Christmas tree

[Lithium]

The use of evergreen twigs or trees can´t be traced back to one specific culture or region. Indeed it often was a heathen costum.

However, the first records of something that can be considered as a real christmas tree come from christian backgrounds of the 16th centure. It certainly was inspired by heathens, but using green twigs and candles as a source of hope for the coming spring or to bring some life in the dark winter time is not pagan per se.

Indeed, it's a mixture. But there were common traditions amongst all Indo-Europeans (and natives) in Europe. For example, in Bulgaria we put all kinds of offerings and decorations with a certain symbolism on and around the trees during all kinds of pagan celebrations. I think that the look of the Christmas tree we know nowadays is rather commercialised and with pretty mixed symbolism.

[ficuscarica]

Basically it is just a green tree with lights. You can fill that with all kinds of meanings or add all kinds of decoration either for fun or to express religious ideas. I wouldn´t become too dogmatic about this or that style of decoration and its meaning.

I think it is a nice thing for everyone to have in the dark winter time.

[el22]

ficus don't you find it strange that attaching meaning (and hopes) to natural objects (like trees) not only has nothing to do with the idea of God, but almost runs against it.

[ficuscarica]

ficus don't you find it strange that attaching meaning (and hopes) to natural objects (like trees) not only has nothing to do with the idea of God, but almost runs against it.

You have the same in the "Passover" meal, in which Jesus participated. Even the Lord´s Supper adds spiritual meaning to natural objects. Wine represents the blood of Jesus and bread his body. I don´t see a problem with it. The tree just brings light and life into the grey winter house. And in a sense this represents Christ´s birth into a hopeless world.
I can´t imagine that God would have a problem with Christians having that costum.

[el22]

ficus you are in israel now. What is the original kind of tree used as christmas tree, and does it naturally grow up in israel?

ficus: I can´t imagine that God would have a problem with Christians having that costum.

me neither, but not having a problem and suggesting it are two different levels of endorsement.

[ficuscarica]

ficus you are in israel now. What is the original kind of tree used as christmas tree, and does it naturally grow up in israel?

ficus: I can´t imagine that God would have a problem with Christians having that costum.

me neither, but not having a problem and suggesting it are two different levels of endorsement.

Christmas trees are evergreen conifers. Yes, they do exist in Israeli (juniper, cupressus sempervirens horizontalis, aleppo pine, lebanon cedar, etc). I am not saying that the christmas tree is a biblical costum. I am saying that adding symbolism to natural object is something that can be found in the bible.

Using a christmas tree doesn´t contradict anything that I read in the bible. The bible also doesn´t tell me to use electric light or toilet paper, yet I don´t think I do anything wrong when I use it.

[el22]

Using a christmas tree doesn´t contradict anything that I read in the bible. The bible also doesn´t tell me to use electric light or toilet paper, yet I don´t think I do anything wrong when I use it.

Ofc, but you wouldn't go as far as to claim that using electricity is a Christian tradition, or would you? And that's my point: bible doesn't forbid it, but it certainly doesn't come from bible - it's clearly a pagan tradition.

[Annihilus]

I approve of this pagan tradition

[ficuscarica]

Ofc, but you wouldn't go as far as to claim that using electricity is a Christian tradition, or would you? And that's my point: bible doesn't forbid it, but it certainly doesn't come from bible - it's clearly a pagan tradition.

I would rather say it has pagan origins. The christmas tree as we know it, with the type of decoration that we are used to, has developed only in the last centuries. On the other hand it is true that the original idea of having a decorated, evergreen tree is pagan. The use of the tree as we know it today is therefore a mix of pagan ideas and christian ideas.

So we have a tree with decoration, which in today´s form is a product of christian and pagan ideas. At this point it is neutral. You can fill it with whatever meaning you want. And that is what makes it either a christian or a pagan or even an atheist tree then.

And besides all that: duuh, it´s a tree with some added lights and colors, not a statue of a god.

[Annihilus]

I would rather say it has pagan origins. The christmas tree as we know it, with the type of decoration that we are used to, has developed only in the last centuries. On the other hand it is true that the original idea of having a decorated, evergreen tree is pagan. The use of the tree as we know it today is therefore a mix of pagan ideas and christian ideas.

So we have a tree with decoration, which in today´s form is a product of christian and pagan ideas. At this point it is neutral. You can fill it with whatever meaning you want. And that is what makes it either a christian or a pagan or even an atheist tree then.

And besides all that: duuh, it´s a tree with some added lights and colors, not a statue of a god.

yeah right, turkic wish tree



It is pagan to the core so sod off with your christian bollocks