The Christmas tree stands in the corner of the house, doing a lot of psychological work.
In therapy, symbols matter because they hold meaning for things we don’t have words for. The Christmas tree is one of those objects that operates on several levels at once.
The tree is evergreen. In the middle of winter, nature recedes and yet the tree stays alive (for a period of time). There’s a need we have to believe that something endures even when conditions are harsh. The tree can represent the idea that life hasn’t disappeared. It’s only gone quiet. The Christmas tree is a symbol of light in our home at the darkest time of the year.
The act of decorating the tree is just as important as the tree itself. We take something living and mark it with our personal history: ornaments from childhood, handmade objects, gifts from people no longer here. This is meaning-making. It’s a way we tell our story, arrange memories and stand back and look at. The tree becomes a container for joy and sorrow at the same time.
The tree has a developmental aspect too. Children experience the tree as wonder and anticipation. As adults, we experience it as nostalgia, responsibility, or even pressure. That shift matters. It highlights the psychological tension between innocence and burden, between the excitement we once felt and the effort it now takes to recreate the magic.
Lastly, the tree is temporary. It’s brought in, celebrated, and then taken down. It’s both disappointing and liberating. The tree teaches us that meaning doesn’t come from permanence. It comes from attention and effort. We gather, we light it up, we let it matter, and then we let it go.
In therapy, we often help people do the same. We honor what is meaningful now without demanding it last forever.