The Chrismon Tree
Tuesday, November 28, 2006

The Youth of St. Andrew's will be decorating the Chrismon Tree as part of the Advent Family Gatherings. We normally think about a Christmas Tree and the modern meaning that it has...sparkly lights and shiny ornaments. Some trees are even coordinated to go with the theme or colors of our homes. We should think about the real meaning of Christmas when it comes to the tree as well. This year consider a Chrismon tree that will proclaim the name, the life, and the saving acts of Jesus the Christ.

In 1957, Francis Kipps Spencer created the first Chrismon tree. She coined the term Chrismon as a combination of Christ + monogram to reflect her desire to create decorations for Christmas trees that “proclaim the name, the life, and the saving acts of Jesus the Christ.” The purpose was to make homemade ornaments to show central symbols of the Christian faith. Chrismons are traditionally white and gold to reflect the colors of the Christmas season.

The symbols can include historic symbols of the faith. Crosses are often prominent on Chrismon trees. Other historic symbols are often included, such as Trinitarian symbols or the Chi-Rho abbreviation for the name of Christ in Greek (Xristos or Christos). New symbols are also created to illustrate biblical texts and to point to central elements of the Christian faith. The Chrismon tree is one way in which churches try to avoid the commercialization of the Christmas season by pointing to the message of the Christmas season.

Some of the symbols used on the Chrismon tree are here: