I don’t get offended, I get somewhat amused. I love Trees, but especially the Solstice Tree! some of you might call them a Christmas tree… and that’s cool. But not what I call mine. 😉
Believe it or not; the Tree is a symbol of a Pagan traditions. That really big tree Yggdrasil in the Thor movies is actually a Norse Pagan Tradition.
Yggdrasil
Then we have the Tree of Life
Apologies, I can’t remember what culture this is from and I’ve studied there are quite a few…
And then “As Above, So Below” with the Gaia Tree
I just love love love this art- I need it 20×24 matted and framed, please and thank you
Trees are pretty awesome, we give them Carbon Dioxide, they give us Oxygen.
We plant them, help them grow and in return they give us; shade and a place to sit quietly.
They help us see visual aspects as the Wheel of the Seasons Turn.
But one of my very favorites is the Solstice Tree!
this is one from online, I love the composition and the colors.
Many Pagan cultures used to cut boughs of evergreen trees in December, move them into the home or temple, and decorate them. Modern-day Pagans and Wiccans still do. This was to recognize the Winter Solstice — the time of the year that had the shortest daylight hours, and longest night of the year. This occurs annually sometime between DEC-20 to 23; most often, it is December 21st. (which is when I celebrate!) As the solstice approached, they noticed that the days were gradually getting shorter; many feared that the sun would eventually disappear forever, and everyone would freeze in the dark. But, even though deciduous trees, bushes, and crops died or hibernated for the winter, the evergreen trees remained green. They seemed to have magical powers that enabled them to withstand the rigors of winter.
The ancient Pagan Romans decorated their “trees with bits of metal and replicas of their god, Bacchus [a fertility god]. They also placed 12 candles on the tree in honor of their sun god” Their mid-winter festival of Saturnalia started on December 17 and often lasted until a few days after the Solstice.
In Northern Europe, the ancient Germanic people tied fruit and attached candles to evergreen tree branches, in honor of their god Woden. Trees were viewed as symbolizing eternal life. This is the deity after which Wednesday (Wodensday) was named. The trees joined holly, mistletoe, the wassail bowl and the Yule log as symbols of the season. All predated Christianity.
no matter what you believe or what you celebrate I wish you a good one!