The Chrismon Tree

The first Chrismon Tree was decorated in 1957 by Mrs. Frances Spencer for her church, Ascension Lutheran Church, in Danville, Virginia. Mrs. Spencer offered to decorate a tree for her church that year, but considered the traditionally decorated tree to be too secular to have a place in the church.

While researching a way to honor Christ, Mrs. Spencer came across drawings of designs called Chrismons. “Chrismons” is a combination of the words “Christ” and “Monogram”. A Chrismon is a monogram of Christ. The drawings she discovered were copies of Chrismons designed and carved or drawn by some of the earliest Christians. Early Christians used them to identify themselves to one another, to designate meeting places of the church, and sometimes, to show unbelievers where they stood. Even more important, these symbols of the early church served to transmit the faith and beliefs of the artist-teacher to the viewer. Thus, the inspiration was shared and passed on. Mrs. Spencer had been making decorations for her own Christmas tree for years, so she used her skills to fashion ornaments for her church’s tree in the shapes of Chrismons.

Chrismons are made in combinations of white and gold. White, the liturgical color for Christmas, symbolizes the Lord’s purity and perfection, and gold symbolizes His majesty and glory. In order to preserve the heritage of Mrs. Spencer’s understanding of the nature of Chrismons, they should not be bought or sold. They should only be made by hand and given as gifts. All of the Chrismons for our trees and wreathes were made or decorated by Westminster members.