Two of our artificial Tannenbaums are shown below:
The Lord's Prayer cross wall plaque in the above photo was a birthday gift from my daughter.
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My great-aunt made the ceramic Tannenbaum in the above photo.*
And, here's a random old-time Christmas scene, complete with risky lighted candles on the tree branches:
*If you celebrate Christmas, you might have one or more Christmas trees inside your house. Our church, also, puts two large trees up each year in the chancel, one on either side of the altar. The trees are then decorated with Chrismons, which were made by the Ladies Aid years ago.
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The "Christmas tree" tradition most likely originated in Europe before Christianity was introduced. This Wikipedia page relates info about old Germanic traditions related to trees (O Tannenbaum) and a festival of lights celebrated each year at the time of the winter solstice.
The Yule Log and mistletoe are also associated with pre-Christian traditions.
Read about mistletoe......it was considered sacred, especially if found growing on an oak tree. Druid priests had a special ceremony for harvesting the mistletoe.
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It doesn't bother me that these supposedly Christmas traditions may have "pagan" roots. My own ancestry is European, and it only stands to reason that somewhere back in time there were traditions in place there before the Roman Empire and Christianity took over. Do we modern Christians of an evangelical background even fathom what conversions were like back then when the Roman Empire was in power? The Church, which was part of the State, would come in and baptize whole villages or regions and then declare that everyone was a "Christian". Were they? If Baptism saves, then I guess they were, though that's an orthodox, traditional Church belief......an idea foreign to evangelicals, who bank on each person making a "decision" to accept Christ. I've experienced Christianity now from both those perspectives (Baptist by birth/Lutheran by marriage) and sometimes its difficult for me to view them as even being part of the same religion.
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It took hundreds of years for the Church's rituals and evolving traditions to overshadow the pre-Christian traditions. I imagine that as time went by and generations died off, old meanings were forgotten and new beliefs took root. Funny though that some of the pre-Christian symbols and traditions remain in use. We don't give them much thought......none, actually; they are simply part of Christmas. What if symbols mean more than we realize? You know.......similar to Baptism truly saving. What if bringing a tree into your house means you really ARE honoring the tree's spirit, whether you acknowledge it or not. Would you still bring the tree in?
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I probably would. I can't say for sure that every living thing doesn't have a sort of "spirit" as part of its being. Not that it is a god---or God---but that it has a "spirit", as part of its existence as a creation of God. I think I've read somewhere that the Native Americans beliefs were more along this line, and were misunderstood by Christians---sometimes maybe intentionally---as worshipping the creation instead of the Creator. Instead it should be seen as an honoring and appreciation of the aspects of God's creation which provide sustenance, shelter, and other necessities for human survival.
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Here's the intro statement to the song O Christmas Tree from one of my Christmas carol books: The evergreen tree is a northern European symbol for eternal life. It is a pre-Christian concept that has found its way into our era as the "Christmas Tree".
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O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree,
With faithful leaves unchanging.
Not only green in summer's heat,
But also winter's snow and sleet.
O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree,
With faithful leaves unchanging!
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O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree,
Of all the trees most lovely.
Each year, you bring to me delight
Gleaming in the Christmas night.
O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree,
Of all the trees most lovely!
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O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree,
Your leaves will teach me, also,
That hope and love and faithfulness
Are precious things I can possess.
O Christmas tree,
O Christmas tree,
Your leaves will teach me, also!
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4 comments:
What a wonderfully educational post! I had some inkling about this but had never read it in one spot. Thank you.
Yes, I think Native Americans thanked each live spirit for providing for them. I read they believed if that
spirit was not properly thanked then when they died, these spirits would bother them.
I apoligize to Native Americans, because I have grouped them. Each tribe had various beliefs but many were similiar.
We would do well to pattern ourselves after their traditions. They demonstrated conservation habits that would improve our condition today.
As usual Jeanelle this is a thought provoking post. I choose to believe that honoring (not worshiping) the life of one of God's creation is another way of thanking God for all He has given us.
Hi Gail and Egghead,
Thank you both for your very thoughtful comments!
Very interesting post, Jeannelle. And you're making me feel bad that I don't have a tree this year.
But I'm over it now.
Besides, I can look at yours and everyone else's on their blogs!
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