One of the earliest sciences of mankind was astronomy, for the study of the stars was used for measuring seasons, time, and for navigation. This was essential knowledge up until modern times and paying attention to the stars played a much greater role in times past.

The movements of the stars were also considered to be an important influence in the outcomes you could expect in your life, people visited astrologers in ancient Babylon and astrological symbols adorned medieval decor and buildings.

Stars were associated with prophecy, illumination and enlightenment and are often the symbol for our highest aspirations, the heavens above it. In early Christian art, the stars represented the actual Christian churches.

At Christmas time, many Christians place a star atop a Christmas tree, in remembrance of the three wise men following the star of Bethlehem to the place of the Christ child's birth in a lowly manger. The star is a beautiful symbol, even without it's association to Christianity, a symbol of light, just as Jesus brought light into the world for so many people through the ages.

The story goes that Martin Luther King, seeing the stars shining through the forest at night so beautifully, wanted to share it with his wife. He took a fir tree home and placed lit candles on it to simulate the stars shining through the forest trees.