By JQuisumbing
Isn’t the Christmas tree based on pagan tradition?
According to Google, way before the advent of Christ, at the height of winter, many Pagan communities observed the Winter Solstice by displaying evergreens in their homes. Viking cultures viewed the pine tree as the special plant that honored their sun god, Balder. While in early Rome, the Winter Solstice meant the celebration of the weeklong feast called Saturnalia, which honored the Roman agriculture god Saturn. Saturnalia marked when people knew that their agriculture would soon turn green again, so they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs. [ww.magiscenter.com/blog/the-history-of-the-christian-christmas-tree]
As Christendom spread throughout medieval Europe, much of the Winter Solstice’s trappings, including the decorated fir trees were adopted into our Christmas traditions. The forerunners of the modern Christmas tree made their appearance in 16th-century Germany. Their original roots point to the medieval “paradise trees” which were decorated with apples to represent the Tree of Knowledge from the Garden of Eden. These were originally used in religious plays on December 24th, Adam and Eve’s feast day, before being brought into homes. [www.wikipedia.org/Christmas_tree]
Should Christians still put one up?
There would only be one reason why Christians would not put up a Christmas tree. IDOLATRY!
Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:4)
Truly, though, I could never see the Christmas Tree as ever being used as an idol since it celebrates the birth of our Savior who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29)
Johann Quisumbing 