Senut's Osiris Tree, December 2006

Around 10 years ago an African-American dance acquaintance, whose household followed a Kemetic tradition, told me of how her family put up an "Osiris Tree" each year during the Christmas holidays. Liking the idea and symbology, I decided to do the same. I personally prefer to use an artificial tree in order to conserve the live ones.

The evergreen represents Wesir (Gr. Osiris) in His undying aspect. I also have a pharonic mask ornament placed near the top which symbolizes Wesir as the first King of Kemet.

The bird at the top of the tree represents Aset (Gr. Isis); in one account she turned herself into a bird to fly in search of Her husband after He was killed by Set.

The Heru (Gr. Horus) ornament near the top represents victory on several levels: He is the son of Aset and Wesir conceived after Wesir's death and magical "resurrection" by Aset, and then went on to reclaim the throne of Kemet from Set. This latter scenario was acted out in The Contendings of Set and Heru each year during the Mysteries of Wesir festival in ancient Egypt held in late November/early December.

The rest of the ornaments have Egyptian, Middle Eastern and African themes. And since many have asked me where I got the golden ankh ornaments, they're from the now-defunct Egypt Store whose owner closed down the business a few years ago and moved to Oregon to run an organic farm. Still, many interesting ornaments with a foreign flair can be found at Cost Plus World Market or Pier One Imports.

Happy Holidays, however you celebrate!

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