Time to unpack the Christmas tree - 100 days until Christmas

I like watching Hallmark Christmas films. They are light, positive, and uplifting. It is nice to watch them with friends.

Recently, in the middle of summer, I watched a number of romantic Christmas films. One popular Christmas song from the chick flick stuck with me, “O Christmas Tree,” and I could not get the melody out of my head for days. Finally, I googled the lyrics and it reminded me of Christmas frenzy.

A friend told me that the best time of the year is when Christmas decorations are up. On the same note, the saddest day is when the decorations are taken down. To be honest, I get it. Something is missing when Christmas decorations are gone. Somehow, the space suddenly feels “empty”.

When I get caught up in the Christmas frenzy, I can’t help but wonder if Christmas has lost its original purpose and if we have turned the holiday traditions into idols. To me, an idol is a false belief that is exalted above truth. Our idols often receive our adoration.

Let us unpack one of the possible Christmas idols - a Christmas tree. Singing the “O Christmas Tree” song is a good example. The song adores an object - a Christmas tree. Look at the third stanza of ‘O Christmas Tree’:

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, We learn from all your beauty; O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, We learn from all your beauty. Your bright green leaves with festive cheer, Give hope and strength throughout the year. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas tree, We learn from all your beauty.

Now let us replace adoration of a Christmas tree with adoration of Jesus Christ:

O Jesus Christ, our tree of life, We learn from all your beauty; O Jesus Christ, our tree of life, We learn from all your beauty. Leaves of your tree bring healing to me, Give hope and strength throughout the year. O Jesus Christ, our tree of life, We learn from all your beauty.

I know, we don’t mean what we sing, right? I am taking a popular Christmas song too seriously. It is just a childish song that does not mean anything… 

Precisely! It seems like we sing what we do not mean. We often say things that we don’t believe, and we do things that our parents did without examining the traditions. In the process, we embark on a celebratory journey that has lost its original meaning and purpose. Instead, without realizing it, we worship and celebrate an idol. We enter a Christmas frenzy that worships objects and traditions, with our spiritual eyes shut.

Let us use these 100 days until Christmas wisely. Let us bring back meaning and purpose to our Christmas celebration. While unpacking and decorating a Christmas tree this year, let us think about how beautiful decorations can remind us of the true meaning of Christmas - worshipping Christ. In the process, let us invite the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts for any wrong alignments with the true meaning and purpose of celebrating Christmas, which is to worship Christ.

Next time I hear a tune of 'O Christmas Tree', I'll choose to sing lyrics that align with what I believe. It is my way of celebrating Christmas with meaning. How will you attach meaning to your way of celebrating Christmas this year?