Day 2 of the Lifespring! WhyChristmas Advent Calendar continues our journey toward Christmas by looking at one of the most recognizable symbols of the season: the Christmas tree. These Advent Calendar episodes were originally recorded in 2006, but the story, meaning, and joy behind these traditions remain timeless. Each day, Steve Webb and James Cooper help us rediscover the depth behind the customs we often take for granted.

In this episode, James Cooper takes us back hundreds of years to explore how Christmas trees became part of Christian celebration. One of the earliest stories comes from the 8th century, when missionary St. Boniface confronted a group of people preparing to sacrifice beneath an oak tree. According to tradition, Boniface cut down the oak—and when a small fir tree stood unharmed nearby, he pointed to it as a symbol of the Christian faith: evergreen, upright, and pointing toward heaven.

James explains how Germans later developed Christmas tree customs, decorating evergreens with apples, wafers, nuts, and eventually candles. These early traditions slowly spread across Europe, where the trees were used to teach Bible stories, celebrate the Nativity, and symbolize eternal life. If you want a deeper dive into these customs, you can explore the excellent article

We learn how Christmas tree customs expanded beyond Germany as families moved, cultures mixed, and the symbolism resonated across borders. By the time the tree reached the United Kingdom and later the United States, it had become a cherished part of Christmas celebration—a sign of hope, light, and life in the midst of winter.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert helped popularize the modern Christmas tree in the English-speaking world, and American households adopted the tradition soon after. Today, whether it’s simple or elaborate, real or artificial, the Christmas tree stands as a reminder of Jesus, the true light of the world, who brings life that never fades.

As you set up your tree this year, take a moment to pause and think about what it represents. The lights recall the light of Christ shining into the darkness. The evergreen branches point to eternal life in Him. And the star or angel on top traces us back to the very night when heaven broke into earth with good news for all people.

For more Christmas traditions, stories, and explanations, be sure to visit

Thanks for joining Day 2 of the Lifespring! WhyChristmas Advent Calendar. Come back tomorrow as we open the next “door” and discover another part of the Christmas story.