There seems to be a communal agreement that Christmas trees developed in Germany — including environmentally-friendly fake trees made from various feathers, designed to stop large scale forest-harvesting. The fir tree, with its apparently Holy Trinity shape is said to have replaced an originally Pagan oak tree, and the symbolic tree is essentially a Protestant celebration, to replace the Catholic cradle.

Initially apples were hung from the branches, an interesting, tempting and sinful side to Christmas, though now of course they have been replaced by coloured balls. But the silvery tinsel is Pagan, and represents sperm from the Gods found at the top of the World Tree. Even the original 13 colonies of the U.S. banned the tree, those incapable, intolerant pilgrims, eulogised at the expense of the Native Indian population. In banning anything to do with Christmas trees they join North Korea, China at one time, Israel and Saudi Arabia, countries where the Christmas Tree is technically illegal.

The Saami Pagans in northern Finland also brought about Santa Claus, whom St Nicolaus is based on, but originally a shaman mushroom collector with his big sack and black boots, hanging his mushrooms to dry around the fireplace. And why did a shaman need mushrooms? How do you think Santa and reindeer could fly! And why does Santa have a red face and laugh a lot, as for Rudolf, with his red nose…

Yes, magic in those mushrooms, flying up the World Tree to the northern star.

Georgia, the fiercely stunning country in the Caucasius, has it’s own version of the Christmas tree, called Chichilakis and made from a walnut branch shaved into the shape of a coniferous tree and decorated. Tables of food with Georgians are also liberally decorated with red wine, and toasting is a serious business, so for me, it ranks as the best country to spend Christmas in, among its passionate people and mountains.

Other than that, come to my pine forest with me, for a Christmas walk…

from last year’s christmas tree
I carve this year’s hiking staff
a present for my first guest