Reconstructing Christmas | O Christmas Tree

Each Christmas season millions of Americans place trees in their homes — draped in lights, engulfed in ornaments, a bundle of beautifully wrapped gifts gathered beneath the branches. It’s a beloved tradition with a complicated origin. What if a guided tour of the Christmas story meant you’d never look at a Christmas tree the same way again?

Series overview:
Ever wondered why some of our cherished Christmas traditions are so…cherished? It’s kind of weird that we put ornament-adorned trees in our homes and immerse our neighborhoods in lights and deck our halls with boughs of holly, all while waiting for a chubby old man ensconced in velvet to break into our homes via chimney. How did all of that start? And what does it mean? And why does it matter? We’re going to pull all of it apart and then put it back together in surprising and delightful ways as we spend this December Reconstructing Christmas.