In homes across the land, lights and trees are springing up. Drab shopping malls are aglow with bright and, some might say, gaudy decorations, encouraging valued shoppers to part with their cash. Indeed, the Christmas shopping period is often a make-or-break time for so many small entrepreneurs especially. It has been argued that Christmas comes too early, and that we do not give ourselves time to enjoy the richness that is the season of Advent. Officially the Christmas season begins with celebration of the first Eucharist of Christmas, known to all of us as Midnight Mass—even if it is celebrated at 7pm on Christmas Eve. I knew a Bishop who was adamant that Christmas carols should not be sung in his diocese before midnight mass. As I discovered, the choice of Advent hymns is quite limited and much repetition was involved, leading to many complaints from the congregation. Liturgical purism is all very well, but we must also take into account the faith and traditions of the faithful. Being realistic, while many will only go to church on Christmas Day, we have to offer pastoral and liturgical support to families who will stay at home on the feast. This is not a case of lowering the bar but being realistic. I can assure you that traditional and modern CHRISTMAS carols will be sung at our school/parish carol service in the middle of December. While the parish team will do all they can to encourage families to worship with us over Christmas, we are fully aware that the December 15th service will be the only liturgical celebration that many will attend. Thus, we have a real responsibility that those who attend enjoy the experience to the full. I firmly believe that these occasional brushes with the Church are moments of great grace and encounter. At funerals, weddings and baptisms, we have the wonderful opportunity to bring people to share in the love and peace of Christ. These are precious sacramental moments that we must cherish and seek to create.

In striving to accompany and walk with families in our parish, we need to meet them where they actually are, and not where we think they should be. While we might live in what we think is a Christian majority nation, the British Office of National Statistics revealed recently that the number of Britons professing a Christian faith has dropped below 50% for the first time. However, Christmas is that one feast that brings the nation together—believers and atheists alike will gather in churches and halls across the land to sing about a Saviour, born for us in a stable at Bethlehem. As a youngster growing up, I remember the beauty of the Christmas crib: the Bethlehem scene was displayed outside the parish church, while a tinier version was placed at the base of the family Christmas tree at home. My parents insisted that it be placed in the window—their own attempt to evangelise in the simplest of ways. Over the years a Christmas tree appeared on the sanctuary in church, especially since St John Paul II introduced the north Europe tradition to the Vatican piazza in 1982. While we might want to faithfully ensure that Christmas begins on the 25th, even the Vatican turns on its Christmas tree lights in early December—in line with London's Trafalgar Square tree, and the one at Rockefeller Plaza in New York. These trees light up their respective cities in the weeks leading up to the festival, perhaps offering hope to weary citizens. The evergreen and lights of the tree and the Advent wreath point to Christ who is the light of the world. 2022 needs those lights of hope and peace more than ever, as families will gather to celebrate their first 'proper' Christmas since the pandemic hit.

Many cultures in Europe have mid-winter festivals, associated with lights and evergreen trees, that predate Christianity. Yuletide was a pagan German festival associated with the folklore of the Wild Hunt, in which fairies, elves or the dead appeared in a supernatural group. Catastrophe or kidnapping to the fairy kingdom befell those that witnessed it. Yuletide eventually became a Christian tradition of Christmastide, the Christmas season. The Christmas tree and the nativity scene both became popular decorations of the season.

The Feast of Adam and Eve was celebrated in historical Western Germany on Christmas Eve. The main prop of a popular medieval play about Adam and Eve was a 'paradise tree,' a fir tree hung with apples, that represented the Garden of Eden. These special trees were placed in homes and decorated. The first Christmas ornaments were apples to signify the forbidden fruit, and wafers to represent the Eucharist. Over time different shapes were incorporated. Candles were often added to the paradise tree because they symbolize Christ, the light of the world. It was the fir tree, complete with decorations and lights, that was brought into the homes of the British royal family by the German prince, Albert, the beloved husband of Queen Victoria. Importantly this new royal tradition was copied by wealthy nineteenth century citizens throughout the empire—thus the Christmas tree became an essential part of the season. The Victorian tree was decorated with toys and small gifts, candles, candies, popcorn strings, and fancy cakes hung from the branches by ribbons and by paper chains. Taken to the United States by German settlers as early as the 17th century, Christmas trees were the height of fashion by the 19th century. Irish immigrants brought with them the practice of lighting a candle in the window over the holiday season—a reminder that all were welcome to their homes. It also linked them with their relations in the old country who lit candles for their dear relatives spread across the globe. The tree is now an integral part of the Christmas celebration across the globe: while food and gift times may vary, the Christmas tree, complete with lights, especially energy saving LED l bulbs, makes Christmas so magical for so many people.

At this time social media is awash with pictures of homes decorated for Christmas. Some can be accused of going over the top; however, on a recent bus ride home, I was encouraged to see the blues, reds and greens of the season brightly shining out, defying the austerity and problems of our times. I suspect that your radio stations, shopping centres, and petrol stations will be blasting out all kinds of Christmas music, including the song written in honour of the evergreen tree that so clearly symbolises the feast

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

How lovely are thy branches

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

How lovely are thy branches

Your boughs, so green in Summer-time

Stay bravely green in Winter-time

O Tannenbaum, O Christmas tree

How lovely are thy branches.

This humble homage to the Northern European tradition of the Christmas tree was written Ernst Anschütz, based on a 16th-century Silesian folk song by Melchior Franck. It is very much part of the vast soundtrack of this season of the year. The gifts placed under the tree are not the only point of Christmas or the Christmas Tree, but the Greatest Gift is. The traditionally adorned tree is now shared by many backgrounds of faith and holiday celebrations. We could say that it has become a secular symbol, as we perhaps return to our pagan roots. However, we must never forget that in the Bible, God compares himself to a tree:I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit(Hosea 14:8)

The simple evergreen tree is a fitting representation of the long-withstanding love of God, and the gift of His Son born for us. The sociologist, Angie Mosteller reflects:

Though there may be disagreement on when the tradition of Christmas trees first started, the case is certainly strong for both a German and a Christian origin. As might be expected, the popular carol 'O Christmas Tree' ('O Tannenbaum' in German) also had its beginning in Germany

So, whenever you put up your tree, I pray that it is a source of joy and wonder. May those sparkly lights point to a brighter Light who is knocking on the door of your hearts. Only you have the power to let the Lord in—if it helps you to put your Christmas decorations up at the start of Advent, then do so. God knows we need light and cheer at this time of year, especially this year. Having the tree lit will not diminish your appreciation and love of Advent. Indeed, the very act of putting the tree up, with all the associated drama, may well help you to make something more of this waiting time—remember Advent is not meant to be penitential. Advent is not a mini-Lent—let your own light shine out brightly in what you do and say. The history of the Christmas Tree is not something everyone agrees on, but here are many of the roots that water the age-old tradition. As John Bloom reminds us, we celebrate something far more profound than a tree found in a wood—or even in Tesco. There is an urgency of the Christmas message that Advent actually prepares us for, as we follow the intense preaching of Isaiah, Micah, and John the Baptist:

The real Christmas was nothing like the Christmas we've come to know, with its traditions, memories, and legends. It was a desperate moment that occurred for a desperate reason.

Author: Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB

Photo by Stephen Paterson on Unsplash