Discover the Jesse Tree, a hidden gem of Advent traditions
Discover the Jesse Tree, a hidden gem of Advent traditions
Although some kids grow up with the Jesse Tree, I was an adult when I first came across one. In truth, I discovered it accidentally while looking into Advent activities for my class. I was instantly captivated and questioned why this tradition had never been familiar to me before.
Lacking a manual or guidelines, I had to navigate through the process independently. However, energized like someone in her twenties, I crafted a collection of ornaments over a weekend using various scraps from my mother-in-law’s sewing supplies. That December, I recounted a Bible story from memory each morning during “circle time,” and my students alternated in decorating our classroom Christmas tree with my handmade ornaments.
What is the Jesse Tree?
Simply put, the Jesse Tree is the family tree of Jesus. It follows the ancestry of Christ back to Adam and Eve. In other terms, the Jesse Tree links the Old Testament with the New. It illustrates to us (and to our offspring) that God has been orchestrating since the fall of Adam and Eve to reconcile us to him through the Incarnation of his Son, Jesus.
The Jesse Tree merges visual artistry with narrative components similar to other family trees. Jesse Trees originated during the Middle Ages, a period when the majority of individuals could not read and the advent of the printing press had yet to distribute Bibles widely to the Catholic congregations. Religious beliefs were predominantly communicated through oral tradition. Via paintings, stained glass displays, and sculptures, theologians and artists collaborated to impart the narrative of salvation history to men and women of all ages through the Jesse Tree. The representations of individuals and the associated symbols played a crucial role in conveying the Biblical narratives by correlating images with the text. The Jesse Tree window located in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres in Chartres, France is an especially renowned and grand illustration, although many Jesse Trees were humbler in size to match the setting of a simple parish church.
Using paintings, stained glass panels, and sculptures, theologians and artists collaborated to educate individuals of all ages about the narrative of salvation history through the Jesse Tree.
The Jesse Tree derives its name from the father of King David, a rather lesser-known character of the Old Testament who rose to significance with the prophecy of Isaiah, which declares that “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit” (Is 11:1). The passage alludes to the arrival of the Messiah stemming from the lineage of King David. Apart from this subtle mention, our understanding of Jesse as a historical character primarily derives from Jewish tradition, which offers significantly more insights than those presented in the Bible.
Tradition informs us that Jesse was a highly regarded individual whose profound faith was acknowledged throughout his life. His connection with the prophet Samuel — the individual who would designate David as king — highlights his prominence in the community. Nevertheless, even Jesse had further lessons to grasp. He did not comprehend Samuel’s anointing of his youngest son, overlooking the fact that God does not evaluate by external looks but instead “sees the heart.”1 Sam 16:7). His reference as the root of Christ’s lineage serves as a reminder to us today that the devout can still explore further.
How does it work?
As time passed, it established a custom to reflect on the family of Christ each Advent as a means of illustrating God’s purposefulness in preparing for the Incarnation and assisting us, his followers, in readying our hearts for the Christmas festivities. The contemporary Jesse Tree is intended for use at home (or in school) throughout December. Each day, a singular narrative is shared from salvation history, and an ornament (featuring the symbol for that individual or event) is hung on either the Christmas tree or a unique, separate “Jesse Tree” (which typically has bare branches that are gradually decorated during the month).
Jesse Trees today incorporate numerous elements from the traditional Jesse Trees. They blend visual components (such as ornaments and images in books) with oral narratives. Nonetheless, these are now focused on educating children rather than adults, who typically have the text of a book read aloud to them. After gaining popularity again in the past ten years, Jesse Tree books and ornament sets have made it convenient and straightforward for families to use them at home.
| The Great O Antiphons |
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| In the last days of Advent, the Church beckons us to make room for our Savior through the recitation of the “O Antiphons.” These prayers find their home in vespers from Dec. 17 to Dec. 23. By not only reciting them but also by meditating on the particular ray of Christ’s glory to which each prayer introduces us, we are meant to widen our hearts, stretch our imaginations and open our souls to the magnificent Redeemer who comes to us in the humility of a child. The prayers, often recited in Latin, are composed as follows:
December 17 December 18 December 19 December 20 December 21 December 22 December 23 — Leonard J. DeLorenzo |
What is the reason for the numerous variations?
Fortunately, numerous variations of the Jesse Tree are available today. The majority are presented as books (although Catholic artist and designer Jen Frost has a stunning Jesse Tree quilt pattern and incorporates traditional components and reflections) along with matching decorations. However, despite the fact that the majority utilize the same material, each Jesse Tree is unique.
Numerous factors contribute to the diversity. To begin with, the majority of Jesse Trees depend in some manner on the lineage of Christ located at the start of the Gospel of Matthew. It is an extensive genealogy comprising three groups of 14 names each. Moreover, similar to the artwork and stained glass creations of earlier centuries depending on the available space for the artist, the Jesse Tree custom of the present day is limited by time. There are 24 days in December leading up to Christmas, yet there are more than 24 names available to select from!
There are numerous methods to pursue the aim of narrating the tale of salvation history. Certain Jesse Tree volumes emphasize the prophecies that foretold Christ’s arrival to the Israelites rather than focusing on the genealogy. These Jesse Trees feature individuals such as Samuel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah, who are significant figures but not directly descended from Jesus.
Certain Jesse Trees concentrate on occurrences — mankind’s fall, Noah’s flood, and the tower of Babel. These texts are organized to narrate the significant tales of biblical history and their impact on the broader populace. They typically show less interest in the individual characters.
Other Jesse Trees do concentrate on the individuals from the genealogy of Matthew, yet they aim to narrate the complete story of each person, striving to summarize a lifetime in just a few brief paragraphs.
After developing a deep affection for the tradition as a young woman, I realized it was something I wished to weave into my family’s Advent. However, I could not locate a pre-existing version that suited our needs. None of the previously suggested methods for engaging with the Jesse Tree are incorrect; they simply did not connect with my children in the way that my storytelling did in the classroom. With the support of my editor, I started penning my book, “The Jesse Tree for Families,” with a particular goal envisioned.
I came to understand that the solution was straightforward by reflecting on what had caught my students’ interest and what would capture my own children’s engagement. Nearly all aspects of their lives, as well as what made many of the early Jesse Trees in medieval periods fascinating, revolve around people and connections. Kids are inherently relational, their world is limited and mainly centered around family. To involve children effectively, I recognized the necessity to return to the origins and focus the narration of salvation history on the individuals and the families involved in every story.
In my book, the meditations from Dec. 1 through Dec. 16 center around an individual from Jesus’ family, approached by examining a singular moment in their life. I selected instances that were crucial for that individual, transformative experiences where they met God or embarked on the journey God intended for them. The daily reflections serve as a glimpse, an insight into their character and the way God influenced their existence. I aimed for my kids to experience the sensation of meeting someone new, as if they were becoming acquainted with a friend.
I decided to conclude December with the O Antiphons, another wonderful Catholic Advent custom, designed to assist families in deepening their understanding of the Church’s life and prayers. The O Antiphons represent titles of Jesus that can be located in the book of Isaiah. They have been a part of the Church since the eighth century and are customarily included in Mary’s Magnificat during Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours. Each title conveys information about the identity of Jesus and his connection to us. Concluding the Jesse Tree with the O Antiphons shifts the emphasis to Christ while continuing to emphasize the broader theme of relationships and interactions.
The significance of the Jesse Tree
There are numerous Advent customs within the Catholic Church, but personally, the Jesse Tree stands out as one of the most meaningful. I have discovered that it yields rewards consistently, year after year. With each passing year I engage with the Jesse Tree, my admiration and gratitude for this wonderful practice only deepens. There are countless motivations to incorporate a Jesse Tree into your family traditions, regardless of whether you have young children living with you or not.
If you have children, the tangible aspects of observing the illustrations (in my own publication, every meditation features a full-page depiction of the individual, further highlighting their character) and the representations on the ornaments, alongside the ritual of placing that ornament on the tree each day, anchor them in the narratives. Maria Montessori, who was a Catholic herself, remarked, “What the hand does, the mind remembers.” A significant portion of her educational philosophy is based on the comprehension that kids must transition from the tangible to the conceptual in their journey of assimilating knowledge. Utilizing items that children can see, touch, and manipulate enhances the reality of the subject matter.
For us adults — along with older kids and teenagers — the Jesse Tree presents a chance to revisit what may be familiar stories with fresh understanding. Even though we might have encountered them countless times before, new revelations are consistently accessible to us because, as the living Word of God, the Bible is designed to resonate with our hearts in the present moment. I can certainly attest to that truth personally. During the writing process, I was profoundly moved by many elements. In particular, I observed Moses from a different angle, feeling his struggle with self-doubt. While previously, I had focused mainly on his involvement in the plagues that afflicted Egypt, this time, I became aware of how often he declined God’s call, expressing that he wasn’t adequate. I understood how significantly his stutter must have impacted him, and how completely disconnected he had been from those he was destined to guide. In the story of Moses, I faced my emotions of self-doubt and the imposter syndrome that frequently shadows my path.
Even if we have gone through them countless times in the past, fresh revelations are consistently accessible to us, for the Bible, as the living Word of God, is intended to resonate with our hearts in the present day.
The individuals featured in Jesus’ genealogy aren’t always who we might anticipate, not even those we believe we know intimately. Certain characters included are prominent figures from the Old Testament. Others are easier to miss. Most of us would expect that the ancestry of the Messiah would be populated with kings, affluent individuals, the influential, and those with clear royal or untarnished bloodlines. Instead, again and again, we encounter outsiders, men and women who didn’t entirely conform — the marginalized, the nonconformist, the somewhat dishonest — all of whom play a part in the narrative of salvation. For me, the chance to revisit the Jesse Tree each Advent provides a moment to explore their stories more deeply and consequently my own. I have discovered that the more familiar I become with the members of Jesus’ family, however imperfect they may be, the more receptive I am to the notion that God could be aiming to work within my own imperfect life, which he undoubtedly is.
| Why Rituals are Important |
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 “Though on the surface they may appear to be similar, routines and rituals arise out of different attitudes and motivations. Routines are often described as those rote activities that we do at the same time in the same way each day. Like routines, rituals are also activities done in the same way time and again, but each word and action is endowed with special meaning and purpose. “The Catholic Church is great at rituals. In a world that is constantly changing, the steadfastness of the Church allows us the comfort of knowing what to expect. I know that during Advent, my pastor will be decked out in purple (except for Gaudete Sunday, when he might wear rose). I can walk into Mass anywhere in the world and recognize the patterns of the words and actions of the priest and congregation in a way that allows me to enter into prayer no matter the language. “Rituals are important to children because this soothing consistency helps them to internalize information more easily. When children do not have to wonder or worry about what comes next, they are able to focus more deeply on content. My husband and I have found that establishing rituals has been crucial to helping faith stick with our kids.” Go deeper this Advent season by praying with your copy of “The Jesse Tree for Families” (OSV, $24.95) by Colleen Pressprich and illustrated by Amy Heyse. Buy it at osvcatholicbookstore.com. |
In reflecting on and exploring these figures collectively, the Jesse Tree provides family members with a chance to feel more at ease in discussing their personal faith and prayer experiences with those they cherish. As we engage with these individuals through their narratives, we can be influenced by various elements of their journeys. By sharing those perspectives (in my own book, this is aided by straightforward conversation prompts to initiate dialogue), parents can better comprehend what their children are learning, what they are praying for, or what challenges they may be facing. Couples will discover opportunities to converse about significant issues within their relationship. Kids will have the opportunity to view their parents in fresh ways — as individuals with identities as children of God and unique spiritual journeys, distinct from merely being Mom and Dad.
A dedication for households
While I was creating my Jesse Tree, I aimed to simplify the process for families. In my upbringing, my family identified as culturally Catholic, and our Christmas festivities — although festive — were predominantly secular and never embraced Advent. Aware that my initial experience with this practice didn’t occur until I was an adult and recognizing that many parents, similar to myself, didn’t grow up in Catholic environments and may feel hesitant about conveying to their children what is completely unfamiliar to them, I included in my book a segment titled “Notes for Parents.” It provides background information, context, and even guidance on tackling some of the more intricate subjects in the lives of those featured. The aim is to make the process as manageable as possible.
I’m not hesitant to confess that I adore the Jesse Tree tradition because it is practical for my hectic family to achieve.
This leads me to my final point regarding my fondness for the Jesse Tree — it’s straightforward. I’m not embarrassed to say that I cherish the Jesse Tree custom because it is practical for my hectic family to manage. I don’t intend to suggest that the tradition is superficial or lacking in substance. Each of the brief reflections contains significant depth. However, it is a simple activity that doesn’t (at least now that the book is completed) necessitate extensive planning and organization on my part, which implies that if a day spirals out of control (a very real possibility with five children), we will still have engaged in the season.
December is a hectic time for my family, just as I realize it is for numerous others. Advent is a vital time in the life of the Church, and I desire for my children to encounter that within our home. Establishing the Jesse Tree as our family tradition provides my husband and me with a daily connection to our kids. It guarantees that we ready their hearts to welcome the savior when Christmas arrives.
