S
stove
Guest
Are Christmas trees Christian or are they merely another secularization to the birth of Christ.
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P
papafite
Guest
They say that St. Boniface used a fir tree in a triangular shape to teach the german tribes about the Trinity in the 7th century…I dont know if that is true…but there ya go…
papa
papa
J
John_Higgins
Guest
Christmas trees were brought into the English speaking world through Queen Victoria’s German family.
John
John
R
Red_Meg
Guest
Can’t anything that doesn’t offend against morals and decency be Christianized and fit for a Christian home?
I know an old and wise priest whose advice to me each Christmas season is to take advantage of every Christmas trapping, no matter how tacky or over-the-top (those inflatable, light-up Santas on peoples’ lawns come to mind!) and use them as cues to converse with Our Lord. Not in a penitential way, mind you (except, perhaps, “O Lord, grant these poor people a little bit of taste and style!!!” ) but to simply use all these things as a springboard for aspirations and acts of love…
Margaret
I know an old and wise priest whose advice to me each Christmas season is to take advantage of every Christmas trapping, no matter how tacky or over-the-top (those inflatable, light-up Santas on peoples’ lawns come to mind!) and use them as cues to converse with Our Lord. Not in a penitential way, mind you (except, perhaps, “O Lord, grant these poor people a little bit of taste and style!!!”
) but to simply use all these things as a springboard for aspirations and acts of love…Margaret
B
bpbasilphx
Guest
I heard one strict and traditionalist Orthodox bishop say that Christmas trees represent the original Paradise and the fruit of the Tree of Life, which Christ by His Incarnation and Birth has restored to us.
H
HenryV
Guest
The Christmas tree has pagan “roots” the things we hang in it are reminiscent of the sacrifices offered to the Norse gods, ppl and animals at the midwinter-blot -Yule.
Of course we interpret it today in a Christian way, the Christmas tree being ever-green as Christ is eternal.
Of course we interpret it today in a Christian way, the Christmas tree being ever-green as Christ is eternal.
I
inthecloud
Guest
In Latinamerica many old timer disliked christmas trees saying that is a northern european pagan custom. That nativities scenes were the way to go. Same for Santa Claus. The Magi should bring children the toys.
P
puzzleannie
Guest
what difference does it make if its use today has a Christian focus, reason and message? If we rejected everything that pagans ever used we would have no culture at all. Why are fundamentalists so quick to allow “pagans”, new-agers and anyone else co-opt Christian symbols which have been hallowed by Christian tradition?
I
inthecloud
Guest
Well they can coopt Santa Claus and the Christmas tree but they cannot take away the Nativity scene.
H
He_Man
Guest
I knew a pagan once who used a keyboard.
breaks keyboard
breaks keyboard
T
tabcom
Guest
To answer your questions in order . . . . No . . . and No.
L
Leopard
Guest
As Christmas trees are usually cut at the base of the trunk, most Christmas trees have no roots whatsoever.
J
JimR-OCDS
Guest
When you put up your Christmas tree, what do you celebrate or observe in doing so?
BTW, why do you suppose they call them Christmas Trees? Does the name Christ ring a bell?
OH, but in Boston, they now call it a Holiday Tree.
Have no doubt about it, Jesus is the reason for the season.
It is the birth of Jesus Chist we celebrate, not some pagan observance.
Jim
BTW, why do you suppose they call them Christmas Trees? Does the name Christ ring a bell?
OH, but in Boston, they now call it a Holiday Tree.
Have no doubt about it, Jesus is the reason for the season.
It is the birth of Jesus Chist we celebrate, not some pagan observance.
Jim
T
tabcom
Guest
Is not the christmas tree the same tree that Jeremiah warns the Israelites NOT to get involved with?
Did not Ahab bring tree worship into the temple?
Quote:
Jeremiah Chapter 10:
1
Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.
2
Thus says the LORD: Learn not the customs of the nations, and have no fear of the signs of the heavens, though the nations fear them.
3
For the cult idols of the nations are nothing, wood cut from the forest, Wrought by craftsmen with the axe,
4
adorned with silver and gold. With nails and hammers they are fastened, that they may not totter.
5
Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, they cannot speak; They must be carried about, for they cannot walk. Fear them not, they can do no harm, neither is it in their power to do good.
6
No one is like you, O LORD, great are you, great and mighty is your name.
7
Who would not fear you, King of the nations, for it is your due! Among all the wisest of the nations, and in all their domain, there is none like you.
8
One and all they are dumb and senseless, these idols they teach about are wooden:
9
Silver strips brought from Tarshish, and gold from Ophir, The work of the craftsman and the handiwork of the smelter, Clothed with violet and purple- all of them the work of artisans.
11
Thus shall you say of them: Let the gods that did not make heaven and earth perish from the earth, and from beneath these heavens!
10
The LORD is true God,
1 Kings Chapter 16
30
Ahab, son of Omri, did evil in the sight of the LORD more than any of his predecessors.
31
It was not enough for him to imitate the sins of Jeroboam, son of Nebat. He even married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, and went over to the veneration and worship of Baal.
32
Ahab erected an altar to Baal in the temple of Baal which he built in Samaria,
33
and also made a sacred pole. He did more to anger the LORD, the God of Israel, than any of the kings of Israel before him.
Source:
New American Bible
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
November 11, 2002 Copyright © by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Did not Ahab bring tree worship into the temple?
Quote:
Jeremiah Chapter 10:
1
Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.
2
Thus says the LORD: Learn not the customs of the nations, and have no fear of the signs of the heavens, though the nations fear them.
3
For the cult idols of the nations are nothing, wood cut from the forest, Wrought by craftsmen with the axe,
4
adorned with silver and gold. With nails and hammers they are fastened, that they may not totter.
5
Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, they cannot speak; They must be carried about, for they cannot walk. Fear them not, they can do no harm, neither is it in their power to do good.
6
No one is like you, O LORD, great are you, great and mighty is your name.
7
Who would not fear you, King of the nations, for it is your due! Among all the wisest of the nations, and in all their domain, there is none like you.
8
One and all they are dumb and senseless, these idols they teach about are wooden:
9
Silver strips brought from Tarshish, and gold from Ophir, The work of the craftsman and the handiwork of the smelter, Clothed with violet and purple- all of them the work of artisans.
11
Thus shall you say of them: Let the gods that did not make heaven and earth perish from the earth, and from beneath these heavens!
10
The LORD is true God,
1 Kings Chapter 16
30
Ahab, son of Omri, did evil in the sight of the LORD more than any of his predecessors.
31
It was not enough for him to imitate the sins of Jeroboam, son of Nebat. He even married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, and went over to the veneration and worship of Baal.
32
Ahab erected an altar to Baal in the temple of Baal which he built in Samaria,
33
and also made a sacred pole. He did more to anger the LORD, the God of Israel, than any of the kings of Israel before him.
Source:
New American Bible
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
November 11, 2002 Copyright © by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
L
Leopard
Guest
No.
T
tabcom
Guest
I’m afraid I did not make myself as clear as I should have in my previous post. That is, metaphorically speaking, doesn’t the Christmas tree of today represent the same values as the tree worship in ancient Israel that God condemned?
L
Leopard
Guest
No.
T
tabcom
Guest
From where did the first tree worship begin? I believe it began in Gen 2:16.
Genesis 2:16 17 – of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat - But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it.
And what was the ‘real power’ that was promised to Eve?
Genesis 3:5
“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
After spending the past five years not doing Christmas, I believe the tree metaphorically represents the tree in the garden.
When one bows down to accept a gift from the tree, they are doing three things: they want that present with their name on it (lust of the eye). After opening the gift and seeing that they received what they wished for (lust of the flesh), it makes them feel good (pride of life).
1 John 2:15-17
15
Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16
For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and pride life, is not from the Father but is from the world.
17
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.
Genesis 2:16 17 – of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat - But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it.
And what was the ‘real power’ that was promised to Eve?
Genesis 3:5
“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
After spending the past five years not doing Christmas, I believe the tree metaphorically represents the tree in the garden.
When one bows down to accept a gift from the tree, they are doing three things: they want that present with their name on it (lust of the eye). After opening the gift and seeing that they received what they wished for (lust of the flesh), it makes them feel good (pride of life).
1 John 2:15-17
15
Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16
For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and pride life, is not from the Father but is from the world.
17
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.
B
Biblioassistant
Guest
I am not worshiping a Christmas Tree. Mine is decorated with symbols of Christ and is, I think, a means to pay Him honor.
L
Leopard
Guest
A Christmas tree is a decorative plant traditionally associated with a holiday. The rose is a decorative plant traditionally associated with other holidays, such as Valentine’s Day, Mothers’ Day or wedding anniversaries.
Have you ever given or received roses? Did you worship them?
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