Which is it?
It’s a Christmas tree because it has lights and ornaments – just like any Christmas tree.
But, it’s a Chrismon tree because the ornaments are different.
What’s the difference?
The tradition of the Christmas tree began in Germany in the 8th Century when the monk Boniface named the evergreen tree the Tree of the Christ Child. In the Middle Ages, Paradise Trees were popular during the Christmas season to symbolize Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden because Christian calendars marked December 24th as their feast day.
A popular story from Germany tells about how Martin Luther placed the first lights on a Christmas tree. One December night while walking in the woods, he used the stars to guide him home. Inspired by the twinkling night lights, he pulled up a small fir tree to take home as a Christmas tree for his family. Instead of hanging it upside down from the ceiling as was the custom then, he stood it up as it would naturally grow and attached small candles to it.
The candles on Luther’s tree and the lights we use on our modern trees remind us of God’s love that lights our lives. The upturned branches and needles of the evergreens encourage us to focus our thoughts and prayers upward to God.
The tradition of the Chrismon tree began at Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia in 1957. The word Chrismon is a combination of two words: Christ and monogram.
The Chrismon tree is a special Christmas tree decorated with symbols or monograms of our faith. Chrismon ornaments are only white and gold: white to represent purity and gold to represent what is precious and valuable. Because it shines, gold also represents the presence of God. The ornaments on the tree tell the story of Christ’s life.
Each ornament represents a significant event of Christ's life from Advent to the Ascension. Chrismon trees include several types of stars, shells, the rose, which is the flower of the Nativity, butterflies, which represent new life through the Resurrection, and the Alpha and Omega signs. There are also several styles of crosses from other cultures. Each symbol has its own story.
Whether your tree is a Christmas tree or a Chrismon tree, it tells a story. In our homes and businesses, Christmas trees often reflect individual faith, interests, or hobbies. If your tree is a Chrismon tree, its ornaments tell the story of Christ’s life, and the lights represent the light He brings to our world and lives.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging;
Not only green when summer's here,
But also when 'tis cold and drear.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves are so unchanging!
Read more stories about Christmas plants and traditions in Decking the Halls – The Folklore and Traditions of Christmas Plants http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewwork.asp?id=50119
