Originally published at Orange County Catholic
BY NOW, MANY PEOPLE have taken out and decorated their Christmas trees as Dec. 25 nears.
A WORKER PUTS THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS CHRISTMAS TREE ON NOV. 9, 2023. PHOTOS BY EVERETT JOHNSON/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
When should Catholics put their trees up and take them down?
We’ll get to that.
But first, why a Christmas tree?
THE MEANING BEHIND THE TREE
Fr. Christopher Smith, rector emeritus of Christ Cathedral, notes that the Christmas tree traditionally is an evergreen.
“The evergreen is a symbol of everlasting life,” Fr. Christopher said. “This promise of everlasting life was given to us by Jesus, whose birth we celebrate on Christmas. Its presence in the home at Christmas stands as a reminder of that promise of everlasting life that we hope to share in fully one day.”
No Christmas tree would be complete without lights.
But what’s the meaning behind them?
“The candles adorning Christmas trees before electricity were a sign of Jesus, the light of the world,” Fr. Christopher explained. “The present-day lights symbolize the same thing.”
He notes a Scripture passage read at Christmas from Isaiah 9:
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. “The great
