Religious Meaning Of Christmas Tree

The christmas tree is an evergreen tree usually decorated at christmas with ornaments and lights.

Religious meaning of christmas tree. The christmas tree has become a symbol of the spirit of christmas in many countries and many if not all our homes. There are many interesting connections to ancient traditions such as egyptian and roman customs early christian practices and victorian nostalgia. In the western christian tradition christmas trees are variously erected on days such as the first day of advent or even as late as christmas eve depending on the country. But what is the religious significance.

While there is no overt reference to an evergreen treen in relation to the actual birth story of christ believers have attached religious meaning to the once pagan symbol. The early christian church in the third century ce strictly prohibited the decoration of their houses with evergreen boughs. And winfrith himself or so it is said cut a small fir sapling from the forest and placed it in the chapel as a symbol of the christ child s birth and the beginning of his reign among this formerly heathen people. When you think of christmas day one of the first images that comes to mind is the christmas tree.

The christmas tree today is a common custom to most of us. But what is the religious significance. The earliest christmas trees or evergreen branches used in homes were referred to as paradises they were often hung with round pastry wafers symbolizing the eucharist which developed into the. Opposition to the christmas tree was intense in past centuries.

While there is no overt reference to an evergreen treen in relation to the actual birth story of christ believers have attached religious meaning to the once pagan symbol. What led christians to adopt this custom. What is the origin of the christmas tree. Not just any tree qualifies for this important holiday season status.

A fir tree was used in mystery plays as the so called paradise tree. However most scholars point to germany as being the origin of the christmas tree. Thus the christmas tree represents the original tree of paradise the burning bush which spoke to moses the branch of jesse from which jesus was born the life giving tree of the cross of christ and the tree which st. This according to a number of sources is the origin of the christmas tree as we know it today.

When you think of christmas day one of the first images that comes to mind is the christmas tree. Customs of the same faith hold that the two traditional days when christmas decorations such as the christmas tree are removed are twelfth night and if they are not taken down on that day candlemas the latter of which ends the christmas epiphany season in some denominations. Because it is green year round the evergreen tree represents hope.