringPodcast.com now forwards you to LifeSpringMedia.com.

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<v Steve>And the phone number you'll hear on the show is changed to plus 1-951-732-8511.

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<v Steve>Hi, and welcome to the LifeSpring Advent Calendar.

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<v Steve>I'm Steve Webb, your host.

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<v Steve>Let's see, let's find door number 16.

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<v Steve>Oh, here it is.

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<v Steve>Tell you what, you go first this time.

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<v Music>Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree,

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<v Music>however green your branches.

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<v Music>Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree,

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<v Music>however green your branches.

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<v Music>Not only green in summertime, but also in the wintertime.

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<v Steve>Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, however green you're.

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<v Steve>Ah, well look at here, it's a Christmas tree and a Yule log.

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<v Steve>Hi James, what have you got for us today?

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<v James>Trees and their logs have been used to celebrate winter festivals pagan and Christian for thousands of years.

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<v James>Evergreen trees, especially fir trees, have been used as symbols of new and continuing life

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<v James>since pre-Roman times in Europe.

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<v James>They were the only trees to stay alive during winter and they seemed magical.

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<v James>Branches were used to decorate homes during the winter solstice celebrations

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<v James>to remind people of the spring to come.

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<v Steve>You know the Romans also used fir trees to decorate their temples at the Festival of Saturnalia,

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<v Steve>which was the Roman mid-winter feast and celebration.

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<v Steve>No one really knows when these fir trees were first used as Christmas trees,

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<v Steve>but it probably started about a thousand years ago in northern Europe.

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<v James>The first documented Christmas tree is from 1510 in the town square of Riga, which is

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<v James>the capital of Latvia.

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<v James>A plaque in the town is engraved with the first New Year tree in Riga, 1510, in eight

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<v James>languages.

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<v James>Not much else is known about the tree, apart from that it was attended by men wearing black

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<v James>hats and that after ceremony, the tree was burnt.

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<v James>This may also have been a form of Yule Log.

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<v Steve>The custom of burning Yule Logs goes way back, at least before medieval times in Europe.

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<v Steve>It was originally a Nordic tradition.

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<v Steve>The Yule log was often a whole tree that was carefully brought into the house with great ceremony.

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<v Steve>One end of the trunk was placed in the large open fire while the rest of the tree stuck out into the middle of the room.

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<v Steve>The log was traditionally lit from the remains of the previous year's log and it was slowly fed into the fire during the 12 days of Christmas.

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<v Steve>Can you imagine doing that today in our houses?

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<v Steve>I don't recommend doing that today.

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<v Steve>The custom of the Yule log spread all over Europe during the Middle Ages,

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<v Steve>and different kinds of trees are traditionally used in different countries.

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<v Steve>In England, they use oak.

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<v Steve>In Scotland, they use birch.

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<v Steve>And in France, cherry.

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<v James>Ouch, why do those needles always stick in you when you're walking across the carpet?

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<v Steve>I hate the sap that gets on your hands when you carry the tree into the house.

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<v James>There are several stories about how upright decorated trees first became used in houses.

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<v James>Tell us your favourite story.

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<v James>One story says that one night before Christmas, Martin Luther, the 16th century German preacher,

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<v James>was walking through the forest and looked up and saw the stars shining through the tree branches.

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<v James>It was such a beautiful sight that he went home and told his children that it reminded him of Jesus,

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<v James>who had left the stars of heaven to come to earth at Christmas.

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<v James>So he took a tree into the house and placed candles on it.

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<v Steve>Christmas trees as we know them more probably started as paradise trees

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<v Steve>that represented the Garden of Eden in medieval mystery plays.

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<v Steve>These plays told Bible stories to people who couldn't read.

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<v Steve>James, what about the first decorations or ornaments?

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<v James>In Germany, the first Christmas tree decorations were edible,

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<v James>such as gingerbread and gold-covered apples.

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<v James>Glassmakers then began making small glass fruit ornaments,

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<v James>the forerunners of the decorations we use today.

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<v James>At first, a figure of the baby Jesus was put on top of the tree,

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<v James>and over time it changed to the angel fairy that told the shepherds about Jesus,

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<v James>or a star like the wise men saw.

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<v James>Christians also used the fir tree as a sign of an everlasting life with God.

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<v James>The first fully decorated Christmas tree arrived over here in the UK sometime in the 1830s.

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<v James>However, they only really became popular after 1841,

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<v James>when Prince Albert, who was Queen Victoria's German husband,

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<v James>had a Christmas tree set up in Windsor Castle.

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<v James>This was seen as the height of fashion and everybody had to have one.

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<v James>And at this time, Christmas trees were also decorated with real candles,

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<v James>which is kind of dangerous, really.

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<v Steve>I guess it would be.

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<v Steve>But in 1895, an American telephonist, Ralph Morris,

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<v Steve>invented the very first electric Christmas tree lights.

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<v James>Around the world, many different trees are used as Christmas trees.

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<v James>In New Zealand, a tree called the Pawatakawa is used,

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<v James>and that has red flowers on it.

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<v James>And in India, it's sometimes a banana or mango tree.

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<v Steve>If you'd like to know more about Christmas trees

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<v Steve>or almost anything else to do with Christmas,

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<v Steve>please go visit James' website at whychristmas.com.

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<v Steve>So as you admire your Christmas tree this year, think of the stars of heaven and the Savior of the world

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<v Steve>and how he left them so he could know you personally.

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<v Music>O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, upon us mirth do you bestow, O Christmas tree.

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<v Steve>of course as always the theme music today was brian duncan and the neosoul band with this

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<v Steve>christmas and the background music was the groove barbers with oh christmas tree

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<v Steve>This has been day number 16 of the LifeSpring Advent Calendar

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<v Steve>I'm so glad that you were here today

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<v Steve>For James Cooper, I'm Steve Webb

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<v Steve>God bless you and remember

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<v Steve>It's only nine more days until Christmas

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<v Music>It's a love that I get from you

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<v Music>It never gets old

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<v Music>It's Christmas

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<v Music>It's the love I need

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<v Music>And it's what I want

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<v Music>It's Christmas

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<v Music>And it's what I want for you