Since1931 there’s been a Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center in New York City. It started when some workers pooled their money and decorated a tree with simple home decorations. Last year’s tree had 50,000 LED lights.

People line up to see it every year. The New York Times said when people were locked in during the pandemic they were “seeking comfort in the conifers.” They wanted live trees for the holidays and busily bought them up in the city.

When the Laurentine Glacier receded from our land here in Queens, NY, about 12,000 years ago, the first trees to grow were the evergreens. So, are evergreens a sign of hope? Is that why we treasure them?  Certainly Christians from northern Europe saw them that way when they gave us the Christmas Tree centuries ago. The tree is a sign of Christ our hope, a sign of life.

We have a small tree in our Mary Garden on our porch. (Above) Four small candles are lit before our tree, the better to see the tree’s beautiful deep green branches. We don’t want to lose sight of them. We also have plenty of evergreens just outside our window. All signs that life can go on in the cold.

Bless the tree in your house for the season. Here’s a blessing prayer.