The Tradition of the Jesse Tree 
I am so excited to start my Jesse tree tonight. I began this tradition last year. It's a great tool to use to teach small children about the genealogy of Christ and the reason we celebrate Christmas. I enjoy doing it as a reminder of the saving Grace of my Savior.
There are so many different ways you can create your Jesse tree. You can use a traditional Christmas tree, a cutout of green felt, a wooden painted tree or the ideas are limitless. For all the creative minds anyway. I have to stick to the simple. There are lots of resources online for ideas and for ornaments too. You put an ornament on the tree everyday in December until Christmas (list below). Each ornament tells the story of the genealogy of Christ. 
Jesse Trees are a very old Christmas Tradition and first started in
medieval times. They are used to help tell the story of the Bible from creation
to the Christmas Story.
The name comes from Jesse who was the Father of the great Jewish King
David. One prophecy in the bible, in the book of Isaiah, says:
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch
will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of
understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and
of the fear of the LORD--
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by
what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will
give decisions for the poor of the earth. Isaiah 11:1-4 (NIV)
A branch is a sign of new life
and new beginnings. Jesus was a decedent of King David and Christians
believe that Jesus is this new branch.
The first Jesse trees were large carvings, tapestries or even stained
glass windows put in Churches that helped illiterate people (people who can't
read or write) to learn about the bible from creation to the Christmas Story.
But now Jesse Trees are used as a kind of Advent Calendar. You can use a normal
Christmas tree or a banner in the shape of a tree. Each day through advent (or
sometimes just on the four Sundays of advent) a special decoration or ornament
(similar to a Chrismon), that tells a story from the Bible, is hung on the
tree.
There are very many different stories and symbols you can use. I've
listed 25 stories and symbols that I especially like!
Bible Story: Where
it is in the Bible: Symbol:
Creation Genesis
1 The
earth
Adam and Eve /Garden of Eden Genesis
2:4 - 3:24 A
tree with fruit or an apple
Noah & the Flood Genesis
6:9 - 9:17 A
rainbow
God's promise to Abraham Genesis
12:1-7 & 15:1-6 A tent
Isaac Genesis
22:1-18 A
ram
Jacob's Ladder Genesis
28:10-19 A
ladder
Joseph's Coat Genesis
37 & 50 A multicoloured
coat or robe
Moses Exodus
2:1 - 4:20 A
burning bush
Israelites and the Passover Exodus
12:1-42 A
lamb
The 10 Commandments Exodus
19:1 - 20:20 Two
stone tablets
Joshua and the fall of Jericho Joshua
6:1-20 A ram's horn trumpet
Ruth Ruth
(Whole Book) A
sheaf of corn
King David 1
Samuel 16:1-3 A six pointed
'Star of David'
Solomon's Temple 1
Kings 6 The
temple
Elijah and Baal's Priests 1
Kings 18:16-39 A
bonfire
Isaiah's 'Jesse' Prophecy Isaiah
11:1-11 tree stump with a single branch growing from it
Jonah and the Whale Jonah
(Whole Book) A whale
John the Baptist Matthew
3:13-17 A
scallop shell
Mary Luke
1:26-38 A
white lily
Elizabeth Luke
1:39-56 A
mother and child Zechariah Luke
1:57-80 A
pencil and tablet
Joseph Matthew
1:19-25 A
carpenter's hammer
The Shepherds Luke
2:8-20 A
fluffy sheep!
The Wisemen Matthew
2:1-12 gold star or the
three gifts or three crowns
Jesus Luke
2:1-8 A
baby in a manger
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