Winter Postillion - Saskatchewan German Council

weihnachtsbaum - A German gift
Sabine Doebel-Atchison
Today Christmas trees can be found in many
homes all over the world. But this has not
always been the case and certainly the question
arises from where did this tradition come.
While it is commonly known that the traditionwas
developed in Europe, some people might
also wonder how the Christmas tree tradition
came to Canada.
The further back one goes in history the more
difficult it is to find out about the origins of the
Christmas tree. One source from the 2nd part
of the 16th century describes a tree in Bremen
decorated with apples, nuts, dates, pretzels and
paper flowers. Another source from around the
same time talks about a green tree with apples
and cheese in Basel. It was only in the 17th and
18th century that the Christmas tree became
more popular, mainly in towns and not yet in
rural areas. It should be noted too that it was
the wealthier people who could initially afford
a Christmas tree.
Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert, a
German, introduced the Christmas tree to the
British royal house. The first Christmas tree
in Canada was erected by German General
Friedrich von Riedesel and his family in 1871
in Sorel, Quebec. The SGC took this historical
event as theme for the organization’s Christmas
tree at Saskatoon’s Festival of Trees.
An SGC committee made up of Rosa Gebhardt
and Josephin Dick along with staff member
Sabine Doebel-Atchison got together to
design a traditional German Christmas tree for
the Festival of Trees. The festival has been a
staple during the Christmas season in Saskatoon
for over 25 years. Net proceeds support
the Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation. Over
the years the festival has raised more than 2
million dollars. The SGC’s tree, with the theme
Weihnachtsbaum - A German gift, was among
the first trees sold at the festival. The tree was
decorated with red and gold glass ornaments
and straw stars, imported from Germany. While
it was certainly less opulent than other trees
it caught the visitor’s and certainly the buyer’s
eye simply due to that fact.
For only the 2nd time in its history the Festival
of Trees had added an extra attraction with
the gingerbread lane. Over twenty individuals,
companies or organizations had submitted
their gingerbread creation. Just like the trees,
the gingerbread creation could be purchased
by visitors. Among the submissions was one
from SGC Associate Member the Cake Witch
Café. Barbara Harder-Lutz submitted a traditional
German gingerbread house along with
a description of the tradition. Everyone that
went for a stroll along gingerbread lane at the
festival could smell the Christmas spices she
used from far away.
The Festival of Trees theme for 2014 is “A Fairy
Tale Christmas! “ Doesn’t that sound like a
theme fit for the SGC and its member groups?
Consider taking part in the festival with your
group!
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1. A row of trees at the festival 2. Gingerbread
house by the Cake Witch Café 3. Josephin Dick,
Sabine Doebel-Atchison and Rosa Gebhardt
beside the SGC tree .
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