Oh, Christmas Tree. . .

You pagan! Displaying your Christmas tree! What does a Christmas tree have to do with Christ?

Maybe one of the wise men brought a Fraser fir to the manger that day. Later, it was known as a Christmas tree, so all Christians decorate their houses in memory of that moment. Probably not.
When I was doing some reading, I found that Christmas trees actually started around the area of Germany. Not by Christians either. Druids were known to put evergreen branches in their homes during the winter. It was during the 1800's when this custom was brought to the United States and it started to become a Christmas tree.

Live trees in a house are messy. They drop needles, drip sap, and constantly watering the thing is a pain. The trees also take up a lot of space in a home. They are pretty to look at, but what do they have to do with Christmas?

Just as easily as someone started the tradition of Christmas trees, I would like to end it.
What I propose is

COWBELLS!

You don't need to have a cow. Just the bell would be fine. There were likely cows near the manger scene at the time of Jesus' birth. At least more likely than a Christmas tree.

A tree costs roughly $40 and up every year. A cowbell, $2.50. You could afford to put one in your car, at your desk, in your windows.

In celebration of the birth of Jesus, you should decorate your bell. Some may use lights, some may paint them. The sound of a ringing cowbell would become the song of Christmas time. When you hear that Christmas Cowbell ringing, you would be reminded about the birth of Jesus.


I'm sure that this idea won't be popular with the tree farmers around the world, but the bell makers will be ecstatic.

It's too late for this to really take hold this year. But spread the word! We need a symbol that makes sense! The Jews have the menorah. IT MAKES SENSE! It ties in with their holiday.

Go out, buy a cowbell! Decorate it! Ring it in the streets! Celebrate the birth of Jesus! Don't buy a Christmas tree. Think of the needles you will vacuum out of your carpet. Think of the sap you will have to scrub out of your clothes. Think of the clean up and removal after Christmas. For what reason?

In our house, we will celebrate around our Christmas Cowbell. After Christmas, we will take it down from the window, and place it in it's Christmas Cowbell box.

Merry Christmas!