During the Christmas season there are many decorations people put up and traditions that people partake in. Each December homes and businesses will decorate Christmas trees with stars and lights, give presents to loved ones, and pass out candy canes. Millions will partake in Christmas traditions, but do we know what these traditions symbolize?
This post begins a series of posts on the meaning of some of the popular Christmas traditions and symbols that we use each year. I pray that this series will help us to understand how and why we celebrate Christmas. And there is no better place to begin than with the Christmas tree.
Christmas trees are synonymous with Christmas. They are found in airports, restaurants, stores, government buildings, parks, and homes across America. Many trees are decorated with lights, ornaments, and topped with a star. Christians and non-Christians love putting up Christmas trees to celebrate the season.
Christmas trees are awesome, but why do we use them?
Christmas trees are evergreen trees that do not “die” in winter, which represented life in the ancient world. Evergreens were used in pagan practices and became associated with Christmas during the Middle Ages through missionaries spreading the Gospel. Germany used the first evergreens as Christmas trees in the 1500s, and the reformer of the protestant faith, Martin Luther, has been credited with inventing Christmas trees, even though there isn’t much historical evidence of him beginning the practice.
Today an evergreen Christmas tree symbolize Jesus’ eternal love for humanity and the eternal life found in Jesus. John 3:16 says, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Christmas trees are a reminder that God’s love is eternal and that through Jesus’ sacrifice and death on a tree (the cross) we have eternal life in Him. Jesus’ earthly mission was to redeem humanity through His life, death, burial, and resurrection.
Christmas trees are a festive reminder that Jesus’ eternal love brings us eternal life.
Live It:
- How can you incorporate the meaning of a Christmas tree with your Christmas traditions?
- Have you surrendered your life to Jesus?
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Chase Snyder
Writer, Pastor
