What Does The Christmas Tree Symbolize
The first christmas ornaments were apples to signify the forbidden fruit and wafers to represent the christian sacrament of communion.
What does the christmas tree symbolize. The christmas tree symbolizes the spirit of the christmas season and to christians the everlasting life and sacrifice of jesus christ. But it doesn t stop there. In ancient cultures the winter solstice was heralded as the beginning of brighter days ahead an indication that the sun god was regaining his strength. 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.
The christmas tree was originally a pagan religious symbol of celebration. Evergreen trees of course retained their color through all seasons and thus were displayed and embraced in coordination with the solstice as a. What does the christmas tree symbolize. Symbolic meaning of the christmas tree the christmas tree is a symbol of love.
The first mention in history of fir trees used in christmas celebrations was in 12th century germany. The christmas tree started off as being a pyramid tree if people could not find a plant to represent the tree. The lights and decorations on the tree represent the wonder and glory associated with the birth and resurrection of jesus. There s a kind of glory to them when they re all lit up that exceeds anything all the money in the world could buy.
Their shape resembles a star like the one that led the wise men to jesus. In the bible the cross upon which jesus was crucified is often referred to as a tree. The poinsettia originates from mexico and like the evergreen tree it is a plant that thrives during the winter and symbolizes new life. Over time different shapes were incorporated.
These dramas were held outside during the advent and christmas seasons and the fir tree symbolized the tree of life in the garden of eden. People would use wood to create a pyramid and decorate it with nuts gingerbread apples paper and candles to resemble a tree. Red poinsettias can remind us of the blood that christ spilled for us. A fir tree was used in mystery plays as the so called paradise tree.