Christmas Tree or Tammuz Tree?

My blog explores many ambiguities of the Bible. This is just one of the blogs I was unable to side-step. This entry is meant only for the purpose of exploring the scripture passage below and to bring some answers to why we erect a Christmas Tree. Please do not be offended. Read through.

Jeremiah 10:1-5
God and Idols
1 Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel.
2 This is what the LORD says:
"Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.
3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.

4 They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.

5 Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good."

Prior to Christmas 1976, when I was eight years of age, my Grandmother Leasure, who felt a great responsibility to live out her faith, explained the Nativity Scene under the Christmas tree to my sister and me. Then, I asked, “What about the tree? Why is there a tree?” in reference to the Christmas tree under which the Nativity set was placed.

I’ve been struggling the past two days for what I should write on this blog entry. But, I can not escape this topic. In fact, I’ve been ignoring it for at least the past two weeks. Having only suggested I may write about it.

My Grandmother could not answer my question concerning the tree. I don’t feel she was ignorant. In fact, one of the very basic reasons some foundational elements of certain faiths continue to exist, is we humans are followers. I certainly include myself in this accusation. We tend to not ask questions. We are born into a world filled with customs, traditions and superstitions we do not question.

Having made those statements, here is an example; I recall a Buddhists teaching her child to respect the Buddha by having the child place a bowl of rice and a peeled orange in front of the Buddha’s cabinet. The little girl went to bed and mom ate the fruit and rice. In the morning, the food was gone and to the little girl it was mystical. There was a sense of reality that favored the Buddha having eaten the food.

Concerning the memory of my eighth Christmas, I kept those memories near the far recesses of my mind. But, not so far that I was going to just forget about wanting to know why there is a Christmas tree.

For about the last ten years, I have had information concerning the origin of the Christmas tree. I struggle with its presence in the world. Once, I had seen footage of Jews in Israel, attacking a person and the tree the person was towing. Some Christians said it was because the tree is a symbol of Christ’s birth. But, I think there is more reason on behalf of the Jews than it being a symbol of Christ’s birth. Which, by the way, I would not; even if I were not aware of what the tree represents call a Christmas tree a symbol of Christ’s birth.

Before I go any further to explain my findings, I want you to understand that I am only sharing my research. That is my main objective for blogging. I study, assimilate my results and record them in a form that is easy to understand. So, my goal is not to have a long standing tradition expunged. Nor, do I wish to shame anyone. I am not Jehovah’s Witness or House of Yahweh. I am a Christian and a member of the West End Assembly of God whom currently have several Christmas Trees on display at the church building. So, why do we have a Christmas tree?

Jeremiah 10:1-5 reminds me very much of our modern day Christmas tree. Then, when I add to the imagery of Jeremiah’s statements, the mythology surrounding a Great Grandson of Noah by the name of Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-12; Genesis 11:1-9), his marriage to his mother, Semiramus and the fabled resurrection of Nimrod, I see that Christianity has adopted a pagan symbol, as a cursor to the birth of Christ.

Nimrod

The Bible tells us that Nimrod attempted to build a tower in Babel(Please read my understanding of what Nimrod was attempting and what the Tower of Babel represented by clicking on this link. Find it under "Tower of Babel"). God found it to be an offense, and so, He confounded the language of these people, causing them to scatter throughout the Middle East region. Though the language was confused, the memory of Nimrod did not fade. In what ever region of the Middle East we find a story of a mother and son, we find the memory of Nimrod and his mother/wife Semiramus.

In Egypt, Semiramus and Nimrod are known as Isis and Osirus. Baal and Ashtaroth is who they were to the Canaanites . Through out the world, especially Europe, these two God’s are known by other names. But, it gets complicated when a son is born after the death of Nimrod to Nimrod and Semiramus.

After the death of Nimrod, Semiramus claimed to have witnessed a shoot growing out of a dead tree stump. The legend states Semiramus as celebrating Nimrod’s resurrection as the God of fertility. Annually Nimrod would come back to leave gifts on an evergreen tree at the beginning of the Winter Solstice. December 25th was the start of the Winter Solstice according to the Julian calendar. It is a well known fact that we do not know the exact birth date of Jesus. It is somewhat accepted that Jesus was born in the Spring months. However, would anyone wonder if the date chosen to acknowledge Christ’s birth was a coincidence or intentional? Was December 25 intentionally designated as the birth date of Jesus? Why?


In all fairness, I would like to say, there are several teachings on the origin of the Christmas tree. One teaching names the tree, “Paradise Tree”. Another teaching says that the Tree became a symbol of Jesus’ birth as Jesus completes The Holy Trinity and the tree comes to three points from whatever side it is viewed.

In my effort to understand this tree, I have found that people came to find my reports a nuisance. I often find this to be the case when something of a possible truth is presented against a popular tradition that has many theories of its origin.

When I consider these four points:

• Jeremiah 10:1-5,
• that Nimrod is said to have been resurrected through a tree coming to life,
• also knowing that Nimrod was of the line of Ham and the understanding of what the Tower of Babel was to Nimrod;
• and let’s not forget December 25th in the Julian Calendar,

I conclude what we erect yearly, for no reason other than the fact we enjoy it, is a tribute to a man who was declared to be a god.

If you can find a reason to erect the tree in memory of Christ’s birth, continue doing so. My objective here is to keep myself from knowingly tainting the relationship between God and my house. Vicki and I do not erect a tree. We say merry Christmas often and we enjoy visiting light displays. One of which we saw recently was in sync with the music on a radio station. So, just know, my effort is not to ruin your lives by striking your conscience. My blog explores many ambiguities of the Bible. This is just one of the blogs I was unable to side-step.
Merry Christmas! Give your Christmas tree a purpose for Christ.

Additional references

When Christmas was illegal in America
Semiramus
Madonna and Child/Mother and Child image from secular perspective