The Christmas Tree - An Ancient Pagan Fertility Symbol

[Revelation1217]

Most Americans will gather around "the Christmas tree" on December 25th without having any idea why we practice this tradition or where it came from. The truth is that the Christmas tree and the decorations we put on the tree have ancient roots in pagan fertility traditions.

In ancient times, the goddess Asherah was known the "Queen of Heaven". She was worshipped by many civilizations in the Middle East.

One of the symbols most closely associated with Asherah was a tree. The ancient Canaanites and Phoenicians viewed the tree as a symbol of fertility.

A symbol of male fertility.

This is not a joke.

The purpose of the fertility tree in ancient times was to display the symbols of fertility.....

http://shatteredparadigm.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-tree-ancient-pagan-fertility.html

 

[SGM4HIM]

from the referenced blog
"Actually the Bible doesn't say anything about a "Christmas tree", but it does warn God's people against putting up trees like the other pagan nations were doing."



If Pagans set up a tree to celebrate the birth of the Messiah then it may mean something to us today.

 

[Kristos]

I don't even put up a try any more - just a giant sperm.

 

[Yarddog]

Most Americans will gather around "the Christmas tree" on December 25th without having any idea why we practice this tradition or where it came from. The truth is that the Christmas tree and the decorations we put on the tree have ancient roots in pagan fertility traditions.

In ancient times, the goddess Asherah was known the "Queen of Heaven". She was worshipped by many civilizations in the Middle East.

One of the symbols most closely associated with Asherah was a tree. The ancient Canaanites and Phoenicians viewed the tree as a symbol of fertility.

A symbol of male fertility.

This is not a joke.

The purpose of the fertility tree in ancient times was to display the symbols of fertility.....

http://shatteredparadigm.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-tree-ancient-pagan-fertility.html

The Christmas tree has never been a pagan symbol. Just because an ancient pagn nation used a certain type of tree as a symbol of their God or worshipped a tree does not equate into Christians using a tree as a decoration. The Jews used trees as well, does this make them pagan?

Has the Christmas tree ever been used to represent fertility? I've never heard that.

There is no truth to the rumor that the Christmas tree has its roots in pagan fertility traditions.

Yarddog

 

[itisdeliciouscake]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI

 

[Zoness]

Lots of Christian traditions have pagan origins especially in the Roman empire.

 

[Chesterton]

Some pagans used writing, so we shouldn't do that. Some pagans honored and tried to practice virtue, so we shouldn't do that. This anti-Christmas tree argument is silly. God knows our hearts.

 

[cyberlizard]

from the referenced blog
"Actually the Bible doesn't say anything about a "Christmas tree", but it does warn God's people against putting up trees like the other pagan nations were doing."

If Pagans set up a tree to celebrate the birth of the Messiah then it may mean something to us today.

let me make this suggestion to everyone... the trees associated with idolatry were trees which had been carved (suppose akin it totems really).... my wife will not have a christmas tree in the house... me, i am a little more open... i will allow an undecorated tree (even though we haven't got one) as an undecorated green tree I can justify as the 'green tree' is a messianic title and so i would use an undecorated tree to remind me that Messiah came setting aside all his bells and whistles and was found in appearance as a naked baby (at first).

In case the title 'green tree' is lost on anyone, do not try looking it up in the NIV as you will not find it as the passage is completely fudged.


Steve

 

[Yarddog]

Some pagans used writing, so we shouldn't do that. Some pagans honored and tried to practice virtue, so we shouldn't do that.

Here's another one, pagans invented democracy, do we abandon that?
Another, pagans invented Greek, do we forsake the Gospels?
Pagans invented aramaic, did Jesus do evil by speaking it?

This anti-Christmas tree argument is silly. God knows our hearts.

You cannot be more correct. Let's be glad that it will die down in a few days. But sadly, it will rear up again when the next holiday comes up which some people will take out of context.

God Bless,
Yarddog

 

[itisdeliciouscake]

Here's another one, pagans invented democracy, do we abandon that?
Another, pagans invented Greek, do we forsake the Gospels?
Pagans invented aramaic, did Jesus do evil by speaking it?

to be perfectly fair, it should be noted that his argument is against picking up a religious tradition from pagans, not against anything that happened to originate from pagans.

 

[Yarddog]

to be perfectly fair, it should be noted that his argument is against picking up a religious tradition from pagans, not against anything that happened to originate from pagans.

The Christmas tree is not a religious tradition of the pagans and has never been. Many people twist the facts to fit their theory but cannot give any evidence to back up their claim.

Cyberlizard pointed out what the asherah was and there is absolutely no connection with the Christmas tree.

The point that Chesterton and I made was there were many things that the pagans did which we still do. These are also things which the people who make up stories about the Christmas tree can also twist.

Yarddog

 

[Uphill Battle]

to the tune of Tis the season:

Tis the season for Christmas Tree threads
falalalala, la la la la
Posts that most of the boards dread
falalalala, la la la la
Don we now our bemuséd face!
falalalala, la la la la
as a legalist puts us in our place
falalala la la.....la..........LA.


seriously. what a crock! find me a Christian that places spiritual signifigance on the tree itself, and I'll find you someone who isn't really paying attention to their Sunday School classes.

 

[ticker]

The Christmas Tree - An Ancient Pagan Fertility Symbol

...and something that just looks nice.

Merry Christmas

 

[Viribus Unitis]

I understood the Christmas tree the first time I spent a full winter out of Canary Islands.

Your trees look dead then, while ours are blooming with flowers.

Nananananananana

 

[lionroar0]

Lots of Christian traditions have pagan origins especially in the Roman empire.

That's not accurate.
Peace

 

[lionroar0]

to the tune of Tis the season:

Tis the season for Christmas Tree threads
falalalala, la la la la
Posts that most of the boards dread
falalalala, la la la la
Don we now our bemuséd face!
falalalala, la la la la
as a legalist puts us in our place
falalala la la.....la..........LA.


seriously. what a crock! find me a Christian that places spiritual signifigance on the tree itself, and I'll find you someone who isn't really paying attention to their Sunday School classes.

Wait for the bunny and egg threads.

Peace

 

[zeke37]

if you worship a tree, then you are in a heep of hurt already....

our Christmas tree is not used for worship...so that is that, right?

 

[Zstar]

if you worship a tree, then you are in a heep of hurt already....

our Christmas tree is not used for worship...so that is that, right?

Not Worship but Symbol?

 

[nyghtowl]

I don't even put up a try any more - just a giant sperm.

Let me guess, Spencers?

 

[New_Wineskin]

The days of the week are all Roman/Saxan gods . So , saying and writing the traditional names of the week are invoking and cherishing their names and giving them importance . That is ... according to the logic of the warners of pagan tradition .