Christmas trees

[cutter7]

I have a question for people who celebrate christmas. Why do you put up a christmas tree? Although my family has always done this i've never understood it. isn't this a form of idolatry? how does decorating a tree honor the birth of jesus?

ok more than one question. the bible speaks against this custom but yet i see my own church putting up a tree.

[averagejoe]

It's an European tradition. According to this site. The Christmas tree started in the Baltic States.

The exact origin of the Christmas tree is obscured by uncertainties of oral histories of the people in early European cultures. Discussions and arguments over which of the Baltic towns was first to decorate the Christmas tree must go deep into the history of the region, and of course may be all but impossible to reconcile.

The period of time in this discussion in the late 15th and early 16th centuries was fraught with what anyone would consider upheaval. For Latvia and Estonia back then, such country distinctions were not so clear, the cities and their origins being more important. From the Teutonic Knights and the Northern Crusades, to the Vikings and then the Hanseatic League of the medieval Europe, the area called Livonia now the Baltic states saw their share of change.


http://www.firstchristmastree.net/

[cutter7]

Thanks joe. This link shows me that the tree has nothing to do with the religious side of christmas although I wonder how many people who put a christmas tree up think it does.

[grammafreddy]

I put one up because it looks pretty and makes the house smell nice. It has no religious significance to me.

[cutter7]

I put one up because it looks pretty and makes the house smell nice. It has no religious significance to me.

Sounds good to me.. although I am a believer the tree holds not value to me.

[averagejoe]

I would say that the gift giving is from when the 3 Wisemen or Magi (Holymen) from the Parthian Empire brought gifts for the awaited arrival of the Messiah. Stars that use to be on the top of Christmas tree's is from the Star of Bethlehem that guided them to Christ.

[fluffy]

It's not exactly the way we planned it, but around here they are a cat toy.

[cliffy1]

The tree is a tradition going back to many cultures predating Christianity.
http://unexplainedmysteriesoftheworld.com/archives/the-mystery-of-the-pagan-origin-of-christmas-jesus-was-not-born-on-december-25th-but-a-whole-bunch-of-pagan-gods-were

http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm

[cutter7]

Thanks cliffy . Looks like the jehovahs have it right when it comes to christmas. The more I read the more I believe the tree is a form of idolatry.

[5VP]

Thanks cliffy . Looks like the jehovahs have it right when it comes to christmas. The more I read the more I believe the tree is a form of idolatry.

Yup...

The 7th Day Adventists are also right to regarding the Sabbath...

Hint:

It isn't on Sunday...

Catholicism threw all the pagan practices into a bag mixed with Constantine's revelations, shook things up and dumped out a religion...

[fluffy]

Christmas in itself has taken on new meaning over the years. The religious significance has lost meaning for many, and the holiday has become more centered on closeness to friends and family, and a time for charity and compassion towards others, especially those in need. Symbols like trees can mean whatever we want them to, I see no requirement to be stuck on what they may have represented in years gone by.

[Mr Danksworth]

Thanks cliffy . Looks like the jehovahs have it right when it comes to christmas. The more I read the more I believe the tree is a form of idolatry.

It's not idolatry. No one is worshipping the tree as if it were a god. It does have it's roots in 'pagan' beliefs though...as does all of Christianity. Better burn down that tree, or you will burn for an eternity.

[cutter7]

if its not a form of idolatry what would you call it? you might not worship it but you do gather around it like it has some significance.

[Captain Awesome]

if its not a form of idolatry what would you call it? you might not worship it but you do gather around it like it has some significance.

Holiday symbol?

I give my wife flowers for her birthday, and they have some symbolic significance. Wouldn't call it idolatry.

[MAPearce]

We're gonna use ours as tool to keep the kids in line...