1) Young Muslims - The Message

elieved in it. It was supposed to have been so big that it had threeroots, one in heaven, one in hell, and one on earth. According toScandinavian mythology, when the roots of Yggdrasil are eatenthrough, the tree will fall over and the end of all things will havearrived. The Anglo-Saxon Druids adopted this mythology and duringChristmas period chose Yule log which they blessed and proclaimedthat it should be ever burning. This custom has survived and theYule log is burnt throughout England. The origin of the sacred treemay have been developed in Ancient Egypt and other oldersocieties.” Egypt had one in the palm, which puts forth a shootevery month. From Egypt the custom reached Rome, where it wasadded to the other ceremonies of the Saturnalia. But as palm treesdo not grow in Italy, other trees were used in its stead. A small firtree or the crest of a large one was found to be the most suitablebecause it is shaped like a cone or pyramid. This was decoratedwith twelve burning tapers lit in honor of the god of Time. At thevery tip of the pyramid blazed the representation of a radiant sunplaced there in honor of Apollo, the sun-god to whom the three lastdays of December were dedicated.”HOLLY“Some people believe that the word “Holly” is a form of the word“Holy” because of the association of these evergreens withChristmas. This is not the true derivation, however. Holly is merelya variation of Holin, Hollin, or Holm. The name Holme is now usedfor a kind of oak. This tree was admired by the Druids who believedthat its evergreen leaves attested to the fact that the sun neverdeserted it. It was, therefore, sacred. It was also believed to behateful to witches and is, therefore, placed on doors and windowsto keep out the evil spirits.”CONCLUSIONThis is only a glimpse at the incredible amount of distortion andpaganism that has been incorporated into the Christmas doctrineYoung Muslims, What they should know about Islam Page - 224