O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Among modern Christians there is a segment or two who believe the putting up of a Christmas tree is a throwback to paganism and should have no part of the Christmas celebration. Let me say that I respect their desire to promote the centrality of Christ in the Christmas celebration and applaud their efforts not to degrade the honor of Jesus with blatant commercialism. They, like the 2nd century Church Father, Tertullian, condemn those Christians who celebrate with the use of the Christmas tree. Tertullian condemned the use of evergreen trees and laurel boughs by saying,

"Let them over whom the fires of hell are imminent, affix to their posts, laurels doomed presently to burn: to them the testimonies of darkness and the omens of their penalties are suitable. You are a light of the world, and a tree ever green. If you have renounced temples, make not your own gate a temple."

While Tertullian had a legitimate reason for speaking out against this practice – paganism was still impacting the Church in a very real way – is it still a valid problem today? Because some Christians argue against the use of Christmas trees, as did Tertullian, it prompted a question, “What do Christmas trees have to do with Christmas?” I believe a bit of historical perspective will shed some light on the subject.

 

The Medieval Period

Evergreen boughs and trees were used in the decoration of the houses of Romans at the dawning of a new year; while northern Europeans would dig up a small evergreen tree and plant it in a box in their houses in the wintertime. This was done in honor of the emperor initially, which is why so many Christians decried the practice in the earliest days of the Church.

By the early Medieval Period (late 5th century), a legend became prominent among Christians which held that when Christ was born in the dead of winter, every tree throughout the world miraculously sprouted green shoots. Simultaneously, Christian missionaries working among the Germanic and Slavic peoples in the northern western Empire took more of a lenient approach to cultural practices among those to whom they preached. These missionaries believed that Christ’s incarnation proclaimed His lordship over those cultural symbols that had previously been used in pagan worship. While pagan worship was not tolerated, there was a belief among these missionaries that the gospel converted not only individuals but also their cultural milieus and traditions.

A mythical example of this surrounds the 8th century Christian missionary Boniface. The myth states that after preaching to far northern peoples for some time, Boniface cut down an oak tree which was used in the worship of the pagan god Thor – and often a center human sacrifice – and then pointed the people to a nearby fir tree as an symbol of the love and mercy of God which sprouted in the dead of winter. Mythical as it is, it does illustrate how missionaries changed the pagan associations surrounding the evergreen tree as a religious symbol.

 

The Renaissance

The Renaissance gave us clear records of evergreen trees being used as a distinct Christmas symbol; particularly in Latvia in 1510 and Strasbourg in 1521. Due to the predominant illiteracy of the common man in the Medieval Period, clergymen resorted to using everyday symbolism to teach spiritual truths. One such symbolic instruction dating from the Medieval Period involved the Nativity, which was linked to the story of creation; Christmas Eve being a feast day of Adam and Eve. The Garden of Eden was symbolized by a “paradise tree” – an evergreen decorated with fruit. The riotous plays that often surrounded these instructive periods were banned in the early 16th century, but the “paradise tree” never lost its appeal. It moved inside with the decorating of trees or evergreen boughs, called “paradises.” This developed into the hanging of evergreen boughs decorated with round pastry wafers symbolizing the Eucharist – a practice which is still prevalent on German Christmas trees today.

The custom of decorating evergreen trees at Christmastime gained popularity in Western Europe throughout the 17th and 18th centuries; even witnessing the presence of Christmas trees in the sanctuary of many churches. Alongside the early Christmas trees usually stood a pyramid of candles - sometimes one for each family member. Soon these candles made their way onto the Christmas trees themselves – the forerunner of our modern Christmas lights and ornaments.

 

Trees and Gifts

It took a while before the placing of presents underneath the Christmas tree came into being. Though the giving of gifts, by the Medieval Period, began as a way to symbolize the gifts the magi brought to Jesus; their association with Christmas trees took longer. The giving of gifts also became associated with Nicholas, bishop of Myra (modern-day Turkey) because of his custom of giving of gifts to poor children; especially at Christmastime.

The association of gift-giving and Christmas trees came into being about the same time the trees made their ways into Christian homes. Christians in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia would give their gifts anonymously; often hiding them around the house, and eventually in and under the tree. 

In the English-speaking world, the union of gift-giving and Christmas trees can be attributed to English Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert who set up a giant Christmas tree at Windsor Castle in 1841 which was decorated with candles, ornaments, and a host of gifts. German and Dutch immigrants brought their customs to the New World in the early 1800s. American authors and civic leaders who desired to rid Christmas traditions fraught with alcohol-fueled debauchery – such as wassailing - latched onto the Victorian ideal of a family-friendly holiday. Such a family-friendly image was popularized by Moore’s 1822 poem which became the widely popular ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

 

Conclusion

While many Christians no longer give active thought to the symbolism underlying our Christmas trees, decorations, the giving of gifts, etc., but perhaps we ought. I see no reason to shun the practice of Christmas trees, gift-giving, and many other modern Christmas traditions. The pagan associations of yesteryear are long gone and have no bearing on our modern culture, so why resurrect them? Christmas without Christ is no holiday at all. Therefore, we would do well to remember that the ultimate gift of Heaven, the Light of the World, hung on a tree between heaven and earth to give us eternal life. Let our modern Christmas trees be imbued with that symbolism this season.