11-30-2021 First Week in Advent 2021
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly. But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and embraced Mary as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus. - Matthew 1:18-25
Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For over two thousand years, people across the globe have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both sacred and secular. And although no one truly knows the date, (and boy, are the arguments and debates loud and abrasive!) Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.
Popular traditions for Christmas include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, caroling to those who are homebound, attending church candle-light services, sharing meals with family and friends, Hallmark taking over TV, ringing the Salvation Army Bell and, of course, waiting for jolly old Saint Nick to leave some Old Spice for Dad, Bath and Body Works for Mom, and Legos and IPads for the kids - and that’s just in North America!
Christmas traditions around the world are diverse, quirky and some are pretty awesome. Being one of the most celebrated holidays in the world, our modern Christmas is a product of hundreds of years of both secular and religious traditions from around the globe, many of them centered on the winter solstice, the Yule log and wool mittens. Across God’s creation people rejoice in the holidays by imbibing eggnog, Candy Cane cocktails, Glogg, and Bombardino.
Yet, in the midst of the diversity of Christmas celebrations, the one thing that keeps this holy day in the hearts and minds of creation is the thread of commonality. That is, there are things the world shares in common as it celebrates the birth of Christ. Why? So that, no matter how you say it - Sweden: ‘God Jul!’, Finland: ‘Hyvää Joulua!’, Norway: ‘Gledelig Jul!’, Germany: ‘Froehliche Weihnachten!’, Mexico: ‘Feliz Navidad!’, England: 'Happy Christmas!’, France: ‘Joyeux Noël!’, Italy: ‘Buon Natale!’, Ukraine: ‘Srozhdestvom Kristovym!’, Greece: ‘Kala Christouyenna!’ - it really means you want others to have a “Merry Christmas!”
So...what is one of the common Christmas traditions across the world?
Let’s look at Christmas trees! They may be tiny or large. Flocked or plain. Fake or real. Balsam Hill or Dollar Tree. It doesn’t matter - we just love trees.
Way before the birth of Christ Jesus, plants and trees that are evergreen had a special meaning for people who lived in very cold places and endured long, harsh winters. Just as many people today decorate their homes during the holiday season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, (mostly fake ones now! With fake snow!) people back then hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. Many cultures believed that evergreens would keep away witches, evil beings, ghosts, etc. “There'll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of the Christmases long, long ago…”
Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a feast called Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, their god of agriculture. To mark the occasion, they decorated with evergreen boughs. The Druids, part of Celtic history, decorated with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The Vikings thought that evergreens were the special plant of the sun god, Balder.
Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition Christians now know. Back in the 16th century Christians brought evergreen trees into their homes and decorated them in preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus. Most historians believe that Martin Luther was the first to officially add lighted candles to a tree. The story is told that while walking home one cold, winter evening, he was overwhelmed by the sight of the stars shining through the evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he placed a tree in the main room of their home and filled its branches with lighted candles. Froehliche Weihnachten!
It should not be lost on us that as we - those who believe in and follow Jesus of Nazareth as the one and only Son of God - put up our Christmas trees the green reminds us of eternal life. It also takes on a higher understanding when we think of Jesus - whose birth we are celebrating - as the “root of Jesse.” He was eventually “hung upon a tree.” And, in the end, those who have placed their faith in the “root of Jesse” who was “hung upon a tree” will “have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates."
So, put up those Christmas trees! Or, if you already have (you know who you are!) take another glimpse of it. Trim it! Flock it! Look at its lights! And, all the while, give thanks to the One Who has made it possible - the One who first created the tree. Give thanks to His Son Who grafts us into the family tree of God. Give thanks to the One Who gave himself freely to be hung upon a tree for the forgiveness of our sins. Give thanks for the tree of life which will feed us for all eternity.
As Joyce Kilmer once wrote in her poem, “Trees”, "I think that I shall never see
a poem lovely as a tree."
Well, we guess we will “leaf” you to it. Merry Christmas! Happy holidays! Or, as they say in Russia: счастливого Рождества!
Missy and Steve
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