Everybody knows that the Christmas tree can be traced back to the Druids* in Great Britain, right? The Druids used mistletoe and holly to celebrate their Winter Solstice, and the faithful evergreen seemed to hint of eternity to them. Even more discerning people may recall that evergreen branches were object lessons of eternal life as long ago as the Pharaohs.
But do you know how the Christmas tree tradition crossed the Atlantic from Europe to arrive in the American Colonies? Some say Hessian soldiers brought the custom with them from Germany when they came over to fight in the American Revolution. It is suggested that Christmas trees became popular in Germany through the example of Martin Luther, father of the Protestant Reformation! But as America became established as a nation, many Christians resented all the tawdry drinking games and bawdy revelry associated with Christmas, so the holiday was banned in many places in these United States! That's right: Christmas was banned by Christian churches!
Anyway, historians say that Christmas trees never really took off here in America until just before the War Between the States. President Franklin Pierce set up a tree in the White House in 1856. In 1861 a farmer named Mark Carr brought two sled loads of evergreens into New York City. They sold like hotcakes! And so, the tradition of Christmas and evergreens began to spread across the land. The Christmas tree industry estimates that by 1900, one in five Americans had a Christmas tree. Twenty years later, they were nearly universal in the USA.
Of course, Christmas trees have no place in the story of Christ's birth. Some would suggest the form of a tree is reminiscent of the cross of Jesus Christ, but the silver, tinsel and bright lights would make that something of a stretch. Perhaps the most theological meaning we can assign to our Christmas trees today is that they remind of the Tree of Life that once stood in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve sinned, the tree was removed to protect them from having to live forever in a miserable, sinful condition.
Ministry Opportunity: bring up the history of the Christmas tree while you're visiting with friends and relatives around tables laden with holiday food. Ask them if they would agree that decorated evergreens might be reminiscent of the Tree of Life in Eden. Ask if they know why that tree was removed from the Garden.
If they're stumped, you have a wonderful opportunity to talk about how baby Jesus grew up to be the Messiah who died for our sins.
Selah.
*The Druids were sorcerors who lived in Britain and, apparently, opposed the coming of Christianity into the area we now call Ireland.
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