Lessons from Christmas Trees
What can a tree teach us?
by Helen Bryant (revised, originally published in 2012)
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To explore the role of the Christmas tree.
Preparation and materials
- None required.
Assembly
- I wonder how many of us are getting excited about putting up our Christmas tree. I wonder if any of us have our trees up already.
You may wish to listen to responses from the children.
Traditionally, Christmas trees were put up on Christmas Eve and kept until 6 January, which is also known as Twelfth Night. However, nowadays, many people put up their trees as early as the beginning of December, and some even earlier! - Ask the children whether they have ever considered what a Christmas tree has been through before we arrive to buy it.
To grow a Christmas tree from seed to a height of two metres (seven feet) takes between eight and 12 years. So, if we have a real tree, it could be as old as we are!
First, the seeds are extracted from cones that are harvested from older trees. These seeds are then usually germinated and grown in nurseries. When the saplings are three to four years old, they are sold to Christmas tree farms. The saplings are cultivated until they have grown to the desired size, at which point they are cut down and transported to shops and garden centres, ready for us to buy them. - We choose our trees carefully and take them home before adorning them with lights, baubles and stars. We enjoy the trees until Christmas has passed, at which point we take them down and recycle them.
This might sound silly, but I am always a bit worried about the trees that aren’t bought by anybody. What happens to them? I think I’d rather not know. - If we feel that this process is wasteful, we can, of course, buy synthetic Christmas trees that we can use year after year. However, we might feel that we have missed out on the scent and experience of having a real tree, which is a special part of Christmas for many people.
- The thing about all Christmas trees is that they bring people a lot of joy – and not in the materialistic way that is sometimes the case with Christmas.
Think about your Christmas tree, whether it’s up already or you’re going to wait a while before getting it. Who puts it up? Many people do this as a family. The baubles and other decorations are brought down from the loft and everyone helps. You might even play carols and other Christmas music while you’re decorating it. Perhaps somewhere on your tree is a decoration that you made when you were little. You may buy one or more new baubles or decorations each year. Maybe you have some decorations that belonged to your grandparents. - A Christmas tree brings joy and light into any home. One of the best things about the dark nights of December is that, when we are walking around, we can see people’s Christmas trees in their windows, shining out and sparkling through the gloom. Their evergreen leaves hint at the eternal nature of this tradition. Families put presents round the tree and, by the giving and receiving of gifts, they express their love for one another.
- So, although it will be sad when we take down and recycle this year’s tree, let’s take the time to remember and appreciate it just that bit more for the joy that it gives us.
Time for reflection
Let’s pause to think about our Christmas trees and be thankful.
Let’s think about the people who help to make our Christmas special, whether at home, at school, at church or in the community.
Let’s make sure that they know that we are thankful for them this Christmas.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you for Christmas and for all the things that we look forward to and enjoy.
Please be with those people who will not have a tree this year.
Please be with those for whom Christmas will be a sad time.
May we always be grateful for the special things that we enjoy at Christmastime.
Amen.
Song/music
‘O Christmas tree’, available at: https://youtu.be/VSVcP4OVo8A (3.33 minutes long)
