Advent is designed to help us prepare for the birth of the Savior, and there’s no better way to do that than with a Jesse Tree.
A Jesse Tree is a traditional way of marking the days of Advent – like an Advent calendar, but it traces the family tree of Jesus from Creation to the Nativity. Each day features a different Scripture passage featuring depictions of Jesus’ ancestors or events in the Old and New Testament that point to Him.
It is so named from the prophecy in Isaiah 11:1: “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” Artists’ depictions of the Jesse Tree usually show a tree rising out of a recumbent Jesse of Bethlehem, the father of King David, with branches featuring Jesus’ ancestors as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke.
(Fun fact: The Jesse Tree is where our representation of a genealogical family tree comes from.)
The Jesse Tree connects our holiday traditions, like putting up a Christmas tree or lighting an Advent wreath, with the history of salvation. On the tree we place ornaments representing the people, the prophecies and events leading up to Jesus’ birth – for example, a burning bush for Moses or a ram for Isaac. There are many variations in the number of ornaments and subjects, with simple sets suitable for very young children to elaborate collections of more than two dozen ornaments.
Making a Jesse Tree is easy. You can use a small Christmas tree, a large branch or a poster as the base on which to hang the ornaments. Find daily Jesse Tree reflections and Scripture verses online – three recommendations are listed below. Each day during Advent, make an ornament to illustrate that verse and hang it on the Jesse Tree.
This activity is particularly fun for families and children, but it’s also good for anyone who wants to connect the Advent season with God’s faithfulness across history.
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor
More online
At holyheroes.com: This Cramerton-based company has a generous collection of free resources in its “Advent Adventure” collection, including Jesse Tree ornament downloadable printables, and daily emails with prayers and short videos explaining each Scripture verse so kids can watch while decorating their ornaments. Bonus free content includes printable ornaments and videos explaining the “O Antiphons.” Holy Heroes also offers for sale a Jesse Tree poster with stickers to post on your fridge, and a Jesse Tree “History of Salvation” Advent Activity Book with coloring pages, puzzles, quizzes and more.
At www.loyolapress.com: Find a series of online reflections for each day of Advent using a Jesse Tree, taken from “The Stories of the Old Testament: A Catholic’s Guide” by Jim Campbell. Each day’s reflection includes links to the Bible verse along with an ornament suggestion. Perfect for older children and adults who want to take a “deeper dive” into Scripture.
At www.catholicculture.org: Find more Jesse Tree ornament ideas for little children, coloring activities, even cookie recipes! Search “Jesse Tree” on the homepage.
Don’t miss this!
Advent begins on Sunday, Nov. 28, and that date also marks the start of the Church’s liturgical year. Advent (from, “ad-venire” in Latin or “to come to”) is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to Christmas. As you prepare for the season, check out these other stories on catholicnewsherald.com:
- “10 facts about Advent”: The season of Advent developed in the Church over time. Here are 10 facts that you may not know about the roots and meanings of the season.
- Blessing for an Advent wreath and Christmas tree: Information from the USCCB on blessing your Advent wreath and Christmas tree
- “The Great ‘O’ Antiphons of Advent”: The Great “O”Antiphons are brief prayers that are chanted or sung from Dec. 17 to 23.