The first Chrismon tree had only a dozen different ornaments, designed and made by Frances Kipps Spencer.
More than 50 years later, the number of symbols used as Chrismons has grown, but the symbols continue to have in common some aspect of the birth, death or resurrection of Christ. One common approach to Chrismons is to focus on the names of Jesus, while other approaches use symbols from the Old and New Testaments that refer to Christ either in prophecy or after His birth. Still others adapt ancient symbols from Christianity.
Chrismons are handmade from paper, cloth, plastic foam or other media. They may be cross-stitched, painted, composed of cutouts or made through a variety of other methods. The colors are traditionally white and gold, and the ornaments are sometimes embellished with pearls or ribbon.
A variety of patterns and design suggestions can be found in books written by Spencer and others, as well as on many Web sites. Below are some of the most popular Chrismon designs.
Chi rho
The chi rho, found in early tombs and catacombs, is thought by many to be the oldest of the Christian symbols. It is composed of the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ: “x” — called chi — and “p” — called rho. Formed by superimposing one letter over the other, the “x” has often been said to symbolize the cross.
The chi rho is also known as Constantine’s Cross. After his conversion to Christianity, the Roman emperor Constantine had the symbol emblazoned on his shield and those of his warriors.
Variations on the simple chi rho abound, from having alpha and omega symbols hanging from the upper arms of the “x” to rotating the “x” to form a cross.
Alpha and omega, ichthus, dove
Another symbol is the alpha and the omega. The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, alpha and omega represent Jesus as the First and the Last, the One who has come and will come again.
The ichthus, or fish, is another ancient symbol for Christianity. The Greek word for fish, ichthus is an acrostic from the first letters of the words “Jesus, Christ, God, Son, Savior.”
The symbol of the fish is said to come from several references in the Bible, including the invitation to the apostles to become fishers of men. Some historians believe that early Christians used the symbol as a secret sign of their faith or to mark secret meeting places.
As a Chrismon, the fish can be the outline only or the outline with the Greek letters inside.
The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus after His baptism by John the Baptist. Many Chrismon doves are designed to have three points representing the three persons of the Trinity.
Jerusalem Cross
The Jerusalem Cross is also known as the Crusader’s Cross, as a variation of this cross was worn by the Crusaders going to Jerusalem in the Middle Ages. The four small crosses are said to represent the four Gospels or the four directions Christianity spread from Jerusalem.
Anchor
Drawings of the anchor, which is considered a symbol of hope, were used by Christians as early as the second century. Just as an anchor gives stability to a ship, Jesus gives stability to the Christian. Hebrews 6:19 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
Triquetra and circle
The triquetra and circle is a combination of two Christian symbols. The triquetra is a symbol of the Trinity; the circle is a symbol of eternity.
IHS or IHC
Early Christians used the first three letters in the Greek name “Jesus” as a monogram of Christ; these letters transliterated to IHS or IHC. Creators of Chrismons often use ornate lettering and incorporate a cross or crown into their designs.
Crown
A crown is a symbol of the authority of an earthly ruler. In Christianity, it is often used to symbolize Christ, who, according to Revelation 19:12, 16, will be crowned with many crowns and recognized as King of kings and Lord of lords.
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