Christians, what does the tree have to do with the birth of Christ?

Question

and Santa Claus, spending all your money on cheap gifts.... and so on.
Do you feel that it makes a mockery of your beliefs?

Answer 1

This is a German tradition, started as early as 700 A.D. In the 1800s the tradition of a Christmas tree was widespread in Germany, then moved to England and then to America through Pennsylvanian German immigrants.

The tradition of gifts seems to have started with the gifts that the wise men (the Magi) brought to Jesus. As recounted in the Bible's book of Matthew, "On coming to the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh."

Answer 2

WOW - well the tree has everything to do with the birth of Christ. It celebrates the incarnation of God into human flesh. It's amazing and completely honorable to celebrate using a tree. Although it's not the same wood upon which He was crucified - the wood is a symbol of the cross sort of a foreshadowing as we celebrate different holidays throughout the year. The birth of Christ looks forward to the cross, our redemption, hope of glory and eternal life paid for. Sins forgiven, hearts set free. The birth of Christ calls for signs of hope, His birth was the birth of hope for the human race. I certainly don't spend all of my money on gifts. Yes, my kids will have some - but it's like we give them things they need not just what they want. We don't go overboard and we do tell them that the real Santa Claus was not magical, but a mere mortal Catholic saint guy who went around doing good. We don't make a show out of Santa and we tell them he's not real, just for fun and that Jesus is the reason we celebrate. Like what does Halloween have to do with anything except for a chance for kids to have fun? Well if you know about the occult then there is negative meaning all over it. But, kids dress up and get candy and commercialize it - all for what???? No it doesn't mock my faith anymore than Halloween does. The holidays are what you make of them - not what the media or the store tells you they are. So many stores have removed the words Christmas from any and all products and advertising. Will that remove Him from the world or my home for that matter? I think not. Yeah - and one of the biggest ways we encourage our kids around Christmas is to make a shoebox for Samaritans purse and they give some of their money to the Salvation Army and we try not to patronize the stores who won't let them ring their bells anymore. We also do an angel tree gift for a poor child in our community. It's so not what you're saying to us. Yeah we do other things year round too - not just on Christmas as far as giving is concerned.

Answer 3

The Christmas Tree was chosen as a symbol of Christ because the evergreen was a symbol of eternal life. Santa Claus is a despicable misappropriation and perversion of one of the greatest saints in the history of the Church, St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra. Gift giving originated out of the tributes given to Jesus by the Wise Men who visited him.

Now, as to the modern celebration of Christmas - it disgusts me. Christians should be rejecting practices which are simply secular. If gifts are given, they should be given to the poor. I've no problem with gift giving among close family or friends provided that one has given priority to the poor, that one does not buy extravagant gifts, that one does not go into debt to purchase them (Cash, no credit cards). Any feasting should include the poor and those who have no family or friends to spend the holidays with. Consumption of rich food and alcohol should be kept to a minimum. A pig out and piss-up is hardly a becoming way to celebrate such a solemn feast.

I hate having Christmas rammed down my throat from Halloween on. The garish decorations, the secular cards, the incessant message to buy none of this has anything to do with the Christian holiday and you are absolutely right - it does make a mockery of my beliefs.

VB8

Answer 4

you can take away the Santa Clause but 99% of the traditions having to do with christmas (the tree, the yule log, the mistletoe, etc.) are all still rooted in paganism and the practices are not far off from the original pagan rituals.
Since God said not to Worship Him in "their way" then yes, I feel it does make a mockery of what the Christian faith is supposed to be. God ordained feasts that are perfect pictures of the life and purpose of Jesus - today's Christians have rejected the authentic and accepted the counterfeit.

Answer 5

I have been wondering thee same thing for years. This is what I have found out, and it still does,'t make since to me, but here it goes. Saint Nick was a noble man in the 14th century, he would hand out coins to the pore children's, so pore started calling him a saint. The tree and all the decorations came from somewhere around 300 A.D. I think, The early church would ounce year meet out in the woods and celebrate Christ, kind of like a revival. What this has to do with Christmas I have no idea, personally I think it is a scam from to generate sells.

Answer 6

Absolutely nothing;-{ except it's an adopted pagan symbol.
The excuse is that an evergreen symbolizes eternal life.
Santa Claus was based on St.Nicholas, a Dutch Bishop.
Gift-giving celebrates the greatest gift given to mankind.
Those things are not the true Christian celebration.

Answer 7

The ancient Hindus were probably first to use a tree in their celebration of Gita Day, long before Jesus or the Bible ever existed.

The practice of using a tree during the month of December is also a ritual dating back to ancient Egypt, when Pharaohs would bring green palm leaves into their homes during the winter solstice to ensure the coming of spring. The first known practice of decorating an evergreen tree occurred in the early days of Greek civilization during winter rituals worshipping the god, Adonia. In ancient Rome, patrician families decorated evergreen trees with candles, bits of metal and trinkets during the Saturnalia to honor the goddess of agriculture, Ceres.

Answer 8

It has nothing to do with it. It's become turned into an idol after so many years of ignorant people. They believe in ruining tradition. It was a symbol of Jesus as a gift to the world, but now it's nothing but a greedy Holiday that atheist thrive on.

Answer 9

Growing up my parents didn't teach us this. But I have heard people say the point of the tree is pointing up to Heaven. The gifts are to represent the gifts given to Jesus by the wise men, etc. It HAS become too commercialized over the yrs.

Answer 10

nothing at all... just tradtion adopted from the celtics...and now folks tend to think of it as the 'cross' thirty years earlier...a symbol of what Christ would be facing as He died. Mostly it was adopted into our culture in America due to hymnology...or Christmas carols.... O Tanenbaum.... etc... When they first brought a tree into the house and decorated it with candles.... and lights are a symbol of the Light of the world.