Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction
Not really. The Christmas tree has been part of the Christian holiday for centuries. Long before the rise of secularism. It may not have started as a Christian tradition, but you can't deny that it's prominance around the world is mainly due to the spread of Christianity.
One thing is for sure, it was not started by secular societies. It was Pagan, and then Christian.
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I think too many are making too much of who actually started the Christmas tree and for what purpose. If it was not Christian in its origin, I would wager it certainly is now since it is at that time of year that we see Christmas trees decorated. The fact that Christmas is now very commercialized does not really have anything to do with the tradition of the Christmas tree.
Now I will not profess to going to church every Sunday, although at one point in my life I did. BUT, in the church I did attend, we were taught why we observe various traditions about the Christmas tree. Now I am not saying these are absolute truths, I am merely saying, this is what our church taught about decorating the Christmas tree.
Traditionally, a star or an angel was placed at the top of a Christmas tree. The star is to guide us to Jesus, just like the star that the 3 wise men followed. And hence, the traditional Christmas carol, O Little Star of Bethlehem. For those who place an angel on top of the tree, there is the traditional Christmas carol, Angels we have Heard on High.
The lights on the tree are to remind us that the light of your life comes through your belief in Jesus.
And so on.
and please dont jump all over this saying, who knows if the story in the bible is true, who knows if there was a bright star in the sky, who knows if the prophet Jesus was really the son of God and so on. That really is neither here nor there when talking about the Christmas tree.
All I am saying is, in the household I grew up in, the Christmas tree was a Christian symbol, and the various decorations etc were symbolic and in reference to bible stories and traditional Christmas carols.