There is a legend that comes down to us from the early days of
Christianity in England. In those times, there was a holy man
named Wilfred. One day, surrounded by a group of his converts,
he struck down a huge oak tree. The oak had been an object of
worship to the Druids. As the oak tree fell to the earth, it
split into four pieces, and from its centre there grew a young
fir tree.
Wilfred turned to his followers and said, "This little tree
shall be your holy tree for Christmas. It is the sign of an
endless life, for its leaves are evergreen, and its spire
points toward the heavens. Let this be called the tree of the
Christ Child. Bring it into your homes and gather around it a
Christmas time."
And from that time to this, the fir tree has been the symbol of the holy season.