The Johnson Center for the Arts annual Christmas Tree Extravaganza features Christmas trees decorated in a variety of different ways. Each is special and beautiful in its own way. However, it’s the Chrismon tree that symbolically tells the story of Christmas and the real reason for the season, said Vicki Pritchett, JCA executive director.

“Since the first year of decorating the main gallery of the Johnson Center with Christmas trees, Jo Harvell and her family have sponsored a Chrismon tree,” Pritchett said. “Chrismon is a contraction for ‘Christ monograms so Chrismons are ornaments made from Christian symbols. Many churches display a Chrismon tree during the Christmas season that is decorated with handmade ornaments.”

Pritchett said the Chrismons on the JCA special Christmas tree were made by children at First Baptist Church and First United Methodist Church in Troy.

“The Chrismon tree gives the JCA docents the opportunity to share the real meaning of Christmas when children visit the art center,” Pritchett said. “The children know about getting gifts and about Santa Claus but we’ve found that many of them don’t know the story of Christmas and what Christmas is all about. We have the opportunity to tell them the story of Christmas through the Chrismons on the tree.”

Pritchett said each Chrismon is a symbol that was used by early Christians to share their faith with others

“During that time, Christians were persecuted so they had to use these symbols of their faith to share the story of Jesus,” she said. “The star on the Chrismon tree represents the Star of Bethlehem that led the Three Wise Men or Three Kings to the Baby Jesus. Because they brought gifts to the newborn baby, we give gifts to those we love at Christmastime. Many children didn’t know that’s why gifts are shared at Christmas.”

The leaf on the Chrismon tree represents the evergreen tree, which symbolizes the everlasting life that is offered through Jesus Christ.

“One of the Chrismons is a torch that looks like the Olympic Torch or the torch that is held by Lady Liberty,” Pritchett said. “The torch represents Jesus who is the Light of the World. The white lights on the Chrismon tree are symbolic of Christ as the Everlasting Light.”

The manger Chrismon is symbolic of the humble beginnings of the Savior of the World and the fish represents Jesus’ call to Peter and John to follow him and he will make them fishers of men

“The children were interested in the shepherd’s staff that represents Jesus who was the Good Shepherd,” Pritchett said. “The children understand that a shepherd tends his sheep just as Jesus is there to help us through dark and difficult times.  The children were interested in the Alpha and Omega symbols and that they represent the Beginning and the End.”

At the top of the Chrismon tree is a gold crown of thorns that is representative of Jesus’ being mocked by the soldiers at the foot of the cross.

“While Jesus was dying on the cross, he was mocked but Jesus rose from the grave and is now the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords,” Pritchett said. “The crown is symbolic of Christians’ belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and in life everlasting. What a wonderful Christmas gift for all of us.”