Is the Christmas tree related to Jesus Christ in anyway?

Answer 1

Absolutely nothing.

Since the earliest of times, trees, especially green evergreens, were worshipped by the pagans. To them it represented life and freshness. Since it was EVER green, it always had life. The trees were worshipped as symbols of life, fertility, sexual potency and reproduction.

These pagan rituals of worship were then brought into the homes and set up as idols, with the belief that it would give men a heightened potency of sexual virility to procreate new life for their harvest god in the new year. The evergreen tree represented a "PHALLIC" symbol (the mans sexual organ of reproduction) set in an upright position..

When the Church appropriated pagan symbols, traditions and dates to have people worship God, they used the Winter Solstice time of year to impose the celebration of Christ's birth, or Christmas. The tree was brought into homes and decorated in Europe in the 17th century, and Europeans brought it to North America.

Answer:

Christmas trees represent the "Tree of Life."

Answer 2

The Christmas tree has long been a Christian symbol of everlasting life because of its evergreen nature. Germans first started decorating them with candy, apples, and garlands but they weren't brought inside homes until the 16th century. Martin Luther started the tradition of lights on Christmas trees when he put candles on them to imitate the starlight that came through the branches when the trees were outside.

Answer 3

Oh because its s celebration and you need something to decorate so why not a tree? I guess in the olden times like waaay far back when Jesus was born it was a big deal because Jesus was a very special person, and you decorate the tree and then put the star or angel on top which represents Jesus. And what else is the star or angel supposed to go on? So there...I bet theres a more logical explanation but just stick with this for now : )

Answer 4

The" Christmas" tree was adopted many years ago as a symbol for Christmas it really started out as a pagan custom which had nothing to do with Christianity, but because a tree is so beautiful when it is decorated, the custom stuck, most European countries will use a Spruce tree as where North Americans will use a Pine tree.

Answer 5

Evergreens have long been a symbol of rebirth since ancient recordable history. The Christmas tree originated in Germany as the earliest record of an evergreen tree being used and simply decorated for Christmas was in 1521 in the German region of Alsace.

Another custom was to be found in the homes of Christians on Dec. 24 since the late Middle Ages. A large candle called the "Christmas light," symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world, was lit on Christmas Eve. In western Germany, many smaller candles were set upon a wooden pyramid and lit. Besides the candles, other objects such as glass balls, tinsel, and the "star of Bethlehem" were placed on its top..

The particular relationship to Jesus Christ is sparse, but today's Christian Christmas tree appears to be a descendant of these practices.

Answer 6

Some have traced the Christmas tree back at least as far as the Prophet Jeremiah who wrote the book Jeremiah in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament).

Opposition to the Christmas tree was intense in past centuries. The early Christian Church in the third century strictly prohibited the decoration of their houses with evergreen boughs. The decorated Christmas tree only caught on in the mid-19th century.

Modern-day opposition continues: some condemn the Christmas tree because they believe -- incorrectly -- that the custom of cutting down a tree, erecting it in the home and decorating it is a Pagan custom. 1 For many people today, it is primarily as a secular symbol of hope for the New Year and the future return of warmth to the earth. Its future is assured in spite of opposition.

Objections to the Christmas Tree:In the past, there have been many objections to Christmas trees:

The Prophet Jeremiah condemned as Pagan the ancient Middle Eastern practice of cutting down trees, bringing them into the home and decorating them. Of course, these were not really Christmas trees, because Jesus was not born until centuries later, and the use of Christmas trees was not introduced for many centuries after his birth. Apparently, in Jeremiah's time the "heathen" would cut down trees, carve or decorate them in the form of a god or goddess, and overlay it with precious metals. Some Christians currently feel that this Pagan practice was similar enough to our present use of Christmas trees that this passage from Jeremiah can be used to condemn both:

Jeremiah 10:2-4: "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. 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. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." (King James Version).In Europe, Pagans in the past did not cut down evergreen trees, bring them into their homes and decorate them. That would have been far too destructive of nature. But during the Roman celebration of the feast of Saturnalia, Pagans did decorate their houses with clippings of evergreen shrubs. They also decorated living trees with bits of metal and replicas of their God, Bacchus.

Tertullian (circa 160 - 230), an early Christian leader and a prolific writer, complained that too many fellow-Christians had copied the Pagan practice of adorning their houses with lamps and with wreathes of laurel at Christmas time. 8,9,10,11

The English Puritans condemned a number of customs associated with Christmas, such as the use of the Yule log, holly, mistletoe, etc. Oliver Cromwell preached against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols, decorated trees and any joyful expression that desecrated "that sacred event." 2,4

In America, the Pilgrim's second governor, William Bradford, a Calvanist, tried hard to stamp out all "pagan mockery" at Christmas time. 4 Christmas trees were not used by Puritans in colonial times. However, if they were, they would certainly have been forbidden.

In 1851, Pastor Henry Schwan of Cleveland OH appears to have been the person responsible for decorating the first Christmas tree in an American church. His parishioners condemned the idea as a Pagan practice; some even threatened the pastor with harm. But objections soon dissipated. 2

Even today, the complaints continue: At Christmas 2000, the city manager of Eugene OR ordered that Christmas trees could not be erected on city properties because he considered them Christian religious symbols. He felt that their presence would violate the principle of church and state. 1 This is just one of countless conflicts that have surfaced at Christmas time over religious and quasi-religious observances.

A few fundamentalist Christian groups oppose Christmas trees and even the celebration of Christmas for their members. This includes the Jehovah's Witnesses and, until recently, the Worldwide Church of God. Part of the opposition is because the custom of decorated trees originated among Pagans. They also oppose trees because of a literal interpretation of the quotation from Jeremiah.

Origins of the Christmas Tree:Pagan traditions: Many Pagan cultures used to cut boughs of evergreen trees in December, move them into the home or temple, and decorate them. 7 Modern-day Pagans still do. This was to recognize the winter solstice -- the time of the year that had the shortest daylight hours, and longest night of the year. This occurs annually sometime between DEC-20 to 23; most often, it is DEC-21. As the solstice approached, they noticed that the days were gradually getting shorter; many feared that the sun would eventually disappear forever, and everyone would freeze. But, even though deciduous trees, bushes, and crops died or hibernated for the winter, the evergreen trees remained green. They seemed to have magical powers that enabled them to withstand the rigors of winter.

Not having evergreen trees, the ancient Egyptians considered the palm tree to symbolize resurrection. They decorated their homes with its branches during the winter solstice. 3

"The first decorating of an evergreen tree began with the heathen Greeks and their worship of their god Adonia, who allegedly was brought back to life by the serpent Aessulapius after having been slain." 5

The ancient Pagan Romans decorated their "trees with bits of metal and replicas of their god, Bacchus [a fertility god]. They also placed 12 candles on the tree in honor of their sun god" 2 Their mid-winter festival of Saturnalia started on DEC-17 and often lasted until a few days after the Solstice.

In Northern Europe, the ancient Germanic people tied fruit and attached candles to evergreen tree branches, in honor of their god Woden. Trees were viewed as symbolizing eternal life. This is the deity after which Wednesday was named. The trees joined holly, mistletoe, the wassail bowl and the Yule log as symbols of the season. All predated Christianity. 5

Christmas traditions:

One Christmas tradition was that St. Boniface (675? - 755; a.k.a. Winfred) cut down a deciduous tree in the presence of some newly-baptized Christians. The tree was an oak -- once sacred to the former Pagans. It miraculously split into four pieces, revealing an evergreen tree growing from the center of the oak stump. This was interpreted as symbolizing the death of Paganism and the establishment of Christianity. 3

Another is that Martin Luther (1483 - 1546) was so impressed by a forest scene that he allegedly cut down a small fir tree, took it home, and decorated it with lighted candles. This is probably a myth, because the earliest documented record of a Christmas tree in Germany is dated to almost 60 years after his death.

History of the Christmas Tree:The modern Christmas tree tradition dates back to Western Germany in the 16th century. They were called "Paradeisbaum" (paradise trees) and were brought into homes to celebrate the annual Feast of Adam and Eve on DEC-24. 4 They were first brought to America by German immigrants about 1700. Christmas trees became popular among the general U.S. population about 1850. 2

President Franklin Pierce (1804-1869) arranged to have the first Christmas tree in the White House, during the mid-1850's. President Calvin Coolidge (1885-1933) started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn in 1923. 4

Today, the Christmas Tree has become accepted by most Christians, by people of other faiths, and for those who do not follow an organized religion. It has become a popular late-December tradition and part of our present-day culture. Christmas Trees grace households and office buildings alike.

The trees take on a variety of shapes, sizes, and costs. Both the Christian and secular worlds have embraced traditional green firs, beautiful white flocked trees, and even pre-lit Christmas trees for those who have allergic reactions to live trees.

As Gail Quick, University of South Carolina - Beaufort's Dean of University Relations, commented on the occasion of a community tree-lighting ceremony.:

"This Christmas event every year is the glue that holds this community together - this and the July 4th fireworks. This always makes me feel good. Some of us still believe in Santa Claus." 6

Answer 7

The Christmas tree dates back to over a thousand years. The ancient Celtic tribes saw the evergreen as the only living plant in the dead of winter, so for the solstice they would bring the evergreen branches into their homes. The Romans used fir trees to decorate their temples at the festival of Saturmalia. When Christian monks converted the Celts they kept some of the solstice customs like the evergreen. For the celebration of Christ Mass they used the tree to teach the idea of the trinity. The shape of the tree has three points to it and the Christmas celebration was 3 masses on the day that was chosen to be Christmas. After the masses they would eat dinner. The first documented use of a tree at Christmas is from Eastern Europe. A picture from Germany in 1521 shows a tree being paraded through streets with a man riding a horse behind it. The first person to put a Christmas tree into the house may have been in the 16th century. The first trees were decorated with edible things like gingerbread and gold covered apples. Then, glass makers made special small ornaments to hang in the tree. In 1830 the British had Christmas trees and Queen Victoria had one at Windsor Castle. A drawing was made of the tree and this helped Christmas trees to become popular in the U.K. and the United States. Candles were added to the tree at this time and tinsel.

Answer 8

None. It was a pagan practise appropriated by the Church along with Winter solstice. There is no Biblical basis for the tradition. http://www.answers.com/topic/christmas-tree

Answer 9

Christmas trees are a type of decoration. They don't relate to Christmas in any way.

Answer 10

It's origin is Germany.