Symbols and Their Meanings

	The evergreen tree, with branches always green 
symbolizes the eternal life our Lord Jesus has won for us.  
The tiny white lights on the tree remind us that He is the 
light of the world.

	The Chrismons (CHRIS + MONogram) proclaim 
the Name, the Life, and the saving Acts of our Lord, Jesus 
the Christ.

	Colors – White and Gold are used as the colors for
 all the Chrismons.  White is the liturgical color for Christmas.  
In the Bible white is often used to portray purity and 
completeness.  Is. 1:18, Mark 9:3, Revelation 6:11, 
Revelation 7:13.
	Gold is used to show the majesty and glory of God.  
Exodus 25:11, Revelation 1:13-16; 21:18-21

THE CROSS
	The cross reminds us of our Savior’s sacrifice 
for our sins.  Different forms of the cross help us think 
about various aspects of his redeeming work.

LATIN CROSS	 This is the most widely used form of the 
cross today.  The empty cross reminds us that Jesus rose 
from the dead.

GREEK CROSS   All parts of the Greek cross are 
equal.  This design was used by the early Greek 
Christians.

ST. ANDREW’S CROSS   Tradition says that the 
apostle Andrew died on this form of cross.  He asked 
to be crucified on a cross unlike that of his Lord.

TAU CROSS   This resembles the Greek letter T and 
suggests Moses’s staff and the promise of a Messiah.  
If it has a bronzed serpent on it, it is the staff Moses 
used to save Israel.  Numbers 21:9 and John 3:14.

CROSS WITH ORB   The world is united through 
Christ.  The triumph of the Gospel in all the world.  
The cross of victory.

THE ANCHOR CROSS Also called the cross of hope.  
The anchor was used as a disguised form of the cross 
by early Christians in the catacombs.  Hebrews 6:19-20.

CROSS AND CROWN	A symbol of the reward of the 
faithful in life after death to those who believe in the 
crucified Savior.  Revelation 2:10.

THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS  The prophet Malachi 
compared the Messiah to the sun.  The Chrismon with 
the Christ monogram on it reminds us of that prophecy.  
Malachi 4:2

CIRCLE  A reminder of eternity, without beginning and 
without end.

TRIANGLE OR THREE CIRCLES OR THREE ARCS  
Symbols of the Trinity in which three figures or parts 
combine to make one complete form

BUTTERFLY  Symbol of the resurrection and eternal life.  
As the butterfly changes form a pupa or chrysalis to a 
winged adult, so we through Christ will be raised from the 
dead and have new lives.  1 Corinthians 15:20-23.

SHELL WITH THREE DROPS OF WATER  The shell 
symbolizes the baptism of Jesus and our baptism in the 
name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Matthew 28:19.  
The eight-pointed star represents regeneration.

LAMB WITH BANNER OF VICTORY	The “Angus Dei” 
or Lamb of God, no longer wounded but standing 
victorious.  The banner represents the church, the staff - the 
cross on which he was slain for the sins of the world.

THE DOVE  The descending dove signifies the Holy 
Spirit at our Lord’s baptism, and the presence of God 
hovering over the water at Creation.  Mark 1:10.

CORNERSTONE  The cornerstone with abbreviations 
of words for Jesus Christ symbolizes Him who was declared 
to be the “chief cornerstone.”  Ephesians 2:20; Mark 12:10.

THE FISH  The fish was used as a secret sign by 
early-persecuted Christians to indicate they were 
believers in Jesus and to point to places where they 
were gathering for worship or to celebrate the Lord’s 
Supper.  (Fish with bread)  The first letters of the Greek 
words for “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior” spell the 
Greek word for fish.

ROSE  A white rose was used as a symbol of the 
nativity and of the promise of the Messiah.  Sometimes 
other flowers such as the daisy, lily, dogwood, anemone 
or crocus became symbols for Christ, depending on 
various translations.

SHEPHERD’S CROOK	 Our Savior, “I am the good 
shepherd.”  John 10:11; or the shepherds at the manger.

STARS	
Four Points – Star Cross, close relationship 
between birth and death of our Savior.

Five Points -	Epiphany star.  Numbers 24:17 and 
manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles.  Matthew 1:1-2.

Six Points – Creator’s star.  The Father;  Six days of creation.  
Star of David

Seven Points – Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Revelation 5:12.

Eight Points – Holy baptism, regeneration.  1 Peter 3:20-21.
Multi-pointed Stars – Heaven

MONOGRAMS
XP or CHI RHO  In Greek the first letters of the word 
 the Christ or Messiah.  The letters may be 
superimposed on each other.

IHC or HIS  Based on the Greek word for 
Jesus –  – Iota Eta Sigma

INRI  Latin superscription on cross.  Jesus of Nazareth 
King of the Jews.  John 19:19

ALPHA and OMEGA  First and last.  Revelation 22:13

The Chrismon Tree 

St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church

Medford, Wisconsin

	Chrismons tell the message of our Lord Jesus Christ through the use of symbols.  The word Chrismon is made from the two words, Christ and monogram.

	The first Chrismon Tree was begun in the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Danville, Virginia, in 1957.  From there the idea has been used by Christians all over the world.

	In December of 1966, St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church had its first “Chrismon Tree”.  An article in the Star News invited the people in the community to view the tree.

	Our church women made ornaments that included twenty-eight different symbols.  Now, more than thirty years later, we still decorate our tree with these Christian symbols.  Recently old ornaments have been repaired and new symbols added, but the message stays the same.  God in his love sent his son, Jesus Christ, to our earth to save us.