Wio's Harvest Moon: Magical Melody is a farming simulation game developed by Marvelous Interactive for the Nintendo Wii console. Released in 2005, it is a part of the long-running Harvest Moon series. The game follows the main character, who has inherited a small farm from their late grandfather. The player's goal is to successfully manage the farm, grow crops, raise animals, and build relationships with the townspeople. The gameplay is centered around the changing seasons, with different crops and events available during each one. One unique aspect of Magical Melody is the ability to choose between multiple characters to play as, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Are Christmas Decorations Pagan?

A fundamentalist friend of mine commented that many of our Christmas decorations are pagan, particularly mistletoe, holly, ivy, laurel and poinsettia plants. Is there any truth to this?

Granted, some of our Christian Christmas decorations originated from pagan customs. However, with the evangelization of the pagan peoples by the missionaries, these decorations were baptized, giving them a new Christian meaning. So lets consider the five common Christmas decorations mentioned in the question.

The first four plants are evergreens: mistletoe, holly, ivy and laurel. Whether in a pagan culture or Christian culture, since the most ancient times, evergreens have symbolized eternity and everlasting life. For Christians in particular, the evergreens have the basic symbolism that our Lord is eternal and divine, and that He wants us to share His everlasting life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The mistletoe was regarded as a magical healing plant by the pagan Druids. It was even called All heal. The Christians adapted this plant, and now it is a symbol of Christ, the Divine Healer of all nations.

As far as the kissing associated with mistletoe, an ancient Norse legend relates that Freya, the goddess of love, placed mistletoe in a tree between Heaven and earth, and decided that people who pass underneath it should kiss. The plant then became a sign of love and friendship. While love and friendship are definitely Christian virtues to be practiced, I dont think that random kissing is the intent of the Christmas decoration.

While not known for sure, some sources hold that the pagan Romans sent holly branches as a sign of good wishes at the time of the new year festivals. The early Christians easily saw a more profound symbolism: The prickly, sharp points of the leaves symbolize the crown of thorns in particular and even the nails of the crucifixion, and the red berries symbolize the blood that flowed from our Lords wounds. The holly decoration at Christmas, thereby, reminds us that Christ was born to suffer and die for our sins, which would be washed away with His precious blood. For this reason, in Norway and Sweden, the holly is called Christ-thorn.

Some traditional stories surround the holly tree. For instance, when the Holy Family was fleeing King Herods soldiers, they took refuge under a holly tree which spread its branches, thick with leaves, to protect them. The sharp, pointed leaves would have driven away any sensible person from searching, thereby safely concealing the Holy Family. For this action, our Blessed Mother blessed the tree and said it would be perpetually green.

Another legend is that the cross was made from holly wood. Because of this connection with our Lords passion and death, the tree was marked thereafter with sharp, pointed leaves and blood-red berries.

In the carol, The Holly and the Ivy, two other symbols of holly are noted: First, the holly blossom is white as the lily flower, reminding us of the purity of Jesus born of His mother Mary; and second, the holly bark, as bitter as any gall, reminds us of the drink offered our Lord as He hung upon the cross.

The Roman god Bacchus, the god of wine, wore ivy in his crown. For this reason, the early Christians did not use ivy inside Church to decorate, but it was used outside as a Christmas decoration. Ivy grows clinging to something, like a wall or a trellis. The vines are rather fragile and can break easily. For Christians, the ivy reminds us that we were weakened due to original sin, and could not save ourselves. Christ came to save us. We must faithfully cling to our Lord, relying on His strength to be holy and to attain salvation.

Finally, the Roman emperors used laurel leaves to form a wreath to be worn on the head as a sign of victory. Such laurel crowns were also awarded to military leaders who were victorious in battle and to athletes who had won contests. The virgins of the goddess Vesta also considered laurel sacred and a sign of virtue.

At Christmas time, laurel reminds us of Christs victory over sin and death, and our call to holiness. We hope to attain the crown of victory over sin and reign with our Lord in Heaven. St. Paul taught, You know that while all the runners in the stadium take part in the race, the award goes to one man. In that case, run so as to win! Athletes deny themselves all sorts of things. They do this to win a crown of leaves that withers, but we a crown that is imperishable (1 Cor 9:24-25). In writing to St. Timothy before the end of his life, St. Paul again used the same imagery: The time of my dissolution is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on a merited crown awaits me; on that Day, the Lord, just judge that He is, will award it to me and not only to me, but to all who have looked for His appearing with eager longing (2 Tm 4:7-8).

The poinsettia, a native plant of Central America, is very popular. The bright red leaves symbolize the burning, divine love of our Redeemer. The shape of the cluster of leaves and the contrast of the red with the green also remind one of the star of Bethlehem that shone so brightly the night our Savior was born and then guided the Magi to visit Him.

A popular legend surrounds the poinsettia. Long ago, on Christmas Eve, a little Indian girl in Mexico wanted to bring a gift to present to Baby Jesus, lying in the creche at her Church. Being very poor, she could not buy a gift, as did the other children of the town. So on the way to Church, she gathered some green weeds on the edge of a field. Like the other children, she walked down the aisle of the Church and placed her bouquet at the creche. Suddenly, the green weeds turned a beautiful red, because she had given the most wonderful gift of all, the gift of genuine love. Since then, the poinsettia has been known in Mexico as flores de la Noche Buena.

These decorations, while perhaps originating in pagan times, have a much more beautiful meaning for Christians. As we decorate our homes this year, let us look upon them as reminders of the real meaning of Christmas.

The origin and history of the Christmas tree: from paganism to modern ubiquity

In the 1840s and 1850s Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularised a new way of celebrating Christmas. This engraving from 1840 shows the two monarchs surrounded by children and gifts around a Christmas tree. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

For many, it’s unthinkable to celebrate Christmas without a beautiful evergreen fir in the living room decorated with sparkling ornaments and wrapped presents. Like most Christmas traditions, including the celebration of Christmas itself, the origin of the Christmas tree can be traced to pagan traditions. In fact, were it not for Queen Victoria (the most powerful monarch of her time) and a group of German soldiers in a temporary hospital in England, the decorated fir trees we love today might have remained an obscure custom that only a couple of Germanic and Slavic countries practiced.

Pagan origins of the Christmas tree

Ancient Egyptians used to decorate the temples dedicated to Ra, the god of the sun, with green palm during the Winter Solstice. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Although the Christmas tree is a relatively recent addition to the list of holiday traditions, it goes back several centuries, as do many other customs.

Long before Christianity appeared, people in the Northern Hemisphere used evergreen plants to decorate their homes, particularly the doors, to celebrate the Winter Solstice. On December 21 or December 22, the day is the shortest, and the night is the longest. Traditionally, this time of the year is seen as the return in strength of the sun god who had been weakened during winter — and the evergreen plants served as a reminder that the god would glow again and summer was to be expected.

The solstice was celebrated by the Egyptians who filled their homes with green palm rushes in honor of the god Ra, who had the head of a hawk and wore the sun as a crown. In Northern Europe, the Celts decorated their druid temples with evergreen boughs which signified everlasting life. Further up north, the Vikings thought evergreens were the plants of Balder, the god of light and peace. The ancient Romans marked the Winter Solstice with a feast called Saturnalia thrown in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture, and, like the Celts, decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs.

It’s worth mentioning at this point that Saturnalia was the most important celebration in Roman life. It was a week-long, rowdy celebration held from the 17th of December. It was so wordy, in fact, that at some point, no one could be prosecuted for injuring or killing people, raping, theft — anything usually against the law really. But although a lot of people blew off steam by taking advantage of the lawlessness, Saturnalia could also be a time for kindness. During Saturnalia, many Romans practiced merrymaking and the exchange of presents — another practice you may find familiar.

In the early days of Christianity, the birth of Jesus was set on the last day of Saturnalia by the first Christian Romans in power to approach pagans, even though some scholars assert Jesus was born nine months later, or a few years earlier, but that’s not a point. It was a clever political ploy, some say, which in time transformed Saturnalia from a frat party marathon into a meek celebration of the birth of Christ.

While a lot of ancient cultures used evergreens around Christmas time, historical records suggest that the Christmas tree tradition was started in the 16th century by Germans who decorated fir trees inside their homes. In some Christian cults, Adam and Eve were considered saints, and people celebrated them on Christmas Eve.

During the 16th century, the late Middle Ages, it was not rare to see huge plays being performed in open-air during Adam and Eve day, which told the story of creation. As part of the performance, the Garden of Eden was symbolized by a “paradise tree” hung with fruit. The clergy banned these practices from public life, considering them acts of heathenry. So, some collected evergreen branches or trees and brought them to their homes, in secret.

These evergreens were initially called ‘paradise trees’ and were often accompanied by wooden pyramids made of branches held together by rope. On these pyramids, some families would fasten and light candles, one for each family member. These were the precursors of modern Christmas tree lights and ornaments, along with edibles such as gingerbread and gold-covered apples.

Already, a link between trees and Christmas was becoming established. But another key religious figure played a role here.

Some say the first to light a candle atop a Christmas tree was Martin Luther. Legend has it, late one evening around Christmas time, Luther was walking home through the woods when he was struck by the innocent beauty of starlight shining through fir trees. Wanting to share this experience with his family, Martin Luther cut down a fir tree and took it home. He placed a small candle on the branches to symbolize the Christmas sky.

What’s certain is that by 1605, Christmas trees were a thing as, in that year, historical records suggest the inhabitants of Strasburg ‘set up fir trees in the parlours … and hang thereon roses cut out of many-coloured paper, apples, wafers, gold-foil, sweets, etc.’

During these early days of the Christmas tree, many statesmen and members of the clergy condemned their use as a celebration of Christ. Lutheran minister Johann von Dannhauer, for instance, complained that the symbol distracted people from the “true evergreen tree” — Jesus Christ. The English Puritans condemned a number of customs associated with Christmas, such as the use of the Yule log, holly, and mistletoe. Oliver Cromwell, the influential 17th-century British politician, preached against the “heathen traditions” of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated “that sacred event.”

They were largely successful, and the Christmas tree remained a niched celebration. Until Queen Victoria came along.

The modern Christmas Tree

In 1846, Queen Victoria and her German husband Albert were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle. German immigrants had brought the custom of Christmas trees to Britain with them in the early 1800s but the practice didn’t catch on with the locals.

But after Queen Victoria, an extremely popular monarch started celebrating Christmas with fir trees and presents hung on the branches as a favor to her husband, the layfolk immediately followed suit.

Across the ocean, in the 19th century, Christmas trees weren’t at all popular, though Dutch and German settlers introduced them. Americans were less susceptible to the Queen’s influence. However, it was American civic leaders, artists, and authors who played on the image of a happy middle-class family exchanging gifts around a tree in an effort to replace Christmas customs that were seen as decadent, like wassailing. This family-centered image was further amplified by a very popular poem written by Clement Moore in 1822 known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. The same poem conjured the modern picture of Santa Claus.

It took a long time before the Christmas tree became an integral part of American life during this faithful night. President Franklin Pierce (1804-1869) arranged to have the first Christmas tree in the White House, during the mid-1850s. President Calvin Coolidge (1885-1933) started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn in 1923.

Though traditionally not all Christian cultures adorned their homes with evergreens and presents, the influence exerted by the West and rising consumerism has turned the Christmas tree into a ubiquitous symbol. In fact, many people of other faiths have adopted the Christmas tree (See Japan for instance).

The Christmas tree has gone a long way from its humble, pagan origins, to the point that it’s become too popular for its own good. In the U.S. alone, 35 million Christmas trees are sold annually, joined by 10 million artificial trees, which are surprisingly worse from an environmental perspective. Annually, 300 million Christmas trees are grown in farms around the world to sustain a two-billion-dollar industry, but because these are often not enough, many firs are cut down from forests. This is why we recommend opting for more creative and sustainable alternatives to Christmas trees.

The Christmas tree: From pagan origins and Christian symbolism to secular status

A Christmas tree adorned with ornaments and lights is a centrepiece of the festive season. But have you ever wondered where the tradition comes from?

Evergreen trees and plants have been used to celebrate winter festivals for thousands of years, long before the advent of Christianity.

Pagans in Europe used branches of evergreen fir trees to decorate their homes and brighten their spirits during the winter solstice.

Early Romans used evergreens to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturnalia, while ancient Egyptians used green palm rushes as part of their worship of the god Ra.

Pieces of evergreen fir tree were first brought into people's homes to brighten spirits during the winter solstice. ( flickr: chintermeyer )

"The idea of bringing the evergreen into the house represents fertility and new life in the darkness of winter, which was much more of the pagan themes," Dr Dominique Wilson from the University of Sydney said.

"That's also where the ideas of the holly and the ivy and the mistletoe come from because they're the few flowering plants at winter so therefore they hold special significance.

"So the idea of bringing evergreens into the house started there and eventually that evolved into the Christmas tree."

One unique aspect of Magical Melody is the ability to choose between multiple characters to play as, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. This adds a layer of strategy and variety to the gameplay, as players can experiment with different characters to see which one suits their playstyle the best. Another standout feature of the game is the musical aspect.

From pagan customs to Christianity

There are several theories and legends as to how the evergreen fir tree went on to become a symbol of Christianity.

One is credited to the English Benedictine monk Boniface, famous for his missionary work in Germany during the eighth century.

"The common story goes that [Boniface] encountered some native Germans performing some sacrifices in front of a mighty oak tree — oak trees being sacred to the god Thor," Dr Wilson said.

"Boniface seized his axe and felled the tree in order to stop the pagans worshiping a false idol and the pagans were waiting for him to be struck down by lightning, but it didn't happen.

"So at this stage he took the opportunity to convert them."

Then legend has it that a fir tree grew out of the fallen oak.

"That became a symbol of Christ — being triangular in shape it represents the trinity — and from there came the idea that the tree should be a symbol of Christ and new life," Dr Wilson said.

"That's one of the main origins of the Christmas tree and bringing it into the house."

Players can collect musical notes by performing specific tasks, such as befriending villagers or finding hidden items. The more notes the player collects, the more areas and events unlock in the game. The music in Magical Melody is well-received, with a catchy soundtrack that changes depending on the activities and events happening in the game. In addition to the farming aspect, the game also includes other activities such as fishing, mining, and participating in festivals. These activities help to break up the daily routine of tending to crops and animals, providing additional challenges and rewards. With its charming graphics, immersive gameplay, and variety of activities, Wio's Harvest Moon: Magical Melody offers a delightful farming simulation experience for players of all ages. Whether you're a fan of the Harvest Moon series or new to farming games, this title is sure to provide hours of fun and relaxation..

Reviews for "The Unique Art Style of Wio Harvest Moon Magical Melody"

1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Wio Harvest Moon Magical Melody". The game felt repetitive and lacked depth. The chores and farming activities quickly became monotonous, and there wasn't much variety in the tasks. The character interactions were also very limited, and I felt like I couldn't really connect with anyone in the game. Overall, I found it to be quite boring and not worth the time or money.

2. Sarah - 1/5 - "Wio Harvest Moon Magical Melody" was a huge letdown for me. The graphics were outdated and the controls were clunky and unresponsive. The gameplay itself was very slow-paced and didn't offer much excitement or challenge. Additionally, the game lacked clear objectives and guidance, which left me feeling lost and confused most of the time. Overall, I didn't enjoy this game at all and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

3. David - 2/5 - I really wanted to like "Wio Harvest Moon Magical Melody", but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The game lacked a compelling storyline and the overall gameplay felt aimless. The relationships with the other characters were underdeveloped, and there wasn't much incentive to interact with them. I also found the time management aspect to be more frustrating than fun, as it felt like I could never accomplish everything I wanted to in a day. Overall, I felt like this game was lacking in substance and didn't hold my interest for long.

The Charming Atmosphere of Wio Harvest Moon Magical Melody