Christmas trees in Church?

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Rosebud77

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As we near Christmas, was wondering how folk felt about Christmas trees in Church? On my first Christmas in Ireland, i saw a bare tree outside the church and the priest told me he would not have a tree in church but they kept giving them… some churches have two in prominent sight before the altar…
 
So, I’m cool with Christmas trees in the Church, even in the sanctuary, as long as they do not interrupt the Liturgy or block the altar. They must also not be ugly or decorated in a way that is distracting or counter to the Church’s own color. (example, no bright Orange decorations in a church that has a darker tint to it).

If I knew how to upload an image from my computer onto here I could show you the Sanctuary at my parish :rolleyes:
 
C:\Users\Zach\Pictures\Altar Serving\IMG_2155.jpg

There. That’s what they look like with the lights off before Silent Night. On the left is where myself and the other seminarians typically sit. We call it Narnia because we are completely blocked off by Christmas trees 😃
 
Actually, I wanted to give two answers to the poll. Yes to having them at the front, and also yes to never hiding the altar. Our parish has one to the side of the sanctuary, and we make use of it at one of our Carol Services by arranging for representatives of all the activities in the parish to come forward during the service and hang a bauble on the tree to symbolise what a lot of good goes on in the parish that people might not realise. It’s lovely to see it gradually fill up with decorations.
 
Rosebud77 said:
As we near Christmas, was wondering how folk felt about Christmas trees in Church? On my first Christmas in Ireland, i saw a bare tree outside the church and the priest told me he would not have a tree in church but they kept giving them… some churches have two in prominent sight before the altar…
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This is how one of the churches near me looked this time last year, with two trees on either side of the altar. I was pleased to see it, and it helped to keep the of the joy of the season in my mind. I am no expert when it comes to what is permitted or appropriate near the altar, but I was gladdened, and not troubled by it.

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I love Christmas trees, but I think they should not be put up before December 24th. After all, they are “Christmas trees” not “Advent trees”.
 
Yes. My church has three off at an angle behind the altar, not obstructing anything. Simple white lights. Very pretty.
 
We always have a 25 foot tree at the back of the altar, white lights, cardinals on it.
My previous parish would make the cave, or manger scene out of a cluster of them and the Holy Family in front of it.
Church trees in the U.S. don’t have ornaments, occasionally birds, or a single nest.
We have Advent Giving tree with angel gift tags for the poor in the Narthex during Advent.

You can barely see the large tree at the left side of this picture.
 
FrancescaMaria said:
I love Christmas trees, but I think they should not be put up before December 24th. After all, they are “Christmas trees” not “Advent trees”.
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Why would you think they would be put up sooner? :confused:

Church decorating doesn’t ever take place anywhere until after the 4th Sunday of Advent is completed.
 
Our church used to have two live trees with tiny white lights that were there when we arrived for Christmas Eve Masses and not before. With the poinsettias and other live greenery arranged so beautifully, it was breathtaking. Now we still have the live greenery and poinsettias, but with artificial trees. Seems the fire marshal said that having lights on a real tree was a fire hazard… It’s still breathtaking though.
 
pianistclare said:
Why would you think they would be put up sooner? :confused:

Church decorating doesn’t ever take place anywhere until after the 4th Sunday of Advent is completed.
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The trees are up in my parish as of yesterday. 🤷

Every year we have two real six-foot trees, live in the past, cut this year. Previous pastors allowed them in the sanctuary, with tiny white lights, as long as they remained on the periphery. Our current priest has relegated them to the back of the nave, where they are decked out with silver ornaments but no lights (no electrical outlets in this part of the church). I’m not fussed about it one way or another. I just don’t want them next to - or worse, in front of - the altar.
 
UpUpAndAway said:
The trees are up in my parish as of yesterday. 🤷

Every year we have two real six-foot trees, live in the past, cut this year. Previous pastors allowed them in the sanctuary, with tiny white lights, as long as they remained on the periphery. Our current priest has relegated them to the back of the nave, where they are decked out with silver ornaments but no lights (no electrical outlets in this part of the church). I’m not fussed about it one way or another. I just don’t want them next to - or worse, in front of - the altar.
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agree totally. One church here, I think the Franciscan Friary has two huge ones in front. It is a secular tradition after all and dilutes prayer and observance …
 
Rosebud77 said:
agree totally. One church here, I think the Franciscan Friary has two huge ones in front. It is a secular tradition after all and dilutes prayer and observance …
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Actually…the modern Christmas tree has it’s origins in a story about St. Boniface chopping down a tree that was worshipped by pagans. The Christmas tree became a sort of symbol of that.
 
I have no problem with this - the ones my parish has are covered with simple lights - usually white. There are no ornaments on them and they don’t distract from the nativity scene in front of the altar.
 
pianistclare said:
Why would you think they would be put up sooner? :confused:

Church decorating doesn’t ever take place anywhere until after the 4th Sunday of Advent is completed.
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The only time there’s a time crunch is when the 4th Sunday of Advent is also Christmas Eve! That’s kind of spectacular to see the switch after the last Sunday Mass. Military precision to get the Christmas decorations set up and have everything ready for the 5:30 p.m. Children’s Mass at my parish. We have 2 ‘normal’ size 7-8 foot trees (artifical for fire codes) off to the sides with only white & gold lights and lots of poinsettias. Our big display is in the Narthex - we have a large collection of Fontanini set up as the ‘Little Town of Bethlehem’ with lighted trees in the background.
 
Wendy1989 said:
The only time there’s a time crunch is when the 4th Sunday of Advent is also Christmas Eve! That’s kind of spectacular to see the switch after the last Sunday Mass. Military precision to get the Christmas decorations set up and have everything ready for the 5:30 p.m. Children’s Mass at my parish. We have 2 ‘normal’ size 7-8 foot trees (artifical for fire codes) off to the sides with only white & gold lights and lots of poinsettias. Our big display is in the Narthex - we have a large collection of Fontanini set up as the ‘Little Town of Bethlehem’ with lighted trees in the background.
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Tell me about it.
That was the year of my first ever Christmas bonus form the Pastor!
 
pianistclare said:
Why would you think they would be put up sooner? :confused:

Church decorating doesn’t ever take place anywhere until after the 4th Sunday of Advent is completed.
Click to expand...
Wanna bet? 😊

We have lighted Christmas trees in both the sanctuary and narthex.
 
pianistclare said:
Why would you think they would be put up sooner? :confused:

Church decorating doesn’t ever take place anywhere until after the 4th Sunday of Advent is completed.
Click to expand...
The Churches I’ve been to slowly start decorating from the first week of advent on. The manger was up last week, along with trees. There will be more and flowers starting on Christmas.
 
Wendy1989 said:
The only time there’s a time crunch is when the 4th Sunday of Advent is also Christmas Eve! That’s kind of spectacular to see the switch after the last Sunday Mass. Military precision to get the Christmas decorations set up and have everything ready for the 5:30 p.m. Children’s Mass at my parish. We have 2 ‘normal’ size 7-8 foot trees (artifical for fire codes) off to the sides with only white & gold lights and lots of poinsettias. Our big display is in the Narthex - we have a large collection of Fontanini set up as the ‘Little Town of Bethlehem’ with lighted trees in the background.
Click to expand...
Yeah I know. I feel so sorry for the priests having say almost triple the masses (unless he’s blessed with an associate pastor.) Not to mention the New Years masses the following week/weekend. They finally get a break this year and I bet they are living every minute of it! 😃
 
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