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Photo by Kevin Day
I‘ve wanted to do a Jesse Tree for Christmas for the past few years, but I’ve never actually done it for one main reason – I haven’t planned far enough in advance. No longer.
Think of a Jesse Tree as a sort of advent calendar, except that in addition to a countdown to Christmas, you go through a family devotion in the Bible, starting with creation and ending with Jesus’ birthday. It’s geared towards the kids, so the devotional times are short, easy, and visual.
I know not all of you are Christians, but for those of you that are, you might want to consider starting this tradition with your family. All it takes is a little planning and your crafty hat.
The Jesse Tree Process
Every evening for about four weeks until Christmas, the family reads through a devotional, talks about the lesson, and hangs the appropriate ornament on the Jesse Tree. Each lesson walks chronologically through the Bible, highlighting historical moments that lead to the birth of Jesus.
I’ve seen some Jesse Tree devotionals with 25 days, starting with December 1, and I’ve seen some that have 29 – four full weeks plus Christmas Day.
There are a few devotionals you can find online, but there aren’t a lot. This year, if I have time, I hope to write our own, probably using the Scripture outline found here. I like the idea of doing 29 days, to coincide with the full celebration of Advent.
How to Make a Jesse Tree
You can make the tree as ornate or as simple as you like. Several ideas I’ve seen are:
- a simple tabletop Christmas tree
- a tree cut out of butcher paper and taped to the wall
- a bare twig with lots of branches, planted in a pot
Because we’re traveling for Christmas this year, I think I’ll find an inexpensive tabletop tree for now – but when we celebrate Christmas at home next year, I’d like to find a beautifully simple branch and plant it in a pot.
Making the Ornaments
Photo by Karly B
Again, these can be simple or elaborate. Some ideas:
- draw them on paper, punch a hole, and run them through with some ribbon
- print them online and do the same thing
- sew them with felt
- craft them with store-bought ornaments
- you can even buy a Jesse Tree kit
I remember Shannon creating hers out of inexpensive ornaments from Hobby Lobby – I think I’ll do the same. I prefer a simpler, classic-yet-modern aesthetic that I haven’t yet found online.
So this is my Christmas project for the week – hitting up Hobby Lobby, Garden Ridge, and other type stores for ornaments, looking for an inexpensive tree, and drafting up a simple devotional for our family, gearing it towards our preschool-age children.
Do you have a Jesse Tree with your family? How do you do it? If not, what are some of your family traditions to count down to Christmas Day?
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What a great idea! I’ve been trying to think of ways to make Christmas less about the material and more about the spiritual.
I saw the Advent Conspiracy video and it really made me want to change the way we celebrate the holidays. Changing tradition is hard, though. This is a great start. Thanks!
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Are you by chance planning to share your devotional after you complete it? My daughter is only 5 months this Christmas so we’re planning to use this year to plan and hunt for on sale ornaments after Christmas, etc. so we’ll be ready for next year!
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simplemom Reply:
October 30th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Possibly – it depends on when I get it done – hopefully it’ll be done this week. To be honest, I might charge a very small amount for it, depending on how long it takes me to write it, edit it, and design it. It would be very affordable, of course.
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We haven’t had a Jesse tree in the past, but plan to do one this year. Thanks for the timely reminder!
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I’ve been introduced to the Jesse Tree through your blog posts – and I would like make this part of our Christmas tradition!
But I need to plan carefully – if I make this into too big of a project I’m likely to get overwelmed and give up!! Thanks for helping us get started on this now – well before the typical ‘Christmas rush.’
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I love this meaningful tradition and hope to start it this year with the fam!
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We have no meaningful traditions. Unless you count family time as meaningful.
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This has gotten me to want to know more. I will have to do a little reading up on it. It sounds like a great thing to start with my family.
Thank you for sharing.
Smiles!
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What a great way to celebrate the Christmas season with little ones. Thanks for sharing this idea.
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thanks for the info…we do an advent countdown but I have always wanted to add more of the Jesus story with the practice. My sister made us a set of advent ornaments last year. So I think this year we will put up our regular tree with all the regular ornaments on Nov. 30. Then starting on Dec. 1 we will read a devotion and add an advent ornament each day until Dec, 25. I look forward to seeing your devotion ideas.
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I put our Jesse Tree ornaments and devotions online in a separate blog, including selections from Children’s Bibles for very young children. I think the great thing about a Jesse Tree is that you can tailor the readings to whatever age your children are, and everyone still gets a lot out of it.
Feel free to check out our Jesse Tree blog:
http://www.ourjessetree.blogspot.com
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simplemom Reply:
October 30th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Thanks for sharing this resource you created! Well done.
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We started our Jesse Tree last year and our almost 2 year old loved it! I also made them as a gift for my nieces and nephews. I used the simple devotions found at http://www.rca.org and put them into a book and either made ornaments or scoured Hobby Lobby, World Market (for the elusive globe ornament!) and JoAnn’s. It was a lot of effort, but so well worth it to help all of us remember why we celebrate.
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We started using the Jesse Tree a couple of years ago when I first saw it on Shannon’s site. We gather willow branches and use them for the tree. It’s really beautiful. I thought you might like to see a picture of it. Scroll down a bit.
My Jesse Tree
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simplemom Reply:
October 30th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Thanks for sharing this – yours looks beautiful!
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We have done this some years; some years we don’t get it planned in time.
You might check your last paragraph- you are going to buy an expensive tree?
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simplemom Reply:
October 30th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Ooh, thanks for catching that. It’s edited!
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Love this idea. Where have I been that I’m just now hearing of this?
What if you put together the lessons and the process of making the tree and gave it to a friend with kids? Could be a great gift.
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I’ve never heard of a Jesse tree, but I definitely love the idea of walking kids from creation to the birth of Christ in preparation for Christmas.
Check out this link for an awesome kids book written in exactly this format (free ebook available): http://www.goodseed.com/products/lamb-eng-book-ebook/
Blessings!!!!
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I have never ever heard of this, but I think it sounds like an enriching and involving idea. Anything that keeps our children active and mindful is a good thing in my eyes.
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Thank for sharing. Wow all these ideas are great!
I am soooo glad I am starting my Christmas planning on time – Thanks to Simple Mom and Marcia Ramsland (simplify your holidays book).
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I have an infant right now, but this is an idea to file for later when she’s old enough to sit still for a devotional! We were just talking a couple of days ago about starting Christmas traditions with her…
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Love this idea! I’m glad you mentioned it now too while there is still time to prepare! Thanks , love it!
Blessings,
Melissa
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I absolutely LOVE this idea – thank you SO much for sharing it! I have a three year old and one year, so I think I will write my own with their sweet little selves in mind. Thank you again!!!
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Thanks for reminding me of this! I’ve always wanted to do one, and I would never have remembered until too late! This is a great tradition to begin with our young children. Thanks!
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I grew up in a “mixed” household; one Jewish parent one Presbyterian parent. The title of this post reminded me of our Hanukkah bush – LOL. It was a crazy-looking thing made out of branches covered with tin foil. But we loved it . . . a fond memory.
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Yes, I second the request to share your devotional (for a price!!) with us if you’d like. I think this is a great idea to reinforce the big picture of God’s love for us in little hearts (and big ones). Thanks!
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I use a similar idea for family devotionals during the month of December–each day we read a scripture that prophecies of the birth of Christ. The scripture are printed out on gift tags and decorated with a few simple holiday scriptures and a ribbon attached. Then we hang the tags up as we go. It is really fulfilling to see how many prophecies of the Savior’s birth there are throughout the scriptures.
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Simple Mom- thanks for this great idea. I first read about it on your 12 weeks to Christmas blog and got started right away. I have about 10 friends who are doing this as well and I’m hoping to share this idea with our church of 10,000! We are starting a series called “Simple Christmas” next week and it’s focused on the ideas of Worship More, Spend Less, Give More. This idea fits perfectly.
My husband is unemployed right now and we were only going to do gifts for the kids, but now I’m making Jesse Trees for each of our families. I really enjoy reading your blog. I’ve adapted your “Daily Docket” into my own “Geek Week” and have finally made myself a doable cleaning schedule. Many thanks to you for the motivation to do great things for my family.
Erin’s last blog post…I don’t have the time/money to do that.
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I lived with my “spiritual mom” and her family did a Jesse Tree tradition. Once, shortly before I moved out, she took the time to lend me her paper ornaments and we made my own copy for me to take. Now, I use the ornaments on my live ficus tree (it’s an eco-friendly christmas tree at Christmas time) and we keep them up til Easter, since they’re appropriate for both holidays. (besides, they’re pretty, so I like looking at them!) I can’t wait til my boys are old enough to learn their meaning.
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We made the Jesse tree with my daughter last year. We decided to do all the ornaments out of felt and just cut them into the symbol/picture for each lesson. No sewing, no sweat. And very cheap too. Someday I hope to remake the ornaments out of something like self-hardening clay and do it as a family. But for my two year old daughter, felt is perfect.
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I’ve done an Advent calendar before, but this Jesse Tree project sounds wonderful! Thank you!
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I first heard about the Jesse Tree last year when it was too late to do anything about. But Im on it this year! Sort of. Im having a craft night with some girlfriends next weekend and we are making advent trees. The tree is a felt wall hanging with little pockets underneath for ornament storage. We are going to make the ornaments out of sculpey or felt. I am planning on doing my tree/ornaments for our Jesse Tree. Im going to try and have the devotionals part printed out (thanks to everyone else for sharing their ideas too) and have those available on craft night as well.
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simplemom Reply:
October 31st, 2008 at 12:15 am
I’d love to see your final result. Please post pictures, if you’re able!
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I bought a book years ago which is now out of print. It gave holiday histories on many holidays and projects to do for each one. She wrote it in one book then wrote in in several different individual books of one holiday each. Christmas has a beautiful felt banner you make and add a piece each devotional. It includes beautiful devotionals, going through the history of Christ — even before His life. I love it!
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I think this is a beautiful idea. My son is grown and gone so it is too late for me to implement it but I have e-mailed your article to my sister, who has two young children. Maybe I can use it in the future for grandchildren!
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My personal opinion is that if you use a regular Christmas tree you’re taking something that has a pagan background and turning it into something that every time your children look at it they will see a totally different meaning and different idea than just a tree where the presents go. If the Jesse tree is all they grow up with, then every time they look at a Christmas tree anywhere, they’ll think of the Jesse tree and the devotionals you’ve been reading and it will be reinforced. If you do a regular branch, it’s very nice but it has no reinforcement outside of home. Anyway, that’s just my own idea. I think it’s a wonderful idea. When I first read of it this year through your site I was so excited. But alas and alack I have no children yet, so I’ll have to wait a year or two to do anything really fun.
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I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea! My son will be 14 months this Christmas and it is NEVER too early to instill in our children that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season!” We so easily get caught up in the gifts and parties, forgeting why this time of year is so special! Thanks for yet another fabulous tip – keep ‘em coming!
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Thanks for explaining what it is, this is actually the first year I have ever heard of one. Jack is 13 months old so we might wait another year or so.
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our new Advent tradition is an advent calendar which my mom purchased for us last year. i haven’t actually seen it yet – it should arrive around the start of December along with my parents for a visit! anyway, it is a calendar that, for each day, has a part of the traditional stable scene. for now, we plan to use that with scripture each night after dinner.
i love the Jesse Tree idea, and i think when our son is a little older we may start doing that with him.
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just found your blog. i have never heard of the jesse tree concept, what a great idea to bring more meaning to the holidays.
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Although we’re not Christian, we still celebrate Christmas because our families do. I like the idea of a Jesse Tree, but would love to change the idea from a celebration of Christ to a celebration of what my family and those we know and love can, and have been, doing to make the world a better place. I’m thinking of finding lessons of charity, forgiveness, sharing, etc. from our community and turning each into a short lesson (similar to a devotion but without the spiritual angle) that are easy for my little ones to understand… the baby won’t get it yet, but I think it’s a wonderful way to introduce giving, sharing with those less fortunate, etc. to my four-year-old. After reading your post, I’m excited to get started on my own non-Christian version of a Jesse Tree today!
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I agree it is so important to know the “true meaning” of christmas. Google “origins of christmas” you might be surprise to find a pagan origin is really at the bottom of this.
Past years many people are realizing that christmas is not and has not do have anything to do with Jesus’ birthday. So a question is why do people do this to a person who gave his life for us?
I know it isnt a popular opinion and do not want to offend anyone and I am sorry if I have.
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We started our Jesse tree tradition last year. When my dear friend Bethany invited our bible study group to participate in making a Jesse tree. There were 10 of us who participated. Since you need 25 ornaments we each made 2 or 3 different ornaments and then we made 10 of that ornament. For example I made the globe, Jacob’s latter, doorframe w/ blood (for the passover), and a scallop shell (for John the Baptist). It was so special to have handmade ornaments made by people we know. It was a lot cheaper buying material to make 10 of 1 thing rather than purchasing 25 different ornaments. I think I spent a grand total of $15 dollars. Another idea some of the ladies who had older children had was to give a Jesse tree as a wedding present!
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simplemom Reply:
November 1st, 2008 at 4:26 am
That’s a great idea! I love it.
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Are you still looking for pictures of Jesse Trees?
Here is the handmade one we use with our devotions:
http://chezouiz.blogspot.com/2006/12/advent-crafts-part-1.html
And these are the handmade ornaments on our tree:
http://chezouiz.blogspot.com/2006/12/jesse-tree-update.html
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There are a few free downloadable resources for Jesse Tree devotions that I’ve found as part of my attempt to compile Advent Resources for a team blog I am part of. I don’t have children myself, so can’t say I’ve personally used any of these, but several look quite good. Here are the links:
These first two links are from the Reformed Church in America and are fairly simple, geared for children, and include a picture with each devotional. (There are also downloadable Jesse Tree Ornament patterns at the same site)
http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?pid=1628
and the same material in SPANISH:
http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?pid=4803
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Much more detailed Jesse Tree devotionals geared for older kids, or even adults:
http://www.jesse-trees.com/parent/parent-devotions.html
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A home-schooling group has started putting together devotions as part of a Jesse Tree ornament exchange. The devotionals for Days 1 – 15 are here:
http://festalcelebrations.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/jesse_tree_readings_1st_15mellel.pdf
You can find all these links and more at a compilation I’ve put together of Jesse Tree resources. I would really welcome feedback as to what you all find helpful, or if there are other resources I’ve missed.
http://anglicanprayer.wordpress.com/2008/11/13/advent-links-resources-all-about-jesse-trees/
A blessed Advent to you all.
Karen B., Lent & Beyond blog
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A well-written post, as always. I featured it in today’s Simple Makes post, “Best Advent Links: Preparing for Christmas.” See it at http://www.simplemakes.com/2008/12/best-advent-links-preparing-for.html. Thanks!
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