Are Christmas Trees Pagan?

Were "Christmas" trees originally pagan symbols?

Yes.  And I don't much care.

I hope that's okay.  You see, as much as some religious folks will object to using symbols, like trees, they say are pagan-ized, I have a soft spot in my heart for them. 

Trees are beautiful, valuable, and created "good".  Yes, they were used by pre-Christian religions as symbols for fertility, in ceremonies to false gods, and in Roman customs.  Yep.  All that, and more.  No doubt about it.

So, some conclude, that does it.  Putting a tree in your home is a pagan tradition, and you are sellling out your Christianity by doing it.  And, I suppose, if they think it's sacrilege, they shouldn't do it.  Paul writes about legalism, and tells us not to deliberately show off our freedom to the weaker brother.  (But -- interesting, isn't it -- that legalist really is the one with the "weaker faith", Paul says.  Not the person who enjoys the freedom.)

Anyway, trees were created beautiful, then cut down, misused, reputation soiled.  It's my thinking that God made trees.  They're still good.  They're still beautiful.  And it's my thinking that God redeems -- He "buys back", and is in the restoration business.  He takes a something that's really HIS, and He takes it back, in spite of its reputation.  He called them "good", and He meant it.

Like I say, I have a soft spot for those trees.    I sure hope they're redeemable. 

I have a lot in common with them.

Merry Christmas.

Comments

[Steve Shore]

Ummm... Christmas tree? What's a Christmas tree? All is see at stores are "Holiday Trees". I don't even know where I'd find a Christmas tree anymore...

[Jeff P]

Hey Brant, let me start by saying I too am thankful God redeems. I would most likely be in jail or dead if it were not true. I emailed you a link in regards to this and I thank you for bringing it up in your blog. I think some people's stance on this is not the tree itself but the fact that God commands us not to worship Him the same way the pagans do (OT stuff.) And since pagans used trees to worship there gods we Christians should not. They also say God told us how to worship Him and through trees was not one of them. You make a good point to refute this and there are more areas where this idea can fall apart.
I think (which means I could be wrong) God, in the OT, was refering to the physical and spiritual methods used by the pagans. The physical in regards to obvious violations of the ten commandments, i.e. baby sacrifices, and there are more. The spiritual method has to do with their motives. Most, if not all, the pagans worshiped for selfish motives such as good crops, wealth, etc. On a different note, didn't some lady pour perfume on the feet of Jesus in an attempt to worship Him, and He accepted it even though she was not commanded to worship this way.
Well I won't say anymore because I tend not to read comments that are too long myself.
Thanks again Brant

[Patch]

Haha, trees had "their reputation soiled" hehe.. I get it. Soiled. Like dirt. Trees grow in dirt. See, I get really do get it. That's funny.

[RevJeff]

I love Christmas Trees, too. It is SOOO fun to cut them down and set them in a corner until they are completely dead and then burn them or turn them into compost or habitat in a bass pond.
Yep, I LOVE THEM.

[daniela]

i agree. our whole lives my mom has been critizied at church for putting up a tree but its a symbol for the season..i mean a christmas with no tree is just not the same.!

this is why youre cool brant!

[Tony Bolano]

Hey Brant, I believe I understand what you are saying. However, in my personal life I believe Christmas to be all about Christ. I mean, we are celebrating His birth. It's such a wonderful and magnificent event. Why bring a tree that has nothing to do with this into the mix.
I admit, that when I was a kid I though this was so cool. But during my teen years when I accepted Christ and began to study His word, my interest for the tree and related things disappeared. I personally don't need them, miss them, nor care for them. It brings me enough joy to know that Christmas is about Christ, and it saddens me to see anything else, like a tree, take away from this.

[ryan]

isnt everything man does pegan.i also think trees are good because GOD said so at creation. it makes me think of peter in acts when he had the vision of the creatures in the sheet he did not want to eat anything unclean but the LORD said dont call unclean what HE says is clean. So trees are good.unfotunatly man has misused another of GODS gifts. I love my CHRISTmas tree and thank GOD for it. it reminds me of HIS beauty.

[Jorge Reyes]

Why did then Jesus celebrate Hannukah instead of Christmas?
I mean, I know He was Jewish and all, but He had the "authority" to celbrate whatever He wanted in whichever way He wanted....
Yet He still chose to clebrate "specific" feasts and holidays...
And I'm pretty sure the reason He celebrated Hannukah was NOT to please or be at peace with anyone (i.g. His constant rejection of the Pharisee Religious Leaders of the time...).
I don't know... maybe I'm looking at it in the wrong view... But I do personally feel that it is worth the time to really investigate the actions of Jesus and his decions to celebrate what, when, and where... and even the methods of how He celebrated whatever He did... (am I making sense?... it's hard putting these thoughts into words...)

[Jessie]

Hmm I think we as Christians like to split hairs when it comes to holidays and what we should and shouldn't be doing. I don't think that by having a tree in my house for the month of December, that it will take away from the true meaning of Christmas. Christ made this earth and the things on it wonderful and beautiful, for us to enjoy. So lets enjoy what He's blessed us with. Just because something was used wrongly used in the past doesn't mean it can't redeemed for the here and now, or the future. I don't believe any of us as believers who have trees in our homes worship them, so I don't really see a problem there. Besides they smell and look wonderful and they light up the house so nicely!

Anyway I hope that made sense :) But if not I'll just sum it up.... Merry Christmas!

[Linda]

I'm with Jessie. I love Christmas trees, decorations,etc.Whatever happened to decorating to celebrate someone's birthday? If we are truly showing love to our Lord why shouldn't we spend some time decorating like we do for other birthday parties? Doesn't he deserve it? We, my family, also get a birthday cake and sing Happy Birhday to him! My church has several Christmas trees as well!

[Harold-Jim Winthorpe]

Christmas is not about Jesus, it is a pagan holiday celebrating the birth of the sun god, which was Nimrod his birthday was Dec 25, this was incorporated in to the early Catholic Church bY Constantine,the tree represents the return on the sungod. No where in the bible is Jesus Birth celebrated as is done today.If so then Paul and all of the Apostles would talk of celebrating Christmas. The trees have nothing to do with Jesus. The Egyptians began using this pagan form of worship.Read your bible it tells the truth!