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Jenn Sal
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| Posted: Dec 16 2008 at 2:50pm | IP Logged
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I'm confused about the symbols for the Jesse Tree. I'm finding different symbols all over the Internet. I have the book, The Jesse Tree, by Geraldine McCaughrean. I then printed out some paper ornaments from...? I can't remember right now, but it was a Catholic web-site and the symbols were different from the book. I then loooked further and checked out EWTN, and other sites and not only are the symbols different, but so are some of the events and people. Can someone explain this to me? 
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Jennifer, Texas
Wife to Mark, Mom to Cora 13,Kade 10, Sarah in Heaven 12/05, Colette 7, Corin 5, & Kieran 2
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CatholicMommy
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I'm not sure I can explain it well, myself, but I had this same problem when I was planning a project for over 100 people - so I REALLY had to get it right.
At first, I thought perhaps it was a Protestant/Catholic thing, but all the differences within the Catholic sources proved that one wrong...
The only thing I came up with (that makes the most sense) is that the Jesse Tree is supposed to be symbolic of all those people and events that led up to the birth of Jesus - there is SO much in His geneaology and the history of salvation, that one could really (it would seem) pick and choose the events to remember. What I finally decided on, I think we will change next year and focus on some slightly different highlights....
So, not sure if that helps, but know that you are in the same boat of confusion!!!
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LeeAnn
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There is no one set-in-stone list of symbols, but they all usually start with Creation, Adam and Eve and then continue through the patriarchs and from there on it varies. But think of it this way, the number of days in Advent also varies, so the Jesse Tree is as flexible as needed. One year you can include Judith and Jonah and another time not. One year you might choose to emphasize the prophets and another year you might choose to focus of Jesus' more literal ancestry.
We are using the Catholic Culture website's symbols, but also reading Geraldine McCaughrean's "The Jesse Tree" book. The two don't exactly line up but with a little explanation the kids don't mind. Since I have only done printed "ornaments" to paste onto a paper tree, I am not left with extra ornaments that go unused because of a shorter Advent season. Although, I know some families that throw them all up there (if they've made actual Xmas tree style ornaments) regardless just because they like to see them all. :)
BTW, I made my own symbols using clip art from Microsoft Word--they have quite a selection! The O Antiphons (starting tomorrow) I got from the Catholic Culture website also.
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ALmom
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We've never read any books on the Jesse tree ornaments, but we do Jesse tree ornaments every year. Some years we do more reading and creating, other years we recall and re-use our old ornaments. We use the paper picture lists as a jumping off point for ideas (and with some that have direct symbolic connections, we discuss like the rod of Jesse). We try to highlight different things each year - or go deeper on some. We've carved a dove out of soap, made Jacob's ladder with popsicle sticks and toothpicks - and for Creation we've used all those multitude of animals my grandmother made for us out of pom poms. In the end our tree tells a story.
It has become a family tradition - and my more artistic natured children like to hide the "uglier" Jesse ornaments (we have some construction paper drawings from when the olders were real young) low and in the back when we go to decorate Christmas Eve. I have special attachments to some and always end up moving some of those back to the front where I can see them and reflect and ponder - until they disappear again and we go back and forth in friendliness and fun.
Oh, we do not use an actual Jesse tree but bring in our Christmas tree ( a fake one) Instead of decorating it at once, we begin with the Jesse ornaments so our tree starts as the Jesse tree and blossoms into the Christmas tree (lights, tensil and some of the very special ornaments like the ones with the handpainted Nativity do not go on the tree until Christmas Eve). We keep the tree up through Epiphany.
This year one son wanted a real Christmas tree, so our fake tree has the Jesse ornaments and our real tree is sitting on the porch waiting. I'm not sure what we'll do on Christmas Eve but somehow both trees will be decorated. Hopefully it will be meaningful to us and not too cluttered  .
Have fun with it! We haven't managed to make an actual O Antiphon house this year so we have O Antiphon ornaments that we made with construction paper (black and white using basic shapes and the writing with white out). These will each go on the Jesse tree on the appropriate day. Rule - cannot decorate the Christmas tree till we have recalled all of Salvation history. Admittedly, some years we do a bit more summarizing than other years when we read from the Bible itself. Have fun, learn and don't stress about doing it just right.
Janet
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Matilda
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This is how it was explained to me. Since it is a private devotion it can be changed to suit your particular needs. It is an historical travel through the Old Testament (and the New in so far as it takes us to the Nativity) and can be designed to suit any particular "theme" you would like. Just like any study of history, your can shift your focus based on what you'd like to study. You can study WWII from the European perspective or from the American perspective and still be "studying" the same period.
You could focus your Jesse Tree study on the ancestors of Jesus only or you could focus on the instances of Jesus prefigured in the Old Testament and then realized in the New. The later would place a heavy significance on the prophets but they might not be included in the first example. I hope that helps. I remember being seriously confused by it especially since it was not a devotion I grew up with. Husband introduced me to it after we were married and it took me a while to really embrace it.
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Charlotte (Matilda)
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with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
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JennGM
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Jennifer,
Unlike the "O" Antiphons, there is no set Jesse Tree line-up. It's interesting to read the origin of this idea, which is from artistic renditions of the Geneology of Christ. MaryM had a Jesse Tree Art Study which has some great links to peruse.
We've also had some good discussions in the past, listed in this Jesse Tree thread. I really, really like Victoria's suggestions for the Jesse Tree. Be sure to click and read that. Is Jesse Tree only a Catholic tradition? No, but instead of just including the Biblical readings, having an explanation (which she provided from the Catechism of the Catholic Church) of the fulfilment of these characters through the eyes of the Teaching of the Church really makes the Jesse Tree Catholic in flavor.
The sky is the limit, really, for your own Jesse Tree. If you do one a day for all of Advent, you still aren't even covering the genealogy of Christ. So really, you decide what you want on your tree, which figures or symbols you want your children to learn. And also you can think that nothing is set in stone, so rotation could happen for some ornaments.
I'm probably going to muddy the waters more, but I'm sharing a few lists or links of possible Jesse Tree ornaments, many from Catholic sources.
I like to choose figures of Christ, prominent OT figures in the Salvation History, and also types or symbols of Christ. My family used symbols listed here on Catholic Culture from The Twelve Days of Christmas Kit. There are only 19 because on the 17th it moves to the O Antiphon Tower. This list is entirely different than most, as it isn't "people" but symbols. It seems Catherine Fournier also picked up on this.
Sister Esther expanded a bit on this tradition and called it the Advent Tree, which probably covers more of what I like.
There are various choices for the Jesse Tree, and these were only a few I found:
Catholic Culture's Jesse Tree
A Jesse Tree Kit, A by Betsy Walter
Mary Reed Newland's suggestions
I really like Women for Faith and Family's suggested list for the Jesse Tree in their Sourcebook. It incorporates both aspects.
Domestic Church Jesse Tree
NCR Jesse Tree Craft Swap!
We're like snowflakes, no two alike, so the same with our traditions. Our Advent Wreaths, our Jesse Trees, our creche scenes, our decorations--they all start off with similar outlines, but each has a personal stamp of their own. Don't be afraid to pick and choose -- there's no wrong and right way, just what works for your family!
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Jenn Sal
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| Posted: Dec 17 2008 at 6:21pm | IP Logged
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Thank you sooo much for helping me understand this more clearly, everyone! I love how I can come here and not be totally ashamed that I don't understand something that I feel I should have known my whole life!
I was able to explain this to my children today and my daughter is very excited at how it can be different every year! She can take off with this! This has turned out to be more of a gift for our Advent than I ever imagined it could!
Jennifer,I haven't been able to read all the links, yet. I want to take my time so I can understand and get good ideas. Thank you for all the info! I have a horrible time searching on this board...don't know why!
God Bless!
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Jennifer, Texas
Wife to Mark, Mom to Cora 13,Kade 10, Sarah in Heaven 12/05, Colette 7, Corin 5, & Kieran 2
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SimplyMom
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We are working our way into our first Jesse tree I really am greatful for all these links. Thank you all so much.
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Darcee
SimplyMom from Simply Catholic
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Jesse Tree Symbols Confusion
