by Sandra Merville Hart
I learned about the holiday tradition of Jesse Trees while digging into the history of Advent candles and wreaths. I had heard of the trees, yet had never seen one.
A Jesse Tree is an Advent tree. It’s another way to celebrate the birth of Christ in the days leading up to Christmas. This tradition has been celebrated at least since the Middle Ages.
The name for this tree comes from Isaiah 11:1 (NIV): A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
Jesse is the father of King David, who is in the lineage of Jesus found in the first chapter of Matthew.
There are only 25 ornaments on the tree, so it’s usually a small tree. It can be an evergreen or one with barren branches. The ornaments are often handmade to signify a certain person or event in the Bible before Jesus’ birth.
In fact, special ornaments are selected because they represent a Biblical event or a person from the lineage of Jesus. A Biblical character who is not in the direct line of Jesus but who played a significant role in the Old Testament—such as prophets who foretold the coming of Jesus—might have an ornament.
Because it may be hard to find ready-made ornaments to fit the day’s theme, some will be handmade. For instance, an apple symbolizes the first sin with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. A rainbow symbolizes The Flood and Noah’s Ark. King David can be represented by a crown, a harp, or a shepherd’s crook. A hammer represents the carpenter Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus.
Matthew lists 42 generations, beginning with Abraham and ending with Jesus. Chapter 3 of Luke begins with Jesus and goes backward to Adam, so there are plenty of possibilities if one’s Jesse Tree highlights people from the genealogies.
Whether one highlights Biblical events, people from the lineage of Jesus, prophets or other Old Testament characters not in a direct line, or a combination of them, each Jesse Tree will be unique and personal.
Beginning December 1st, a new ornament is placed on the tree while a scripture or a brief explanation of the person’s or event’s role in God’s plan of salvation is read. Each successive day, a new ornament is added until December 25th.
A Jesse Tree may also be a banner or a poster. These typically feature a stump with a green branch made of fabric or drawn. Every day, symbols are attached to the branch. The colors of Advent are purple or blue, which are used for the background.
The Christ Lutheran Church-San Clemente has a beautiful illustration of this here.
Some churches celebrate this tradition. Children might make ornaments and hang seven for the whole week on Sundays. Scriptures or short stories related to the symbols are shared, adding meaning and anticipation to the countdown to Christmas.
Jesse Trees are one of several Advent traditions that celebrate Jesus’ birth, which was His first coming, and also look forward to His Second Coming when He will return for His followers.
Sources
Bratcher, Dennis. “The Jesse Tree,” The Voice, Christian Resource Institute, 2025/12/08 https://www.crivoice.org/jesse.html.
Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff. “Advent: The Beautiful Meaning, Purpose, and Traditions Explained.” Crosswalk, 2025/11/29 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/the-beautiful-meaning-and-purpose-of-advent.html.
Pressprich, Colleen. “Discover the Jesse Tree, a hidden gem of Advent traditions,” St. Lawrence Church-Navarino, 2025/12/08 https://www.stlawrencenavarino.org/discover-the-jesse-tree-a-hidden-gem-of-advent-traditions.
Richie, Laura. “Understanding the Meaning and Symbolism of the Advent Wreath & Candles,” Crosswalk, 2025/11/29 https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/advent-wreath-candles-understanding-the-meaning-history-tradition.html.
“What is a Jesse Tree?” Christ Lutheran Church-San Clemente, 2025/12/08 https://clcsanclemente.org/what-is-a-jesse-tree/.
Sandra Merville Hart 