Why do people automatically assume Christmas trees?

Question

... Have a pagan origin? Why can't they tie into the Jewish Tree of Life symbolism and be a Christian symbol?

Answer 1

Actually the Christmas Tree has a German origin.

Check out this story here:

http://www.timberwindtrees.com/origin.htm

It's quite interesting! =)

Merry Christmas!

Answer 2

What was the origin of the Christmas tree? The Christmas tree originated in Germany. Indeed, the earliest record of an evergreen tree being used and decorated (but without lights) for Christmas is 1521 in the German region of Alsace. Another useful description has been found among the notes of an unknown resident of Strasbourg in 1605, who writes that "At Christmas they set up fir trees in the parlors at Strasburg and hang thereon roses cut of many- coloured paper, apples, wafers, gold-foil, sweets .



Some fifty years later (about 1650) the great Lutheran theologian Johann Dannhauer wrote in his The Milk of the Catechism that "the Christmas or fir tree, which people set up in their houses, hang with dolls and sweets, and afterwards shake and deflower. . . Whence comes this custom I know not; it is child's play . . . Far better were it to point the children to the spiritual cedar-tree, Jesus Christ.



It wasn't till the end of the 16th century that the catholic church allowed the Christmas Tree to be included in the celebration of Jesus Christ 's birthday. It attributed it to a pagan origin initially.


Some other interesting facts about the Christmas tree, are:

The first retail Christmas stand was set up by Mark Carr in New York City in 1851;

Franklin Pierce was the first president to introduce the Christmas tree to the White House in 1856 for a group of Washington Sunday School children;

The first lighted Christmas tree in public was in Boston in 1912;19;

The first national Christmas Tree was lighted in the year 1923 on the White House lawn by President Calvin Coolidge.
Updated: November, 2000

Apparently, the Christms tree symbolises the Paradise Tree or the Tree of Knowledge which
God forbade Adam and Eve to eat.from. It was in the Garden of Eden which became the downfall of Adam and Eve.

Answer 3

Christmas Tree Traditions Around the World
St. Boniface Story

Why do we have a decorated Christmas Tree? In the 7th century a monk from Crediton, Devonshire, went to Germany to teach the Word of God. He did many good works there, and spent much time in Thuringia, an area which was to become the cradle of the Christmas Decoration Industry.

Legend has it that he used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The converted people began to revere the Fir tree as God's Tree, as they had previously revered the Oak. By the 12th century it was being hung, upside-down, from ceilings at Christmastime in Central Europe, as a symbol of Christianity.

The first decorated tree was at Riga in Latvia, in 1510. In the early 16th century, Martin Luther is said to have decorated a small Christmas Tree with candles, to show his children how the stars twinkled through the dark night.

Answer 4

Because Pagans have trees in their house that look just like our Christmas tree. I once had a friend that had not told her mother that she was a witch, but yet every solstice her house was decorated in full pagan decor. Her mother even came to visit her house when it was decorated. She never learned that her daughter was no longer a Christian. That is because the only thing her house was missing was a nativity scene. Hollie, gingerbread men, decorated tree, presents, everything else was their and significant to a pagan.

Sorry but it is true.

Answer 5

First, it's not an assumption.

It's fact.

Second, I only get huffy about it when Christians start in on the "it's OUR holiday, and it's a CHRISTmas tree" - it's the unwillingness to acknowledge the Pagan origins of the holiday and the tree, and unwillingness to share our absolutely authentic holy day WITH US when they conveniently "borrowed" all that stuff from us that gets me angry.

But whatever you want to have it symbolize for you, have at it!.

I suspect, however, that a whole lot of your co-religonists will read you the riot act for doing so.

Answer 6

Why are you assuming it is an assumption. The Tannenbaum(Christmas Tree) is a pagan object from the Germanic tribes of Northern Germany. You should research the history of Christmas a bit. It was set on the 25 december by Constantine in 325 ad to coincide with the already celebrated birthday of Mithra.

Answer 7

Hello Cookie, X-MAS was the best time when my mom was alive. She loved putting the tree up, and doing all the decorating herself. She even put cotton on the tree, and it did look like snow.So if someone wants to put a tree up for x-mas, they should do it, and enjoy the tree, and family. That way you will have loving memories of x-mas and the people you love. We really don't care where the x-mas tree came from.We just love what it stands for,for my family. Everyone have a great x-mas,and make your own memories. A Friend.

Clowmy

Answer 8

I've often wondered the same thing. Why, once a year, can mankind not celebrate life...and let a tree (living thing) be a symbol of this?
(Of course, we do cut down the living thing, so it puts a bit of a damper on the whole celebration of life bit...)
My family growing up was multi-religious, so depending on when Hanukkah fell, we either had a Christmas tree or a Hanukkah bush...or both!

Answer 9

Darling if you knew anything about what the jewish "tree of life" was--it's a symbolic map of all the seriphets of heaven and hell--looks nothing like a real tree--here's a link to what it looks like
http://www.practical-mystic.com/website/art/poster/qabalistictree.jpg

Answer 10

I love Christmas.I love everything about Christmas.I love the Christmas trees,Christmas lights,Christmas songs,Christmas presents,Christmas food,Christmas cards.Christmas shopping,wrapping presents,giving presents,cooking.The joy I see on others faces.The hope,joy,peace.
I grew up very poor and even as a child,I loved Christmas.Sometimes no tree,no presents,no new toys,no really good food.But still I loved Christmas.
There was something diffferent in the air,a spirit of praise .Praise to the Father who gave his only Son,JESUS.
I love Christmas and I will always love Christmas.
Rich or poor.
Christmas is JESUS EVERYDAY

Answer 11

Because there is nothing in the Bible that says to decorate a pine tree in December, and nothing about a guy in a red suit who comes down the chimney to leave presents under the tree.