The Jesse Tree Explained: A Catholic Advent Tradition
A Jesse Tree is an Advent tradition that tells the story of salvation one day at a time. Each day of Advent the family reads a short Scripture passage and hangs a matching ornament on a small tree or branch, starting with Creation and ending with the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve.
Where the name comes from
The name comes from the prophet Isaiah: a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1). Jesse was the father of King David, and the prophecy promised that the Messiah would come from his family line, even after the royal house seemed cut down.
Medieval artists turned this image into a family tree. One of the best-known examples is the 12th-century Jesse window at Chartres Cathedral in France, where the tree rises from the sleeping Jesse through the kings of Israel to Mary and then Christ. The modern family custom of hanging ornaments during Advent is much more recent, but it draws on the same idea: Jesus has a family history, and God was preparing for his coming long before Bethlehem.
How a Jesse Tree works
- Pick a tree. A bare branch in a vase, a small tabletop tree, or a paper tree on the wall all work.
- Prepare the ornaments. Each one carries a simple symbol: a rainbow for Noah, a ladder for Jacob, a harp for David.
- Read each day. Read the day's passage aloud, or tell the story in your own words for small children.
- Hang the ornament. Let a child hang it and say who it stands for.
- Look back. By Christmas Eve the whole story hangs in front of you, and it is worth reviewing it together.
The figures on the tree
Sets vary, but most follow the same arc through Scripture:
- The beginning: Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah.
- The patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.
- The Exodus: Moses, the Passover lamb, the Ten Commandments, Joshua.
- The kings: Ruth, Samuel, Jesse, David and Solomon.
- The prophets: Elijah, Isaiah, Jonah, Daniel and Micah, who named Bethlehem.
- The Gospels: Zechariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist, Mary, Joseph, and finally Jesus.
Most sets have between 24 and 28 ornaments. Advent 2026 runs 26 days, from November 29 to December 24, so one ornament per day fits exactly.
Zechariah, Elizabeth and the incense in the Temple
One of the last ornaments before the Gospels of Christmas belongs to Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. Luke's Gospel opens with Zechariah, a priest, chosen by lot to enter the Temple and offer incense (Luke 1:8–11). While the people prayed outside, the angel Gabriel appeared beside the altar of incense and told him that his wife would bear a son.
That moment is why many families use a censer as the symbol for this ornament. Incense in the Temple was a sign of prayer rising to God, and Exodus 30 names frankincense among its ingredients. Lighting a few grains at home on the day you hang Zechariah's ornament is a simple way to help children connect the story to their own prayer. Our guide on how to use a hand censer or thurible at home walks through it.
Incense for Advent at home
Pure frankincense for Zechariah's day, a Marian blend for Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, or the Magi kit to carry the story on to Epiphany.
Pure resin
Olibanum Lacrima Christi
Pure frankincense from Dhofar, Oman. Bright, lemony and clean.
From $4.96
Choose a size
For December 12
Our Lady of Guadalupe
A restrained Marian blend at 3/5 intensity for her feast day.
From $4.96
Choose a size
Kit
Three Wise Men Kit
Olibanum, myrrh, a golden ceramic burner, 6 charcoal tablets and tongs.
$33.90
See the kit
Tips for families
- Keep it short. With young children, a two-sentence retelling works better than the full passage.
- Catch up without guilt. If you miss a few days, hang those ornaments together and tell the stories as one.
- Pair it with the Advent wreath. The wreath marks the Sundays and the Jesse Tree marks the days in between.
- Keep the ornaments. Laminated paper or wooden ornaments can come out again every year, and children enjoy seeing the ones they colored when they were younger.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Jesse Tree?
An Advent tradition in which a family hangs one ornament a day, each representing a person or event from Scripture, tracing the family line and the promises that led to the birth of Jesus.
Is the Jesse Tree Catholic?
It is used by Catholics and many other Christians. The image of the tree of Jesse comes from Isaiah 11 and was common in medieval Catholic art, including cathedral windows.
When do you start a Jesse Tree?
On the First Sunday of Advent. In 2026 that is November 29, with the last ornament hung on Christmas Eve.
How many ornaments does a Jesse Tree have?
Usually 24 to 28. A set matched to the length of Advent lets you hang exactly one per day.
How much incense should I use if we burn some while praying?
A few grains of resin on a lit charcoal tablet is enough for a family room. Keep the burner on a heat-safe surface out of children's reach.
Or browse:
End the story at Bethlehem
The Three Wise Men kit holds the Magi's frankincense and myrrh with a golden ceramic burner for the gold, ready for Christmas and Epiphany prayer.
Milagros incense is made in Aparecida, Brazil. Every order ships from Florida.