Christmas is all about redemption. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us… the only begotten God from the Father’s side He has made Him known… Good news of great joy which will be for all people… For unto you a Savior (the Savior) is born: Christ the Lord. Christmas is about redemption. Salvation. And yet Christmas these days has been complicated by culture, commercialism, and so many other factors.
Many yearn to get back to the basics of Christmas. I know I do. Some years back, I was “confronted” by a brother in Christ who was troubled about Christmas Trees. For him, it was another complication. He asked me about pagan Roman holidays. He spoke of Druid Rites in ancient England. Instead, I pointed him to Martin Luther. Martin Luther is credited for the first Christmas tree.
Luther was the father of the Protestant Reformation. He despised statues, idols, and anything that detracted from Christ. And yet he is credited for the first Christmas tree. Luther was also a poet, a musician, an artist and is also credited with writing the first children’s curriculum.
And the Christmas Tree? As I understand it, the star at the top represented The Star the wise men followed. Beneath an evergreen, which represented a night sky—beneath which he placed a nativity scene. Luther apparently cooked all this up for his children. Supposedly, the candles (lights today) represented angels or stars. So, what about a Christmas tree at Christmas? Go for it or abstain from it. And make sure you let others enjoy theirs.
Sure, we live in a post-Christian neopagan world where people often adopt all kinds of practices in their lives. But I don’t think you can blame the Druids for the Christmas Tree—or Roman Saturnalia. It’s more nuanced and complicated than that.