Tuesday, December 12 - Tree of Life

Trees have often been objects of religious symbolism.

Francis Weiser writes about the origin of Christmas trees:

"During the sixteenth century the people in western Germany, on the left bank of the Rhine, began to combine the two symbols they had in their homes on December 24 - the Paradise tree with the Christmas light.  Was not the Paradise tree itself a beautiful, live pyramid?  Why not transfer the decorations from the lifeless wooden pyramid to the tree?  This is exactly what they did.  They took first the glass balls and tinsel from the wooden pyramid and put them on the Paradise tree (which already bore apples and sweets).  The "star of Bethlehem" was transferred from the pyramid to the top of the tree; and the Christmas crib, which had been standing at the foot of the pyramid, was now put under the tree." (Francis Weiser, Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs, p. 81)

James Jordan comments:

"The Christmas tree has its origins in the medieval paradise tree, decorated with apples, and the North European Christmas light, a treelike stand decorated with boughs and candles.  The stylized fruits (balls and ornaments) of our Christmas tree, and its electric lights, still speak of glory and beauty, and point us to the nativity of Christ, the Tree of Life." (James Jordan, Through New Eyes, p. 93)

Boniface of Crediton was a Christian missionary who lived from 680-755 A.D.  One night, there was going to be a pagan sacrifice at the sacred Oak of Thor, and a young girl was to be sacrificed.  Boniface made it to the scene in time to disrupt the sacrifice.  He told of the ultimate sacrifice Christ made on the cross, and how there was no need for others.  George Grant picks up the story from there:

"After explaining to them the once and for all provision of the Gospel, he turned toward the sacred grove.  With the sacrificial knife in hand, he began hacking off low hanging branches.  Passing them around the circle, he told each family to take the small fir boughs home as a reminder of the completeness of Christ's work on the tree of Calvary.  They were to adorn their hearths with the tokens of His grace.  They might even chop great logs from the grove as fuel for their home fires, he suggested - not so much to herald the destruction of their pagan ways but rather to memorialize the provision of Christ's coming.  Upon these things they were to contemplate over the course of the next four weeks, until the great celebration of Christmas." (George Grant, Christmas Spirit, 88-89)