Do you wonder why The Bible forbids Christmas trees? Have you believed that this law was only because Pagans decorated the Yule log? Because Christmas involves the worship of Jesus? If so, you are not completely wrong. Certainly, a large part of the reason Christmas trees are forbidden is paganism and idolatry. However, when we read what G-d says about the Christmas tree, we see that there is a much deeper moral issue.
Why The Bible Forbids Christmas Trees: Pagan Origins
The History of the Christmas Tree does involve paganism. Long before Christianity invented the Christmas Tree, the pagans brought a yule log in every winter and decorated it. The purpose was to bring nature and light inside during the harsh dark winters. This custom like most pagan rituals involved the worship of multiple gods and goddesses. Our G-d commands us repeatedly to stay away from the customs of those who worship other gods. This is no exception. G-d does warn us not to put up a tree because it is pagan. In Jeremiah 10 he says, “Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.” Yet, there is more to this. Paganism is not the only reason the Christmas Tree is forbidden.
Why The Bible Forbids Christmas Trees: Man Values Money More Than Life
G-d goes on to explain his problem with the Christmas Tree:
“3 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.”
Here G-d expresses his dismay at the vanity of pagans. He finds them to be vain because they cut down a living tree from the forest, fasten it so that it can not move, and decorate it in man’s silver and gold. This is vain because they appreciate the tree more when it is dead and decorated in their precious silver and gold than when it is alive and giving them oxygen. The pagan man, in his vanity, chooses to take the life of one of G-d’s creatures so that they might decorate it in precious metals. Thus, those metals have become more valuable to them than life and G-d. This is the bigger sin of the pagans, which G-d wants us to avoid. We are to know that G-d and life are more important than silver and gold. To further drive this point home, the chapter continues:
“But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. 9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.10 But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.“
The Great Christmas Dilemma
G-d is clearly upset that the pagans value earthly riches more than him and the life he has given to The Earth. This is the sin that you are guilty of every year when you put a tree up inside your home. This is the message you send to G-d. You tell him you value silver and gold more than him and the life he has given to his creations. Ironically, this perfectly sums up the problem with the Christmas holiday in present times. Is G-d more important than the material objects? Has not silver and gold become the main focus of the holiday? People spend money they do not have so as to give each other material possessions. They deck their houses in silver and gold decorations. Where is G-d in this?
Why Pagan Traditions Persist
If you are reading this and thinking, “But I really love the decorations” you are not alone. Perhaps you read this article with a tinge of guilt, knowing you would not be able to give up your holiday traditions. You are not alone. As the Catholic church found out when it was trying to eliminate paganism, even when the people convert the traditions and rituals are hard to kill. That is why many Christian Holidays are celebrated close to or on old pagan holidays.
These traditions helped people survive for thousands of years, They comforted the people in uncertain times. People cannot so easily walk away from the things that gave them light in the darkness. That is why it is especially hard to give up the Yule log. In a time when many people did not survive the cold dark winter, the yule log offered light and hope for the return of warmth and light. We know, even in modern times, Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a real thing. People get depressed in winter when the sun is gone for too long and the days are dark. If you are attracted and attached to the lights at Christmas, this may be why. Light makes us happy.
An Alternative
However, G-d does not take away without giving. He gave us Hannukah, the festival of lights so that we could bring the light indoors without murdering a tree. We can choose to light the Hannukah candles and let nature continue to live outside, where G-d intended it. In modern times, this is especially important due to the climate crisis. Trees give us oxygen and life. We need them alive!!
If you still are not convinced you can celebrate Hannukah and leave Christian traditions behind, try decorating a tree outside. Buy a plastic tree. You are still practicing paganism, but at least you are not taking another life to do so. Tell G-d this holiday that you understand life is more important than silver and gold. That is a step in the right direction.
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