What are christmas trees a symbol of for christmas?

Becca L: What are christmas trees a symbol of for christmas?
What are christmas trees a symbol of for christmas?

Like my aunt is already putting up her tree and i have always wondered why everybody puts trees up for christmas…like what’s the meaning? why do they put the tree up?

my aunt says “Because if we don’t put a tree up then the presents have nowhere to go. No tree no presents…”

but what is the real reason?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Katie C
its leftover from some sort of pagan ritual
no im serious
when christians created their holidays they made them in cohesion with established pagan holidays to make the transition easier
for example- i believe christmas has something to do with solstice- but in christianity it was changed to jesus’ light on the darkest night of the year
i dont even think they believe jesus was actually born in december

Answer by Virginia
I don’t think anyone knows the real reason but there stories as to why. Based on what’s below I think the idea of the Christasm tree originated in Germany.

Back in the 7th century a monk from Crediton, Devonshire, traveled to Germany to spread the Word of God. Legend has it that he used the triangular shape of the Fir Tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to the German people. The German people started to revere the Fir Tree as “God’s Tree”. In the next 5 centuries, the tree became a symbol of Christianity, and was being hung upside-down from the ceiling as a sign of Christianity.

The first known decorated Christmas Tree was at Riga in Latvia, in 1510. Martin Luther decorated a small Christmas Tree in 1535 with candles for his children, to show them how the stars twinkle through the night.

In the middle of the 16th century, Christmas started already to turn into a business as the German people at the local market sold everything from gifts, food and also more practical items such as knife grinders to sharpen the knife to carve the Christmas Goose. At these fairs, bakers sold gingerbreads and wax ornaments for souvenirs to take home for use to decorate their Christmas Tree.

The first Christmas Tree came to England with the Georgian Kings who came from Germany. At the same time, German Merchants living in England decorated their homes with Christmas Trees. The British people were not found of the German Monarchy, did not copy the fashions at Court, which is why the Christmas Tree did not establish in Britain at this time. Although, a few British families did have Christmas Trees, probably more from influence of their German neighbours than from the Royal Court.

Answer by Shane F
There are a lot of things that the tree has come to represent, however the tree is actually carried over from the pagan holiday that was eventually replaced by the Christian celebration of Christmas. The tree is sometimes from the bible where Christ died upon a tree (cross) so it represents the cross, representing forgiveness. Another belief is that the tree points toward heaven. There are many beliefs about the tree. Personally I think that it’s just nice to have that pine smell in the house. I associate the smell of pine trees with a happy time of the year because I love Christmas time.

Answer by MarLo
The tradition of having a tree, specifically an evergreen, at Christmas and decorating it began in Germany. I don’t recall all the details but that’s the jest of it. I’m sure you can go on google and find out more.

Answer by wamp
ok im going to love proving you wrong on this one katie c. lol listen at you, from the way you talk you sound like a athiest or agnostic am i right? you did not show any intellect at all for what you were stating, none, zip. you just showed you know nothing of the birth of Jesus, or what Christmas is all about. The Christmas was not a pagen ritual, i dont know where you pulled that out of your hat from, but its certanly not true. There really isnt a meaning of why we put a Christmas tree up, but its a symbolization, to show that the tree itself is an evergreen, its to symbolize Jesus’ everlasting arms, and his everlasting love for us. I dont care what kind of a loser you think I am but I know im right, I know exactly what happened on december 25th so many years ago, I know that Jesus was born from a virgin, walked this earth as a man, but a perfect man, I know he is the son of GOD. I know he died on a croos in calvary to save whoever accepts him, but it was written that some wouldnt accpet him, and thats why tehre is hell. you know ive been told before not to use the Bible to prove my point, but you athiest use darwin and sciende to prove your point, you all may see the values of it, but let me tell you this, if i seen something under a microscope that nobody has seen before, id call lets say a fizzle, its a new cell called a fizzle, well it would go down in a dictionary and everyboy would believe that cell to be a fizzle, did it ever occur to you all that GOD created matter, he created celles, he crated everything! But back to the point and to the person that asked this question, Christmas tress are not a pagen ritual, they are a symbol unto Jesus! the symbol was created by man, but the tree was put here by God.