I read Americans set up 35 million Christmas trees. According to Ann Shorb, the first record of a decorated Christmas tree was in 1510 in Latvia. The custom grew and was popular among Lutherans in Germany where people decorated their trees with wafers, paper flowers, fruits, nuts, gold foil and small cakes and candies. The tree was a reminder of eternal life and His gift of Jesus Christ. Green symbolized hope and new life in Christ.
The tradition continued to grow and spread to England by German Prince Albert who married Queen Victoria. Later German immigrants living in Pennsylvania put up the first Christmas tree in the United States on December 20, 1821. President Franklin Pierce popularized this custom by placing a Christmas tree at the White House. Another legend is that the evergreen tree was an ancient symbol of life in winter. Romans decorated their houses with evergreen branches during the New Year.
As we anticipate Christmas day let's focus on Jesus making us a new creation. Our tree can remind us we are a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5: 17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" We bring dead trees in our homes and decorate them with pretty ornaments and light them with pretty sparkly lights. We make the dead trees beautiful just like Jesus gives us new life and makes us beautiful. We were dead inside, but Jesus came to live in our hearts and now we have life and we are shining so bright that others want what we have!
O Come let us adore Him!
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