Where did the Christmas tree come from? Is it rooted in pagan traditions, or does it carry a deeper Christian significance?

In this episode, we explore the intriguing history of the Christmas tree, tracing its origins and development over time. Discover how this beloved holiday tradition was viewed, especially in 17th and 18th-century New England, including early Christian perspectives on celebrating Christmas during that time.

Finally, we address the big question: Should Christians include a Christmas tree in their celebration of Christ’s birth? What do you think?

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction

03:36 Three Legends about the Origin of the Christmas Tree

12:49 The Use of Trees by Pagan Religions

18:38 The Positive Use of Trees in Scripture

22:42 Possible Forerunners of the Christmas Tree

30:09 American and the Christmas Tree

49:41 Should Christians Use a Christmas Tree?

Resources Used in the Episode:

Bruce David Forbes, Christmas: A Candid History (2007)

Stephen Nissenbaum, The Battle for Christmas (1997, Pulitzer Prize Finalist)

Stephen Nissenbaum, Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, April 1996 Vol 106, Pt 1, pgs 79-164 (https://www.americanantiquarian.org/sites/default/files/proceedings/44539478.pdf).

About the authors:

Stephen Nissenbaum received his A.B. from Harvard College in 1961, his M.A. from Columbia University in 1963, and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1968. He has taught at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, since 1968, and is currently professor of history there. He has been the recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Council of Learned Societies, the American Antiquarian Society, the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the Charles Warren Center at Harvard. In addition, he was James P. Harrison Professor of History at the College of William and Mary, 1989–90. Active in the public humanities, he has served as member and president of the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, and as historical advisor for several film productions. The Battle for Christmas was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in History in 1997.

Bruce David Forbes received his B.A. from Morningside College, his M.Div. from the Pacific School of Religion, and his Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He served as a professor of Religious Studies at Morningside College (now Morningside University), where he contributed significantly to the institution’s academic life, including chairing the Religious Studies department. Over the course of his career, he has received multiple teaching awards and has been honored with grants reflecting his commitment to scholarship in the humanities. Forbes’s work explores the intersection of religion and popular culture, with a particular focus on American religious life. In addition to Christmas: A Candid History, he has co-edited several important volumes, such as Religion and Popular Culture in America, and has participated as a speaker and consultant in public humanities programs, aiming to make the study of religion accessible and engaging to both academic and general audiences.

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