| CHRISTMAS-symbols |
| WHERE DID ...COME FROM? Christmas Tree.... colors of Christmas........Gifts and Wise Men....... Poinsettias.....Carols ....Angels.... Wreaths Candy Cane.......Nutcrackers .....Bells Mistletoe....The Nativity.....Star .....Candles & Lights Santa Claus..... Elves ..........Reindeer |
| Colors of Christmas RED WHITE GREEN White - The purity of Christ 2 Corinthians 5:21 Red - Christ's Blood shed for our sins on the cross John 19:34 Green - Eternal Life in Christ John 3 16-17 Gold - Christ the Divine Rev. 3:18 Silver- Redemption in Christ Matt. 27: 3-9 |
| Christmas Tree - originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was common for the German people to decorate fir trees, both inside and out with roses, apples, and colored paper. It was believed that Martin Luther - the Protestant reformer, was the first to light trees with candles. This was brought to American during the 1820's. |
| Candy Cane - Even though they have been around for centuries, but it wasn't until around 1900 that they were decorated with red stripes and bent into the shape of a cane. A candy maker in INdiana wanted to express the real meaning of Christmas in candy. First he used a plain white peppermint stick. The color white symbolizes the purity and sinless nature of Jesus. Next he added three small stripes to symbolize the pain inflicted upon Jesus before His death. There are 3 of them to represent the Holy Trinity. He added a bold stripe to represent the blood Jesus shed for mankind. When looked at with the crook on top, it looks like a shepherd's staff, Jesus is the Good Shepherd. If you turn it upside down, it becomes the letter J the first letter of Jesus' name. |
| Gifts and Wise Men - Gifts- gold, frankincense, myrrh gold- for a King frankincense - for a god, used in worship myrrh- for a man, used in preparing a body for burial -The giving of gifts as christmas is an old tradition. The first christmas gifts were given by the wise men to Jesus. Matthew 2:1-12 "We saw the star at its rising and have come to do him homage" |
| Poinsettias - they are native to Mexico. Names after America's first embassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett. He brought the plants to America in 1828. The mexicans thought the palnts were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. The actual flower of the poinsettia is small and yellow. But surronding the flower are large, bright red leaves, often mistaken for petals. |
| Carols (Songs) - Christmas carols are songs we sing at Christmas time. Many tell a story. St Francis of Assisi introducted carols into the church service during a Christmas Midnight Mass in a cave in 1223. - Legend has it that angels sang the first Christmas Carols the night Jesus was born. Silent Night Do You hear what I hear? O Little town of Bethlehem Angels we have heard on high We Three Kings |
| Angels - angels declared to shepherds that a king was born. - bible: Luke 2 - "..keeping night watch over there sheep. The angel of the Lord appeared to them... "do not be afraid; for behold I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."r. |
| Wreaths - Originally fabric headbands sometimes adorned with jewels. - symbol of Christ's crown of thorns was made with holly. - In Germany people gathered evergreen wreaths and made fires-signs of coming of Spring. - circular - everlasting life, circle of a family God's unending love. - on the door means Welcome. - evergreen - Eternal life in Christ (advent wreath- see Advent section) |
| Nutcrackers - The Nutcracker a toy popular and a common gift among the poor. They were useful and could be made from a scrap piece of wood. - Bible 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 |
| Santa -Elves and Reindeer - Comes from the legend of St. Nicholas. a man who helped the poor, secretly during the night, because of his love of Christ. - the newest concept came from a book written in 1823 The Night before Christmas by Clement C. Moore. - elves most likely came from the legend of gnomes and they could be either helpful of mean-spirited, depending on whether the person was naughty or nice. Scandinavian's believed they were the helpers of Father Christmas. |
| Bells - bells were rung with increasing frequency until midnight, supposedly to warn the devil of the approaching birth of the Christ Child. - Bells were wrung during pagan winter celebrations. It was thought that evil spirits wer afraid of loud noises. - Bells were used on the robes of the high priest in the Old Testament. - Bells remind us that Jesus was the ultimate sacrafice for our sins, and the ringing of the bells at midnight reminds us of the reason he came. - Bible Hebrews 7:27 |
| Mistletoe and Holly- - 200 yrs before Christ Druids used mistletoe to celebrate the coming of winter. They believed it had special healing powers. Associated with the Goddess of Love. |
| Nativity - is to remind us "the reason for the season" and to "put Christ back in Christmas. - The Nativity Scenes have Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus in a Manger, and often include shepherds, lambs, and wise men. - Bible: Luke 2 "While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swadling clothes and laid him in a manger." |
| Star - We often use stars in decorations at Christmas to remember the Star of Bethlehem which led the wise men to the Christ Child. And is used on the top of the Christmas tree. - The Star of Bethlehem was an astronomical phenomenon that alerted the wise men of Jesus' birth. - Bible: Matthew 2 |
| Candles and Lights - Pagan winter festivals used candles to drive away the forces of darkness. - The candle signifies that Jesus is the Light of the world. - Bible; John 8:12 "Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world." |
| Christmas Food - long ago food was associated with wealth, health, and happiness. - Fruit cake: popular since Roman days. mixed seeds, pine nuts, raisins and barley mash. During the midevil period, honey, dried fruits, and spices were added, and bread dough was sometimes substituted for the barley mash. Fruitcake was considered nearly sacred and actually laws in effect until 18tj bentury that restricted it to special celebrations such as Christmas, Easter and weddings. - Egg nog - Eggnog originated in Colonial America - originally called eggs and "rum" grog. -Wassill an early English toast to someone's health, a hot drink that is made with wine, beer, or cider, spices, sugar and baked apples served in a large bowl . Cookies, Candy-Cakes-Wafers and Fruit - These small items were traditionally hung on Christmas trees as decorations. Many were eated before Christmas, and some became too heavy for the branches, which led to the switch to glass and wooden ornaments. |
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