Originally Posted by
Amoyan
The Christmas Tree
The origins of what we know as the Christmas tree stretch back thousands of years.
According to Sheryl Karas, “The evergreen played an influential role in the spiritual life of pagan societies throughout the world. Archeaologists and anthropological evidence indicates that veneration of the tree dates from at least 4,000 years before Christ. Its pervasive symbolism was central to primitive cosmologies, or beliefs about the universe, which laid the foundation for every major religion, including Christianity. These pagan beliefs survive to this day embedded in the religious rituals and myths as well as in secular customs, legends and fairy tales.”
Numerous cultures throughout history have used trees in the ceremonies and celebrations of the Winter months. Druids placed evergreen boughs over doors to ward off evil spirits. Some believe that the birth place of the Christmas tree as we know it was in Egypt, where homes were decorated with palm trees to symbolise a coming year of fruitful abundance.
The tradition of decorating evergreen trees appears to stem from the German tradition of ‘paradise trees’ which were brought into homes to celebrate the festival of Adam and Eve on 24th December. This tradition was then brought by German immigrants to America in the mid 19th century. Decorated trees soon became a symbol of Christmas when Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria and himself a German, adopted the custom for the royal family, after which the general population followed the tradition.
Esoterically, the tree represents life. The ‘tree of life’ is part of many mystical traditions, notably Kabbalah, and is steeped in symbolism. The tree is firmly rooted in the earth (as we are), but it reaches upward to the sun (representing the Divine Light). As the tree grows, each successive layer represents a surmounting of the material world and an advancement in consciousness, until gradually it reaches higher and higher, moving ever closer to the light, getting more refined as it goes.
It’s no coincidence that we use evergreen trees, for they are one of the few trees that don’t shed their leaves at this time of year and remain lush and alive throughout the darkest days of Winter. For ancient peoples, Winter was harsh and desolate time and while deciduous trees, fruit-bearing bushes and crops all died in Winter, evergreen trees were seen as signs of hope and life eternal. Again, this speaks of the possibility of surmounting death.
The fact that the firs we use as Christmas trees are pyramidal in shape is also significant, as the pyramid reflects transcendence of mortality and elevation of consciousness. The lights and ornaments on the tree can be seen as representations of the chakras on the inner ‘tree of life’ within each of us, for the chakras have been described in some ancient traditions as being ‘jewels upon a tree’. The decorations might also reflect the various attainments and merits we acquire as we progress along our spiritual path, growing in consciousness, radiance and compassion.
It is also no coincidence that the angel or star is placed on top of the tree. This symbolises the zenith of spiritual attainment, the achievement of Divine consciousness. As we progress up the tree and the associated chakras, we eventually attain connection and attunement with our Higher Self, or the Divine consciousness that is our true essence.
I don’t know about you, but I’ll never look at a Christmas tree the same way again!
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