What's a Chrismon?

Have you taken a moment to look at the Chrismon Tree in Pioneer Hall? The tree is decorated each year with ornaments called Chrismons that were created by Women’s Fellowship in 1996. The idea of a Chrismon tree originated in 1957 at Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville. Virginia. In fact. Ascension Lutheran Church holds the copyright on the word “Chrismon.” The word is a combination of the words “Christ” and “monogram.” Thus, a Chrismon is a “monogram of Christ."

The ornaments use only the colors of white a gold and each is a Christian symbol. 

• The Butterfly is a symbol of eternal life.
• The Dove is a symbol of creation or of the Holy Spirit.
• The Sheaf of Wheat is a symbol of the harvest or of the Eucharist/Communion.
• The Star of David is a reminder that Jesus was a Jew and a descendant of King David.
• The Alpha & Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, symbolizing of Christ as the beginning and end of all things.
• The Chalice is a symbol of Christ’s agony in Gethsemane or of Communion.
• The Bread  is a symbol of Christ the Bread of Life or of Communion.
• The Fish is one of the earliest Christian symbols, a symbol of Christ as savior.
• The Manger is a symbol of Christ’s birth.
• The Cross is a reminder of Jesus's death and resurrection.
• The Chi-Rho looks like a 'P' with an 'X' on top of it. These two letters are the first two letters of the Greek word 'Christos' which means Christ.
• The Five Pointed Star represents the five wounds of Jesus on the cross.
• The Nativity Star is the symbol of the Star of Bethlehem or Epiphany, when the Magi visited Jesus.
• The Crown is the symbol that Christ is ruler over heaven and earth.
• The Shepherd's Crook or Staff remembers that Jesus sometimes called himself a shepherd. It can also represent the shepherds who were the first people told about the birth of Jesus.
• The Trefoil Both of these symbols represent the Christian 'Trinity' of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 
• The Candle represents that Christians believe Jesus in the Light of the World.
• The Shell is a symbol for baptism.
• The Heart is a symbol of love and reminds us that God is love.
• The Key of David is mentioned in Revelation 3 and Isaiah 22. Jesus is said to hold the Key of David, meaning he is the heir of David's throne. 

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