Your Christmas Tree, will you have one this year?

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La Chiara:
Well, you are probably not going to like what I have heard. According to my German teacher (who hails from Berlin), Martin Luther (according to German legend) was the first one to introduce the Christmas tree. Apparently, Luther came home one wintry night bringing a fresh cut tree to his wife and children…Not exactly inspirational stuff for us Catholics, eh? Since that is the German legend of the Christmas tree’s origins, then Exporter you are wholly within your rights as a Catholic to proudly go Christmas tree-less. 😉
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Here’s what I found on:domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19971201/ARTICLES/ADVTRAD1.HTM

**Saint Boniface and The Christmas Tree: **

Saint Boniface, an English missionary, known as the “Apostle of Germany”, in 722 came upon some men about to cut a huge oak tree as a stake (Oak of Thor) for a human sacrifice to their pagan god. With one mighty blow, Saint Boniface felled the massive oak and as the tree split, a beautiful young fir tree sprang from its center. Saint Boniface told the people that this lovely evergreen, with its branches pointing to heaven, was indeed a holy tree, the tree of the Christ Child, a symbol of His promise of eternal life. He instructed them henceforth to carry the evergreen from the wilderness into their homes and to surround it with gifts, symbols of love and kindness.

Saint Boniface (feast June 5) received the name Winfrid at his baptism but took the name Boniface before he was ordained to the priesthood. He was martyred at the age of 75.
 
Yes, we’ll put up and decorate the (artificial) tree. There won’t be decorations elsewhere (excluding the nativity set, which doesn’t seem like a ‘decoration’).

We are, however, putting up the Fontanini nativity (I’m collecting the 5" figures, but have only really begun, so I have the Holy Family, a couple shepherds and some sheep. I’m not sure if my mom bought me the Gloria angel this year. We’ll get more shepherds & sheep, and eventually add the Magi and then maybe branch out into the rest of Bethlehem).
 
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IrenkaJMJ:
Here’s what I found on:domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC/19971201/ARTICLES/ADVTRAD1.HTM
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**Saint Boniface and The Christmas Tree: **

Saint Boniface, an English missionary, known as the “Apostle of Germany”, in 722 came upon some men about to cut a huge oak tree as a stake (Oak of Thor) for a human sacrifice to their pagan god. With one mighty blow, Saint Boniface felled the massive oak and as the tree split, a beautiful young fir tree sprang from its center. Saint Boniface told the people that this lovely evergreen, with its branches pointing to heaven, was indeed a holy tree, the tree of the Christ Child, a symbol of His promise of eternal life. He instructed them henceforth to carry the evergreen from the wilderness into their homes and to surround it with gifts, symbols of love and kindness.

Saint Boniface (feast June 5) received the name Winfrid at his baptism but took the name Boniface before he was ordained to the priesthood. He was martyred at the age of 75.

Yep. Just like most everything else the protestants have… it was first stolen from the Catholics, inovated, and then credited to themselves…[sigh]… :rolleyes:
 
We put ours up on Sunday, been the first day of Advent 🙂 Both my youngest son and I suffer with allergies so we cannot have a ‘real’ tree, and this time of the year for us is especially bad as it is coming into summer here in New Zealand.:yup:
 
I like the natural trees best. But often too much of the needles from the branches fell on the floor. So I decided some years ago to start to use a superficial one.

I use the same lights and decorations that I used at the natural tree. So tradition is kept. 😃

G.Grace
 
This is our first Christmas in our apartment, and so we are going to celebrate it there (i.e. have my boyfriend’s family come over for dinner, gifts, etc.) so we will be most likely decorating. We’ll probably get a small tree, most likely real.
 
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catsrus:
I would love to put my 4 ft artificial tree up this year but since we’ve been graced with 2 kittens, found in the wheel well of our truck 3 weeks ago, I will not. I will be settling for a Christmas scene atop my 6 ft entertainment unit. Far out of kitten reach!
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You think 6 feet is out of reach of two rambunctious kittens? You poor soul, these must be your first:D

When I was a kid our family got two kittens. When they got going (tearing around the house like maniacs) there was nowhere off limits…

they ran up and down stairway bannisters, up and down curtains, on TOP of doors, and (I wish we had pics) on top of the tiny little box attached to the wall about 7 feet up that holds the doorbell stuff…no joke!

Good luck with them… you’re going to need it;)

Merry Christmas!
 
Since Oregon is the number one producer of Christmas trees I always get a real one! I would feel a traitor to my state to get a fake but they are getting to be such nice substitutes that I understand why many people forgo the nice smell to avoid needles in your knees as you are cleaning up where the tree stood.

As to discarding trees, our Boy Scout troops make a good fundraiser by giving out cards ahead of time and you tie the card to your tree, put it at the end of the driveway and they come pick it up for a donation (usually ten bucks!) . They chip the trees and sell the mulch so it’s two for one. Plus you don’t have to worry about getting rid of it or paying the trashman extra to take it away.

I love having the tree for about two weeks. That’s enough!

Lisa N
 
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Trelow:
So I guess our family custom of splitting doves and sprinkling the tree with their blood is out of the question then?

Some of the stuff people concoct.
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I dunno . . . if it’s in the Bible it’s probably OK. No wait, we’re not bound by the Old Testament, so I guess you can do it or not- it’s your choice to interpret as you wish. —KCT
 
For years (most of these, childhood), I never had a tree up until Christmas eve or very close to it. On the one hand, it was a physical way to not get wrapped up into the secluar idea of Christmas. On the other hand, many a Christmas Eve and Christmas in my childhood home were spent with our family angry at each other because we were so stressed out trying to pull everything together at the last minute - not very holy or Christlike! So I’ve decided this year to put the tree up at the beginning of advent and decorate it with blue and purple (Advent) bows. I will also use it as a Jesse Tree with my kids to really emphasize the PREPARATION that goes into receiving Christ. Then on the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday), I’ll turn the lights on the tree on. After all, one major advent theme is “a light shines in the night” But it won’t be til Christmas Eve that the advent wreath and the bows on the tree come down and the real Christmas ornaments go up, along with the other Christmas decorations. I’m hoping it turns out to be as festive and true to my faith as I imagine. I also hope that I don’t get so caught up in decorating just right and DOING this season that I neglect the most important part - preparing my heart for the coming of Christ.
 
You think 6 feet is out of reach of two rambunctious kittens? You poor soul, these must be your first:D
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Actually, we have 3 others and a dog. There must be a sign somewhere that only animals see that says, “This way to the sucker’s house!”

I’ve already lost two pair of REALLY NICE curtins to these little terrors! Ehh, whadya do? Can’t throw them under the truck they emerged from & don’t have the heart to send them to the humane society. Maybe I just paint a tree on the ceiling.
 
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catsrus:
Actually, we have 3 others and a dog. There must be a sign somewhere that only animals see that says, “This way to the sucker’s house!”

I’ve already lost two pair of REALLY NICE curtins to these little terrors! Ehh, whadya do? Can’t throw them under the truck they emerged from & don’t have the heart to send them to the humane society. Maybe I just paint a tree on the ceiling.

Good idea! Today, our little terror, Brittany Recue doggie, ripped up three books, two box of Kleenex, her dog bed, and a magazine I just bought this morning, while I was Christmas shopping. :banghead:

She hates the doggie crate, but she may well find herself in it from now on. 😦
 
Does your pet find your Christmas tree interesting?

My cat is 16 1/2 years old ans she STILL will find the Christmas tree something interesting. She would rub up against the artifical branches and then sit underneath the tree. OR she will still behind the tree int he corner of the room. I found her yesterday sleeping under the tree.

Does anyone have this happening to your pet? And what about those with live trees?
When I used to have a live tree, the cat she tried to eat the pine needles. And does your pet try to play with the orniments and you have to put them a bit higher on the tree and the lower branches are just about empty?

It an adventrue having a pet.
 
My first message, however I found the site very interesting, I will put up tree very soon, decorate it with silver / golden decorations, lights and a star on top. This is the first Christmas for many years that I have thought about the real meaning of Christmas, this year I have sun catchers depicting the nativity scene on window, which i hope encourages my young son and family to also think about Jesus.
 
We had a real tree for years, but last year bought an artificial…and I LOVE it!!! I do not miss all of the dead needles all over the carpeting (jabbing through my socks), getting allergic rashes on my hands from decorating it, crawling under the tree to water it daily (and having it spill), and trying to get it in the stand.

The things I will miss are the smell, going on a road trip to go cut one down, and, when it first arrives in the house, the cold that eminates from it.

We’ve decided, beginning next year, that we will have two trees. We’ll still have the tradition of going to ‘cut one down’ (stopping to eat at a resturaunt, drinking hot cocoa, listening to carols in the car), and we’ll put the real tree out on our bricked patio, and the artificial inside. I think it’s a perfect compromise!
 
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Edwin1961:
Does your pet find your Christmas tree interesting?

It an adventrue having a pet.
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One of our Dogs used to Love to lay under the tree. She guarded HER present. She never tore anything up, except once. The cat and her were chasing each other and said Kitty climbed the tree. She tried to follow. :eek:

She was always into the Christmas Spirit too. When it came time to open packages, she helped everyone! 😃 😃

The dog we had before our newest one, did not like the tree in front of the window. It blocked her view. She always tried to push it out of the way. We learned not to put it in the window from then on. 🙂 She weighed 110 Pounds. The Tree never stood a chance.
 
I have a pretend plus tree made out of green fabric with angels on it and I also have a three inch nativity ornament and a few dolly angels…I have always have christmas in my room so I could celebrate it the way I wanted…with Christ as the Center.
 
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Edwin1961:
Does your pet find your Christmas tree interesting?
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My present 3 cats don’t bother the tree…might drink the water(which is always fresh…no additives)…but my two Siamese (buried in the back yard)…they lived to be 20 & 18 years…used to climb the TREES! Course that was a lifetime ago…
 
Of course we’ll have a tree and decorate it! Yes, love it! Was thinking of perhaps a white flocked one this year. Or pink with all glass ornaments!!!

Especially if children are in the home, why, they need a beautiful tree! Who would even think of NOT having one? Why even ask the question???I think it would be cruel otherwise to NOT have a tree with kids!!! .The tree, lights, and Christmas carols being either played, sung, or heard on CD are what make Christmas, along with Mass of course, and the recognition of Christ, our Lord coming for US. It’s really NOT the gifts, the money spent, but the meaning of Christmas!!! I guess when a couple get old however, perhaps just a fake little tree suffices. Now, my folks, in their 80’s just get a little table top tree --a fake one—and it’s gorgeous!!-- they listen to the Messiah every X-mas–and set up their tree–how beautiful! I would really recommend getting a set of “Adornaments” from Family Life ----1-800-familylife----there’s an ornament for all the names of Jesus–quite special!!! We love them!!!

Blessings~~

Praise God!!!
 
I love real trees, but they are so expensive for a one time use, and I feel bad for the trees that are cut down, so my family has a fake tree this year. I miss the smell of the real tree, but the fake one is just as pretty with all the decorations.
 
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