LEGENDS OF FIR AND PINE TREES i8i 



in fir trees, and by preference old trees, and if by 

 chance one of these trees is cut down the genii 

 grieve, and are extremely sad. 



There is a legend of a colossal fir tree which 

 grew by itself at Tarssok, in Russia. 



It was said to be several hundred years old, and had 

 withstood many blasts of lightning, as shown by its 

 barkless trunk and bare branches. 



At last in a gale of wind it fell, but so great was 

 the respect and veneration felt by the countryfolk 

 for this fine old tree, that they would not make any 

 profits from the sale of the immense trunk, but gave 

 the proceeds to the Church. 



In Denmark, Sweden, Russia, and Germany, it 

 has been the custom for a great number of years, 

 to use the fir exclusively as the Christmas-tree, and 

 this custom and idea has now become firmly estab- 

 lished in England. 



The Pine Tree was dedicated to Bacchus, and this 

 connection is still maintained by the Greeks, who 

 put pine cones in their wine vats, to preserve and 

 flavour the wine, by means of the resin contained in 

 the cones. 



The pine cone was considered a symbol of the heart 

 of Zagroeus, who was destroyed by the Titans, and 

 whose ashes were given to Semele, the mother of 

 Bacchus. 



In some localities the pine was also dedicated to 

 Pan, because Pitys, a nymph whom he loved, was 

 changed into a pine tree, to escape the importuni- 

 ties of Boreas. 



The wood of the pine was used in making the first 

 boats, and so the tree was also dedicated to Neptune, 

 the great sea god; therefore, being held sacred to 



