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The Jesse tree is a symbolic way of presenting the story of God's love and action in the lives of his people throughout the centruries. The names comes from Scripture:
"But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
and from his roots a bud shall blossom" (Isaiah 11:1).
The Jesse Tree is a way to connect the season of Advent to God's faithfulness to his people for over four thousand years. The Jesse Tree is like a family tree that shows Jesus' ancestry. Traditionally a different symbolic ornament is placed on the Jesse Tree for each of the days of Advent. There is also one for Christmas Day. The Jesse Tree itself can be made from paper, cloth, branches or a tabletop Christmas tree.JESSE TREE SCRIPTURES
(The symbols listed are only suggestions)December 1 Creation: Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-4 Symbols: sun, moon, stars, animals, earthDecember 2 Adam and Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24 Symbols: tree, man, womanDecember 3 Fall of Man: Gen. 3:1-7 and 23-24 Symbols: tree, serpent, apple with biteDecember 4 Noah: Gen. 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22 Symbols: ark, animals, dove, rainbowDecember 5 Abraham: Gen. 12:1-3 Symbols: torch, sword, mountainDecember 6 Isaac: Gen. 22:1-14 Symbols: bundle of wood, altar, ram in bushDecember 7 Jacob: Gen. 25:1-34; 28:10-15 Symbols: kettle, ladderDecember 8 Joseph: Gen. 37:23-28; 45:3-15 Symbols: bucket, well, silver coins, tunicDecember 9 Moses: Ex. 2:1-10 Symbols: baby in basket, river and rushesDecember 10 Samuel: 1 Sam. 3:1-18 Symbols: lamp, templeDecember 11 Jesse: 1 Sam. 16:1-13 Symbols: crimson robe, shepherd's staffDecember 12 David: 1 Sam. 17:12-51 Symbols: slingshot, 6-pointed starDecember 13 Solomon: 1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28 Symbols: scales of justice, temple, two babies and swordDecember 14 Joseph: Matt. 1:18-25 Symbols: hammer, saw, chisel, angleDecember 15 Mary: Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38 Symbols: lily, crown of stars, pierced heartDecember 16 John the Baptist: Mark 1:1-8 Symbols: shell with water, river
On December 17, the Church begins to intensify the preparation for Christmas with the use of the "O" Antiphons during the Liturgy of the Hours. The symbols for the Jesse Tree from December 17 to 23 are based on the "O" Antiphons.
December 17 Jesus is Wisdom: Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus in old Bibles) 24:2; Wisdom 8:1 Symbols: oil lamp, open bookDecember 18 Jesus is Lord: Ex. 3:2; 20:1 Symbols: burning bush, stone tabletsDecember 19 Jesus is Flower of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1-3 Symbols: flower, plant with flowerDecember 20 Jesus is Key of David: Isaiah 22:22 Symbols: key, broken chainsDecember 21 Jesus is the Radiant Dawn: Psalm 19:6-7 (in older Bibles this will be Psalm 18) Symbols: sun rising or high in skyDecember 22 Jesus is King of the Gentiles: Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20 Symbols: crown, scepterDecember 23 Jesus is Emmanuel: Isaiah 7:14; 33:22 Symbols: tablets of stone, chalice and hostDecember 24 Jesus is Light of the World: John 1:1-14 Symbols: candle, flame, sun