Many songs we sing at Christmas time are so common to us that we likely have never paid attention to the lyrics or the meaning. I would never have listed O Christmas Tree as a Christmas carol, the lyrics do not actually refer to Christ, nor do they describe a decorated tree as we know it today. Instead, they refer to the fir’s evergreen quality as a symbol of trustworthiness and dependability.
Families around the world signal the beginning of the Christmas season by “putting up the tree”, while others would never have one in their home because they believe it a form of idol worship. To understand the thoughts of those for and against, let’s go back to the 700’s, to a time when a monk name Boniface wanted to put an end to the myth that oak trees were sacred or even magical. He was determined to help them understand that the CREATOR of trees was to be worshiped, not the actual tree itself.
Boniface’s frustration over their pagan rituals and worship of the oak tree caused him to chop a very large tree down one day and when it fell it destroyed and crushed everything around it….except for a little, tiny fir sapling. Convinced he had witnessed a miracle with the survival of the sapling, Boniface and many others planted fir saplings to celebrate Christmas year after year.
The story goes that over time people started bringing beautiful greenery into their homes and would tie a small tree upside down, hanging from the rafters.
How did we go from a tiny, upside down fir sapling to a right side up, super-sized and fully loaded Christmas tree?
Enter Martin Luther. History tells us that Luther was out walking through the German forest one evening looking for a little sapling to bring home for Christmas. It was dark before he knew it and he began to pray for direction. Looking up, the stars seemed to shine brightly for him and helped to light his way home!
Thankful to be safe, and grateful to God for the star that not only helped him find his way in the dark but also led the wise men to Bethlehem, he decided to decorate his tree with lights. His family gathered around to see his little tree was not hanging from the ceiling but was planted in a pot on the table with candles attached to the branches. How much truth there is to the story we do not know but here are two ancient examples of people determined that their tree pointed to the Creator.
The composer of the German carol, O Tannenbaum (1550) is not known. The version we recognize was written by German organist and teacher Ernst Anschutz (1824) and translated into English soon after.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!
Not only green in summer’s heat,
But also winter’s snow and sleet.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are your branches!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Of all the trees most lovely;
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Of all the trees most lovely.
Each year you bring to us delight
With brightly shining Christmas light!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
Of all the trees most lovely.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
We learn from all your beauty;
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
We learn from all your beauty.
Your bright green leaves with festive cheer,
Give hope and strength throughout the year.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree,
We learn from all your beauty.
Christmas tree or no Christmas tree, we can all agree on Who is worthy of our worship and praise! Because He came so long ago and gave Himself a ransom for our sin, we look to Jesus only as Worthy. We do not worship our Christmas trees; we worship the One who created the tree and the One who gave His life upon a tree that we might reign with Him forever. He promises to return, one day soon, for those that are looking for His appearing.
