The Legend of the Evergreen Trees

{This story was told to me as a child, and it’s been one of my favorite Christmas legends ever since.}

“Once upon a time, many centuries ago in a forest in what we now call Germany, winter came in hard and fast. The birds who hadn’t fled south yet had to pick up and move quickly. If they didn’t find warmer weather, they’d not survive the winter. But as a flock took off, one of the smallest birds broke its wing and she was left behind. Scared and alone, this tiny bird quickly found herself deep in the forest, in pain, as well as cold and hungry. She was so desperate, she asked the trees to help her by allowing her to hide within their branches.

Unfortunately, during those long-a-ago times, the trees weren’t always kind. The stingy oak tree, the strongest in the forest, was afraid that the tiny bird would stay within its limbs all winter long and would have to eat its acorns to survive. The prideful birch tree refused to help the tiny bird because he was so beautiful, he couldn’t allow the tiny bird to mar his winter beauty. Also, the birch tree was responsible for some of the forest birds, and their well-being had to come before the life of the tiny bird. Even the graceful willow tree, who always appeared gentle and kind, refused to help the tiny bird. In fact, the willow refused to even speak to the tiny bird.

The tiny bird, who was so frightened because her wing didn’t work properly, ended up hopping around the forest floor for two long days and two terrifying nights. Frost and snow covered the forest, leaving icy patterns on the leaves and tree branches so it was too slippery for the tiny bird to even climb or hide beneath. On the third day, the mighty spruce tree noticed the tiny bird fluttering on the icy snow at the base of his trunk.

And the spruce tree asked, “Little bird, why do you seem so sad?”

The tiny bird responded, “I have a broken wing. I’m in pain, I’m cold and hungry, and I’m so terribly alone and afraid.”

The spruce tree was so moved by the tiny bird’s plight, he said, “Climb into my branches to stay warm. My sister, the juniper tree, will provide you berries to fill your tummy.”

So the tiny bird had enough strength to climb into the thickest, softest, and warmest branch where she quickly fell asleep. And, when she awoke, she found juniper berries on another branch to eat. Soon, the tiny bird settled into her new home. She slept warm and safe at night, and during the day she drank from the snow melting off the tree’s branches and ate the juniper berries that were always offered. Slowly, the tiny bird’s wing began to heal.

Meanwhile, the pine trees–who towered over the other trees of the forest–took notice of the tiny bird living within the arms of the spruce tree. After talking it over, the pine trees agreed to protect the spruce tree and the tiny bird from the North Winds for the entire winter. Unbeknownst to the tiny bird, the Frost King, who kept careful watch over all the trees in the forest, sent an order to the North Winds. They winds were not to touch any part of the kind spruce, protective pine, and generous juniper trees. The North Winds obeyed and for the rest of the winter, they blew through the forest. They pulled the shining green leaves off the willow, oak, birch, and all the other trees who refused to help the tiny bird. Within days, all the trees in the forest were bare, except for the pine, spruce, and juniper trees. Now, with no leaves to protect them from the snow, ice, sleet, and rain, they’d have to suffer through the long winter with no protection.

Once springtime came, the tiny bird was reunited with her family. Because of their kindness, the Frost King decreed that the spruce, pine, and juniper trees would stay green all year long, forever known as evergreen trees.

Many centuries later, in the year 700 AD, a young woodsman got lost in the these same woods during a snowstorm on Christmas Eve. He stumbled upon the spruce tree that had sheltered the tiny bird. Scared, cold, and alone, he fell asleep beneath the protective branches of the tree only to wake at midnight. It’d snowed for hours and all the trees, and the forest floor, were covered with ice and snow. But when the moon came out, the evergreen trees–the only ones with with branches that could hold the snow–glittered in the moonlight. Using this light, the woodsman found his way home, to his family and to safety. Every Christmas Eve after that night, the woodsman and his family would thank the trees by covering them with tiny candles so any other living creature could find their way home, to their family and to safety. They called these evergreens Christmas Trees, to honor the Christ Child who promised everlasting kindness and love.”