By William V. Rauscher
The Christmas tree comes to us from Germany. Martin Luther is credited with being inspired by the starry heavens one night, and expressing his feelings to his family by bringing a fir tree into his home, and attaching lighted candles to its branches. Fir meant fire, and fire is an ancient symbol for spirit. The tree also pointed toward the heavens.
Evergreens were thought to represent the ever-burning fire of life. The color green signified the life force through the year. Eventually decorative balls represented the planets, while the star that radiates from the top reminds us of Bethlehem. The entire tree and decorations teach us that the universe is witness to the Incarnation.
Red at Christmas reminds us of the fire of the Spirit. Green affirms nature, and the ongoing life. And in the Incarnation, Spirit unites with nature.
In fact, the Christmas tree symbolizes to us a further appreciation of Jesus' birth. It is a means of retelling a miracle in a colorful and beautiful way so that we can further understand and appreciate Jesus' entering our world.
Actually, the tree is a reinterpretation of pagan rites, along with the use of other greens and decorations to commemorate in ancient times a celebration of the feast of Saturnalia - the birth of the Sun in the sky at the Winter Solstice. Along with the giving of gifts, the feast was later Christianized with the selection of December 25th to announce the birth of the Son of God to the world.
The tree also tells the story of a cosmic event - a mystery. In personal celebrations of Christmas the tree begins its use in the 16th century, and is later brought to America by German immigrants.
The heavens and earth rejoice in the coming of the Lord of Life. Our decision must be either for our Christmas tree to represent the celebration of the birth of Christ, or simply an acknowledgment of the pagan festival of the Winter Solstice.
What does the beauty of the Christmas tree say to you?
In my opinon, not having a Christmas tree will not keep you from missing the true meaning of Christmas. Neither will having one cause you to have a pagan Christmas...
3 comments:
I've usually heard arguments from Isaiah 40 & 44 and Jeremiah 10.
Jer 10:1 Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:
2 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.
4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
5 They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
(KJV)
Along with all the comments in the Bible of doing wickedness under every green tree, and the passages Arby mentioned, I add the passage quoted above.
Having grown up having a tree set up for Christmas I certainly can understand wanting one, but I also remember aspects of setting up the tree that were not edifying to all and a blessing to the season.
Perhaps it is ok, but just how much of a Christianized pagan celebration do we want to make our celebration of the coming of our Lord into the world?
He came in a lowly and simple manner; should we not celebrate in a similar manner?
I believe the excessive visual displays can overshadow the glory of our Lord if we are not careful in accepting these overhauled pagan rites.
God be with you and your family; may you have a wonderful and blessed celebration of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I think that it is pretty far fetched to use these Bible passages to talk about having a Christmas tree. Frankly, if you look at the context of these verses you will find that Jeremiah is communicating what God says to Israel about creating idols for the express purpose of worshipping them. There is a lot of speculation as to the origin of a Christmas Tree; however, I think that it is definitely different from the object that Jeremiah was communicating about because an idol is an end in itself. It is God; uno. A Christmas tree is not an end in itself, whether it is meant to celebrate God or not. It is meant to point us to something. I think that many people have a Christmas tree and they do not know what they are celebrating. Maybe the call for Christians is not to tear the trees down, but to educate the public about its real meaning. The celebration of the Savior who exists and prevails despite the "winter" of sin in this world. Nie wiem.
RS
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