Editing Christmas tree (section)

==Symbolism and interpretations==
The earliest legend of the origin of a [[fir tree]] becoming a [[Christian symbol]] dates back to 723 AD, involving [[Saint Boniface]] as he was [[evangelism|evangelizing]] Germany.<ref name="Forbes2007">{{cite book |last1=Forbes |first1=Bruce David |title=Christmas: A Candid History |date=2007 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |isbn=978-0-520-25802-0 |page=45 |language=en |quote=... in 723 Saint Boniface encountered winter sacrifices being conducted in front of a mighty oak tree dedicated to Thor near Geismar, in what is now Germany. In anger, Boniface seized an axe and felled Thor's oak in one mighty blow. The gathering of local citizens expected Thor to strike Boniface with a bolt of lightning, and when lightning failed to appear, Boniface proclaimed it a sign of superiority of the Christian God. He pointed to a young fir tree growing at the roots of the fallen oak, with its branches pointing to heaven, and said that it was a holy tree, the tree of the Christ child who brought eternal life.{{nbsp}}[...] Also, it is said that Boniface explained the triangular shape of the fir tree as an illustration of the Trinity.}}</ref> It is said that at a pagan gathering in [[Geismar]], where a group of people dancing under a decorated oak tree were about to sacrifice a baby in the name of [[Thor]], Saint Boniface took an axe and called on the name of [[Jesus]].<ref name="Forbes2007" /> In one swipe, he managed to take down the entire oak tree, to the crowd's astonishment.<ref name="Forbes2007" /> Behind the fallen tree was a baby fir tree.<ref name="Forbes2007" /> Boniface said, "let this tree be the symbol of the true God, its leaves are ever green and will not die." The tree's needles pointed heavenward and it was shaped triangularly, representing the [[Holy Trinity]].<ref name="Forbes2007" />

When [[Christmas decorations|decorating]] the Christmas tree, many individuals place a star at the top of the tree, symbolizing the [[Star of Bethlehem]].<ref name="Mandryk2005" /><ref>{{cite journal |last=Wells |first=Dorothy |year=1897 |title=Christmas in Other Lands |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ePc9AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA697 |journal=The School Journal |volume=55 |pages=697–8 |quote=Christmas is the occasional of family reunions. Grandmother always has the place of honor. As the time approaches for enjoying the tree, she gathers her grandchildren about her, to tell them the story of the Christ child, with the meaning of the Christ child, with the meaning of the Christmas tree; how the evergreen is meant to represent the life everlasting, the candle lights to recall the light of the world, and the star at the top of the tree is to remind them of the star of Bethlehem.}}</ref> It became popular for people to also use an angel to top the Christmas tree in order to symbolize the angels mentioned in the accounts of the [[Nativity of Jesus]].<ref name="Jones2011" /> Additionally, in the context of a Christian celebration of Christmas, the evergreen Christmas tree symbolizes eternal life; the candles or lights on the tree represent Christ as the light of the world.<ref name="Becker2000" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Crump |first1=William D. |title=The Christmas Encyclopedia |date=2006 |publisher=McFarland & Company |isbn=978-0-7864-2293-7 |page=67 |language=English |quote=the evergreen tree (itself symbolic of eternal life through Christ)}}</ref>