O Christmas Tree!


     Evergreen trees have been held sacred by many cultures throughout history because they remind us that life always renews itself. German Christians were the first people to bring fir trees into their homes as part of their Christmas celebration. Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols by Americans until late in the nineteenth century. After they were made popular in England by Queen Victoria they were gradually accepted by Christians in the United States. 

    The Christmas tree in my home is sacred because every ornament evokes a special memory or symbolism. Some ornaments were made by our children when they were young, while others were gifts from parents and friends, now gone, or loved ones who live far away. 

    Among the ornaments are many angels, peace doves and origami cranes, to symbolize my greatest hope, that peace will one day reign throughout the world. This is the hope that Jesus brought to humanity when he was born on Christmas Day so long ago. 

    In recent years I have added ornaments from different countries, including Bangladesh, India, Peru, Russia, and Sweden, a reminder of my belief that we all belong to the Family of God. The ornaments from Costa Rica, Italy, and Ireland are particularly special because Mark and I have visited those countries together. 

    We used to decorate the tree as a family of four. Last year it was just Mark and me, but this year we were blessed to have our granddaughter help out. At six years old, she has her own way of decorating a tree. Instead of spacing the ornaments evenly as I do, she likes to put them in clumps so they can be friends. Sometimes she'll put two together so they can get married - the gourd Santa and the feathered dove make a lovely couple. 

    Here you can see a flock of angels hanging out together, blessing the tree with their love and joy. (The dreidel was a gift from my Jewish friend about sixty years ago. I used to give her a Hannukah gift and she gave me a Christmas present each year when we were in grade school. Another special memory.) 



Many of our ornaments come from fair trade organizations such as SERVV and Ten Thousand Villages. Purchasing fair trade items is a good way to support artisans in developing countries. 

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