The Jesse Tree

A Jesse Tree reads like a family tree. It is the family tree of the Messiah, Jesus. Now, Jesse was the father of David who, in time, was to become the King of Israel. Jesse was a son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth. He had eight sons, the youngest of whom was David. Jesse was a wealthy man whose fortune consisted chiefly of sheep, and David was their poet shepherd. The Jesse Tree shows the genealogy of the Christ Child from Adam and Eve, and displays Biblical symbols relevant to Him.

Though popular throughout the 13th-Century, and the Roman years, the Jesse Tree faded into disuse, especially during the days of Queen Victoria with their lavishly decorated trees. Today, the Jesse Tree has recaptured its popularity, and is seen more and more throughout the world's Catholic and Protestant cultures.

The tree can be of several types: a long wooden dowel with as many crossbars as are needed; a many-armed tree branch secured into a pot of some type; or a regular green Christmas tree, either live or artificial. The undecorated tree, itself, has much symbolism.

A Christmas tree is like a triangle. It rests on its flat side with the long point reaching upward to the heavens, like hands in praise, supplication, and thanksgiving. Early Christians looked upon the vertically pointing symbolism of these trees as a reminder to gaze upward in search of heavenly treasures rather than grounding ones self in earthly ones. A symbol of strength and patience, the tree also served as a reminder of the connectivity between heaven and earth, because the roots of the tree reached into the earth while its branches soared heavenwards.

There is no specific way to decorate this tree, except that only Biblical symbols should be used. Traditionally, it is basic to place Adam and Eve at the bottom of the tree, and Jesus at the top, represented by the manger or a picture of Jesus, the Man. A cut-out of the wicked serpent is entwined around the trunk below the lower branches. In lieu of paper, I use a plastic snake looking down at the first man and woman. On one of the bottom branches, I hang a small, shiny, red, plastic apple. That is the only apple I place on the tree.