Christmas Tree Crafts

A Round Up of a Favorite Motif

The motif of a Christmas tree evokes the scent, joy and fun of the holiday season.  Even if you can't have a real tree, you can still get a kick out of the shape of one.

The Christmas tree, as we know it today, has its roots in 16th-century Germany, but the practice of bringing greenery indoors during winter festivals goes back much further. Evergreens were seen as a symbol of resilience and hope during the cold, barren months, reminding people that life would return in spring.

When Christianity spread across Europe, many pagan customs were incorporated into Christian celebrations, including the use of evergreen decorations. This process, known as syncretism, helped ease the transition for new converts and allowed for the continuation of beloved traditions.

Today, the use of Christmas trees, cedar swags, mistletoe, and Douglas Fir branches in holiday decorations carries on this ancient tradition. While these elements may have pagan origins, they have become an integral part of modern Christmas celebrations, symbolizing hope, renewal, and the enduring spirit of life.

For many people, using these natural decorations doesn't conflict with their religious beliefs. Instead, it connects them to a long-standing human tradition of finding comfort and joy in nature during the winter months. The greenery serves as a reminder of the cycle of life and the promise of renewal, which aligns well with the Christian message of hope and rebirth associated with the birth of Jesus.

In this context, there's no need to feel conflicted about incorporating these elements into holiday celebrations. They represent a beautiful blending of cultural traditions that have evolved over millennia, reflecting humanity's enduring connection to nature and our shared hope for brighter days ahead.

There are lots of crafts to make with this motif; cookies in the shape of a tree, decorated with colored icing for tinsel and tiny silver balls for baubles, trees painted on windows to look like stained glass, a fake tree trimmed (literally) to look more primitive.

Decorate it with tiny birds nest (also faux) and you have a bird themed Christmas.

You can make full sized mock ups of Christmas trees out of barnboard. 

Or twigs. 

Or make jeweled replicas of trees in a picture frame. 

Or...the options are endless.  If your favorite Christmas motif is a Christmas tree, have a look at my Pinterest board;