The First Christmas Tree

by Henry Van Dyke

Henry van Dyke (1852-1933) was an American author, educator, and clergyman. He graduated from Princeton University, 1873, and from Princeton Theological Seminary, 1874 and served as a professor of English literature at Princeton between 1899 and 1923. In 1908-09 Dr. Van Dyke was an American lecturer at the University of Paris. By appointment of President Wilson he became Minister to the Netherlands and Luxembourg in 1913. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters and received many other honors. He chaired the committee that wrote the first Presbyterian printed liturgy, The Book of Common Worship of 1906. Among his popular writings are the two Christmas stories The Other Wise Man (1896) and The First Christmas Tree (1897). Various religious themes of his work are also expressed in his poetry, hymns and the essays collected in Little Rivers (1895) and Fisherman's Luck (1899). He compiled several short stories in The Blue Flower named after a story by Novalis in 1902. He also contributed a chapter to the collaborative novel, The Whole Family (1908).

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Classics, Short Stories, Historical Fiction, Christian, Religion

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1897

About the author

Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933) was an American Presbyterian clergyman, educator, and author. He graduated from Princeton in 1873, and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1874. He was pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church, New York City (1883-99), professor of English literature at Princeton (1899-1923), and U.S. minister to the Netherlands (1913-16).

Among his popular inspirational writings is the Christmas story The Other Wise Man (1896). As President Wilson's ambassador to the Netherlands from 1913, Van Dyke was a first-hand witness to the outbreak of World War I and its progress, and was a key player in the President's diplomatic efforts to keep the U.S. out of the conflict.

Not to be confused with his father, Henry J. Van Dyke (1822-1891).

For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/van-dyke...

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This interesting little story centres on an episode in the life of the 8th-century Benedictine monk and missionary Winfrid (who travelled from his home in the southwest of England to bring the Christian faith to pagans in Frisia and Germania). The tale describes Winfrid's intrusion at a ritual to the god Thor and the subsequent destruction of the symbolic tree, Thor's Oak.

I began to wonder if this tale was pure fabrication or had some basis in history and I discovered that Winfrid's life is well-documented in biographical works (vitae), legal documents, and sermons. Winfrid is also known as Boniface (so named by Pope Gregory II for the martyr Boniface of Tarsus) and was appointed Archbishop of Germania.

As a child and a young adult, I spent a good deal of time in Winnipeg, Manitoba, visiting friends and relatives of my parents. Indeed, when I was first employed at The University of Manitoba, I lived in Saint Boniface, one of the cities which make up the larger city of Winnipeg. I suppose that familiarity with the name dulled my curiosity, or I had not yet grown into my present interest in history, but I had never wondered who Saint Boniface was nor why the city had been named for him.

I am now very interested to learn that in 1818 a Quebecois priest and Christian missionary, Father Norbert Provencher, had established a mission on the east bank of the Red River, and named the log church in honour of Saint Boniface. From that small settlement grew the City of Saint Boniface (which was subsumed in 1971 by the City of Winnipeg) and on that site now stands the Cathedral of Saint Boniface (enlarged, subsequently damaged by fire, and rebuit within the skeleton of the magnificent stone structure). Father Provencher left his mark on this part of Manitoba for, in Saint Boniface, one of the main roadways is called Provencher Boulevard and, to the south of Winnipeg, there is a small community called St. Norbert, which began its life as a Benedictine monastery.

In Van Dyke's story (and in other literature), Winfrid (aka Saint Boniface) is credited with the invention of the Christmas tree although the vitae do not support this theory. Nonetheless, this Christmas story will rank among my favourites if only because it prompted me to learn about the history of a place which is dear to my heart.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Christmas story I read a few days ago is titled The First Christmas Tree written by Henry Van Dyke. I think this is my first reading of Henry Van Dyke although I'm pretty sure there is a book or two of his here somewhere, probably as a hill in a Christmas village right now. Again, this was a short story, I seem to be having trouble find Christmas stories that aren't short stories, therefore I find myself reading a lot of things right now I am never going to remember by next Christmas. If a story is short it won't stay in my memory long. In this story in the beginning we are at a cloister with the nuns, it is the day before Christmas in the year 722AD. At least it's starting with the mention of Christmas right at the beginning, that's promising. It's also at the beginning though where I am first puzzled, we have this:

The little bandy-legged dogs that kept the spits turning before the fires had been trotting steadily for many an hour, until their tongues hung out for want of breath.

Does that mean there were really dogs running in the kitchen turning the spits? What an awful way to spend your day if you're a dog. I'm trying to imagine Willow turning before the fires for many hours and I'm sure she'd sit there looking at me as if I was crazy if I tried to get her to do such a thing. She's under the covers in bed between me and my husband right now. Anyway, all the sisters are exited because they are having a famous visitor:

Winfried of England, whose name in the Roman tongue was Boniface, and whom men called the Apostle of Germany. A great preacher; a wonderful scholar; he had written a Latin grammar himself, think of it, and he could hardly sleep without a book under his pillow

I always have a book with me but I can't say I ever had one under my pillow. So Winfried comes to the cloister and when he leaves he takes the abbess's grandson with him. Now that's my next problem, how did the abbess have a grandson? Nuns don't get married, so how did she manage to have a child who then had a child who is her grandson? I may never know. The boy leaves with Winfried whoever he may be for no particular reason that I can see than that he wanted to. So off they go. They are going to:

"Come, Gregor," he said, laying his brown hand on the youth's shoulder, "come, wear the forester's boots with me. This is the life to which we are called. Be strong in the Lord, a hunter of the demons, a subduer of the wilderness, a woodsman of the faith. Come!"

The next chapter finds us with two years gone past and it is another Christmas eve. Winfried is leading a little band of pilgrims, less than a score of men through the forest of central Germany. Where they were for two years I don't know. It tells us that beside him was the young Prince Gregor. Now not only do I not know how he got a nun for a grandmother, I don't know how he got to be a prince either. And now they come upon the thunder oak or some such thing. It's a tree, a big tree. The leaves are gone since it is winter, but it's still big. There is a fire in front of the tree and a whole bunch of people gathered around it in a half circle. According to one of the pilgrims it is a sacrifice to the old gods, they will make a sacrifice to the god of war, drink blood, and eat horse flesh to make them strong. According to the old priest:

"Stand still, then, thou common man," said Hunrad, scornfully, "and behold what the gods have called us hither to do. This night is the death-night of the sun-god, Baldur the Beautiful, beloved of gods and men. This night is the hour of darkness and the power of winter, of sacrifice and mighty fear. This night the great Thor, the god of thunder and war, to whom this oak is sacred, is grieved for the death of Baldur, and angry with this people because they have forsaken his worship. Long is it since an offering has been laid upon his altar, long since the roots of his holy tree have been fed with blood. Therefore its leaves have withered before the time, and its boughs are heavy with death. Therefore the Slavs and the Wends have beaten us in battle. Therefore the harvests have failed, and the wolf-hordes have ravaged the folds, and the strength has departed from the bow, and the wood of the spear has broken, and the wild boar has slain the huntsman. Therefore the plague has fallen on our dwellings, and the dead are more than the living in all our villages. Answer me, ye people, are not these things true?"

A hoarse sound of approval ran through the circle.

But tonight it's not enough to sacrifice an animal, the old priest is going to sacrifice a young child. And that's where Winfried steps in and puts an end to it all. And tells the Christmas story. And convinces the people. And sets up the first Christmas tree. I always thought that was Martin Luther. Perhaps it was neither of them, I'll have to look it up. In the meantime, happy reading.

[D Franklin Pack · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enthralling little book that takes the reader deep into the cold, snowy forest to witness a Pagan ritual to Thor, the god of thunder, at the base of a large oak tree where they are about to sacrifice a small child. But along comes a contingent of Roman Catholics who proceed to fell the oak tree and save the souls of the heathen by teaching them about the true God and the birth of their Savior. Then, down with the oak tree by which the Pagans worship Thor, and up with the fir tree by which the new converts worship Jesus. A Christmas story, to be sure, and recommended to all who gather “around the green fir tree to rejoice in the birth night of Christ.” In the meantime, I am still scratching my head.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite Van Dyke.

While child sacrifice by the natives to save an oak tree was wrong, the heavy handed piety and self righteousness of Winifred also bothered me. Plus the whole time I read, I wondered if this was based on any truth at all, or if it was just a folktale. I've read it, but definitely wouldn't recommend it. Instead I suggest reading The Mansion or The Other Wiseman if you want to read a story by Van Dyke.

[K. Anna Kraft · Rating 2 out of 5]

I arranged my thoughts on this short story into a haiku:

"In service of the lord,
The bloodied and unrefined
May still claim a place."

[Mayda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The language in this short story will seem stilted and perhaps even off-putting to our 21st century ears. In it, a monk takes a boy with him on his journey to thwart the god Thor. In destroying Thor’s mighty tree, a new tree is born, that is, the first Christmas tree, which represents the Christ Child. While some will appreciate the tale on its own, knowing the history of that time period will aid in understanding it. Though the story is important for its religious content as well as for its contribution to literature, Van Dyke’s “The Story of the Other Wiseman is far superior.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I say this as a Christian, this is Christian propaganda and sets early Christians up as the saviours of the pagans.

[Diane Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story about St. Boniface and his courage to profess Christ.

[X · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I’m putting this as a children’s book on my shelves, even though I can’t find any external source confirming that this is what was intended. It simply reads like a children’s book to me, starting with a cool, heroic figure seeing something special in a child and whisking him away to go on adventures. Something about the writing also reminded me of The Wizard of Oz series, particularly all the lovely descriptions of the setting and how the people reacted to whatever character was in the spotlight. Plus there is the cheesy feel- good Christmas miracle plot (though those are admittedly not only popular with kids), the length of the story, the very simple (but exciting!) plot, and how it ended with the beautiful voice of the little boy from the first chapter being instrumental in converting another little boy, when until then the boy had done very little of importance in the story besides to serve as a lens through which to view the hero.

Anyway, it is overall a fun story to read for the season. The plot is quite simplistic and predictable, but, well, it’s a Christmas story. I know a lot of reviewers took issue with the whole “demonizing pagans” part of the story, and well, I kind of expected to feel that way too... but I didn’t. The pagans were portrayed with a fair bit of sympathy, not as evil characitures. And yes, the pagan priest tried to commit human sacrifice... but the ENTIRE rest of the tribe was portrayed as being AGAINST the sacrifice. Which would still be offensive.... IF it was an inaccurate portrayal. But it’s not, because Norse people actually DID practice human sacrifice and the spread of Christianity is thought to be the factor that put a definitive end to it (it may not have been widespread.) therefore, I can’t really be offended by the portrayal of a religion, which currently barely exists except for some reason among white supremacists, committing human sacrifice; in a period of time when they actually did, and being stopped by missionaries. Funnily, for me the part of the story that didn’t age well is the part where the hero lures a little boy away from his family.

Anyway, overall this was a fun and short read for the season.

I will say the author’s other Christmas story, about the fourth wiseman, is better than this one, though.

This review is also posted on readercoin

[Karla Renee Goforth Abreu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short book that should take an hour or so to read. It is historical fiction, set in the 8th century. Winfried, a respected priest, also known as Boniface intervenes during a Germanic tribe's pagan ritual for Thor,
the God of Thunder. He rescues a child about to be sacrificed and cuts down the oak of Thor. The wood is to be used to build a chapel, as Winfried shares the Gospel with the people, this very night. Where the oak was felled, there grew a small fir tree to represent the Christ-child.
Thus, is the beginning of the tradition of the Christmas tree. In reality, it wasn't until the 1500s that there is a record of a Christmas tree. This doesn't mean there couldn't have been some who decorated a tree. The practice became well known in the 1800s.
To be sure, Winfried, or Boniface, was a real priest. He did cut down the large oak of Thor. Germanic tribes were evangelized with a Christian message.
Van Dyke writes beautifully, poetically. That, alone, gives the book 3 stars. The story wasn't one that I normally would read, except that I read Christmas books during the season. I think if I reread it, I would understand more of the historical reference and symbolism.

[Greg Bittner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this story from Project Gutenberg years ago and this year decided to buy a used 1925 printing of it, with illustrations and ornately-framed pages. It's a Christmas adventure telling the story of the seventh-century Bishop Winfrid, later known as Saint Boniface, who confronted a pagan Germanic tribe on Christmas Eve, saving a young boy from sacrifice and defying the god Thor. As the title suggests, events of the story lead to the establishment of the Christmas Tree as a symbol of the Christ child. Winfrid's interpretation of the "spiritual armor" (Ephesians 6:13-17) is exciting, contrasting the comfortable clothes of home with the rugged boots and gear of an outdoorsman. Henry Van Dyke's story is historical fiction, based on actual accounts of the saint martyred in 754 AD.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't say much about this because not a lot of it sunk in. It completely failed to grip my imagination and I was so bored. If I had known this was about a Christian mission into post-Roman Europe I never would have chosen to read it.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars (liked it)

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written in 1906 and some of the language is a little old making it a little hard to get into. It is a short story that is not what you expect a the beginning, but has a nice ending.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The edition I have was printed in 1897 and is just a beautiful little book. The story itself is very old-fashioned.

[Fritzov · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like the christmas book. A bit strange for sure

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe there is real depth to be explored here but the book’s brevity prevents that. As is, this tale is wildly different from the usual Christmas frivolity. I think I liked it.

[Enya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a dull and unmemorable read if it wasn't the beautiful and poetic language used throughout.

Pros:
- You could read this book in under an hour
- The language and imagery are a stop-and-stare kind of brilliant
- If you're interested in attitudes towards religion in the late nineteenth-century, this would be a useful read.

Cons:
- The storyline is pretty flat and very preachy. There's a good chance it'll get on your nerves.
- The 'non-Christians are all evil' aspect of the book makes reading it from a 21st century standpoint pretty cringe-worthy.

It's easy to see this book holding a lot more sway in the late 19th century when it was published. The heavily religious tone and all of the prejudice against non-Christians makes it a bit of a painful read (in a cringe-worthy way) when read from a 21st century perspective. That being said, it also makes this book a particularly interesting source for contemporary views on religion - especially when looking at its reception. It's very short length comes in handy here as you don't have to spend much time unpacking the writer's agenda.

What really makes this book worth a brief look over is its language. Several times I found myself chewing over a particularly nice quote while writing it down in admiration. The imagery goes a long way in redeeming this book's otherwise boring story, for example:

"Withered leaves still clung to the branches of the oak: torn and faded banners of the departed summer. The bright crimson of autumn had long since disappeared, bleached away by the storms and the cold. But to-night these tattered remnants of glory were red again: ancient bloodstains against the dark-blue sky."

For this alone, I'd recommend it to anyone who is a bit of a language nerd and loves them some imagery. Though, don't expect anything groundbreaking from the story.

[Kezia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did the Librivox audiobook--I liked that version.

CONTENT talk of human sacrifice, maybe dinking wine?

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt very uninspired by this little book about the first Christmas tree. I was hoping for more.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of pilgrims venture into England to convert the people into Christians. Led by Wilfred, the group challenges the Germanic people's living there and urges them to dismiss their Viking Gods. When the people recognize Latin being spoken they realize they are encountering learned people. Wilfred chops down an enormous oak the people see as the Thunder god and behind it stands a young firm tree which the people carry home to be decorated in the public hall with lights. This story was good for me to read for the history and I enjoyed the writer's knowledge of the Viking gods and Germanic peoples. The booming religiosity of the writing was a bit much but gave me perspective on the time period of the author's time and his purpose for writing the piece. 

[Ginny Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story. Frankly, I was hoping for magnificent illustrations as there are in The Other Wise Man, illustrated by JP Flanagan, but not to be. That's life, right?! Still a beautiful, poetic tale. At an older age, I am reading aloud in my little sitting area. The prose is beautiful. 11/16. 11/19. 12/23.

Now I am learning that my used book may be a first edition, Copyright 1897 by Charles Scribner's Sons. Cannot find the book in the list of editions; however, the cover is similar to the one used for a Kindle edition, so I selected it as my "read."

The illustrations are by Howard Pyle.

[Cait · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very short read, suspect it was originally some sort of religious pamphlet as it's essentially about introducing pagans to Christianity.

The bit at the convent sets up the characters of Gregor and Winfried but has little to do with the rest of the story.

I think Gregor kind of takes the place of the reader in the story, asking the questions the reader might ask as Winfried teaches him about Christianity.

Like how Winfried sort of adopts a pagan ritual to bring them over to his side.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An allegory of Winfrid (Saint Boniface), patron saint of Germany, who went to Germany as a missionary in the 8th Century. I recommend doing a little background reading if you are not familiar with this history. I read the story first and did not enjoy it as much as I might have, perhaps 4 stars otherwise. Van Dyke is a good writer.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally, I only picked up this book because the copy I came across was very old (1948) and tattered, which made me think it had been passed around and enjoyed quite a bit. It was a good story, nothing too excited, but pretty much what I expected. Short and to the point, making it an easy one to stay focused on. Just plain good.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖊 It was a nice little tale that is a good Christmas story for children. It is clean and wholesome, with Holiday warmth and religious themes. ℳℯ𝓇𝓇𝓎 𝒞𝒽𝓇𝒾𝓈𝓉𝓂𝒶𝓈！

📕Published in 1897.
🎨Illustrated e-book version on Project Gutenberg.

જ⁀🟢 E-book version on Project Gutenberg.
જ⁀🟣 Kindle.
✴︎⋆✴︎⋆✴︎⋆✴︎

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very old book about the meeting between Winfried with Prince Gregor and worshipers of Thor that resulted in what is said to be the first Christmas tree.

It reminded me how quickly people often leave one religion for another.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Free Kindle short story. An 1898 retelling of Saint Boniface taming the wild tribes of Europe in 724. He replaces the ancient oak dedicated to Thor with the everlasting fir. Wasn't really impressed.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

short story of how Christmas tree came to Germany to replace the oak of Thor. Van Dyke as a poet paints a good picture and the story builds nicely but ends a bit abruptly. My daughter said, wait that's it?

[Juergen John Roscher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story on how the Christmas tree became part of the celebration of the Lord's birth. Not as good as some of Van Dyke's other Christmas stories like 'The Mansion' and 'The story of the other wiseman'.