Xmas2

6) REINDEER (reindeer)

Remember how the pagan god was said to ride across the skies on his horse with his beard flowing in the wind? This could be the first idea of the someone who reigns over the winter festivities to be able to fly. It was also mentioned in the legend of Saint Nicholas that he was accepted by the reindeer people of the north. Instead of coming on a horse like Saint Nicholas might in the warmer countries, of course he would come by reindeer!
Then in Sweden, gifts arrive by the Christmas buck. Some believe this is the source of Clement Moore's reindeer in "A Visit From St. Nicholas." They also believe that Moore was influenced by the Swedish elf Jultomten in describing Santa.

Clement Moore was the one who named the reindeer as far as we know. At least two of the names are from the German language: Donner is the German word for Thunder and Blitz is the German for Lightning.

Bible: Luke 1:26-38

Discuss: We have been learning much about magical beings that can do all sorts of things, such as Santa It seems he can live forever, he can go down chimneys and bring everyone toys all in one night, and he has flying reindeer.

Are these things true? Who CAN live forever on this earth? Who CAN make anything happen that He wants to happen? How do we know? (the Bible has written records that give us many instances)

Do: Watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Sing: Joy to the World

7) STOCKING (stocking)

According to legend, the practice of hanging up stockings originated with St. Nicholas. It was claimed that while trying to help the man who needed a dowry for his daughter, Nicholas threw a bag of gold through the man's window. The bag of gold landed in one of the girl's stockings that had been hung up to dry at the fireplace.

Bible: Romans 3:23 and I John 1:8-9

Discuss: How do we know �who�s been naughty or nice?� Is there anyone who is without sin? What is the only way to be without sin and guilt?

Sing: O Little Town of Bethlehem

8) CHRISTMAS TREE(tree)

Anything that could symbolize transformation and "evergreen" took on significance to the ancient pagans who worshipped the earth. Greenery was brought into the homes. But the early Christians took such things and gave them new meanings. Our Christmas wreath took the evergreens (holly), but shaped them into a wreath--and with the red berries, reminded us of the crown of thorns--remembering that it was the death and resurrection of our Lord that gave meaning to Christmas in the first place. The evergreen tree symbolizes that our God is eternal and we have eternal life through His Son when we put our trust in
Him. Here is a legend of the Christmas Tree:

According to legend, evergreen trees were not always green. Before the birth of Christ, they lost their leaves each winter like other trees. But while Mary, Joseph and Jesus were on their way to Egypt, they were forced to hide from Herod's soldiers in a clump of cedar trees. To hide the holy family, the trees brought forth green needles and the white berries of the cedars turned blue so that Mary's blue robe blended in. Since that day, evergreen trees have kept their color all year round.

Another related legend says that a pine tree hid the holy family and that the baby Jesus left the imprint of his hand forever in their fruit. If you cut a pine cone lengthwise, you can still see the imprint of that tiny hand.

While the legend of the origins of the Christmas tree is interesting, the history is equally fascinating. It is known that long before Jesus, Germanic peoples would adorn evergreen trees in winter solstice ceremonies.

Many legends exist about the origin of the Christmas tree. One is the story of Saint Boniface, an English monk who organized the Christian Church in France and Germany. One day, as he traveled about, he came upon a group of pagans gathered around a great oak tree. They were going to sacrifice a child to the god Thor. To stop the sacrifice and save the child's life, Boniface felled the tree with one mighty blow of his ax. Some say that when it fell, the oak crushed all other trees but a small fir tree. Others say that in its place grew a small fir tree. The saint told the pagan worshipers that the tiny fir was the Tree of Life and stood for the eternal life of Christ.

Another legend holds that Martin Luther, a founder of the Protestant faith, was walking through the forest one Christmas Eve. As he walked he was awed by the beauty of millions of stars glimmering through the branches of the evergreen trees. So taken was he by this beautiful sight that he cut a small tree and took it home to his family. To recreate that same starlit beauty he saw in the wood, he placed candles on all its branches.

Yet another legend tells of a poor woodsman who long ago met a lost and hungry child on Christmas Eve. Though very poor himself, the woodsman gave the child food and shelter for the night. The woodsman woke the next morning to find a beautiful glittering tree outside his door. The hungry child was really the Christ Child in disguise. He created the tree to reward the good man for his charity.

Others feel the origin of the Christmas tree may be from the "Paradise Play." In medieval times, most people could not read and plays were used to teach the lessons of the Bible all over Europe. The Paradise Play, which showed the creation of man and the fall of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, was performed every year on December 24th. The play was performed in winter which created a slight problem: an apple tree was needed for the Garden of Eden, but apple trees do not bear fruit in winter. So a substitution was made: evergreens were hung with apples and used instead.

Bible: John 1:1 and Revelations 21:6. Recite John 3:16.

Discuss: Who created God? Where did He come from? God is the beginning and the end--that is, no one created Him, He has always existed. He has all power and He has created us to live with Him eternally.

Sing: Angels From the Realms of Glory or O Tannenbaum

Do: Read one of the picture books that tell about The Little Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen or The Story of Three Trees.

9) ORNAMENTS (ornament)

By the 11th century, evergreen trees were decorated with apples and bread to symbolize the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It was referred to as the Paradise tree and was used in religious plays. The Paradise tree became a popular decoration in homes and churches.

There is also the story that Martin Luther in the 16th century originated the use of Christmas trees. It is said that one his way home from a Christmas eve service he saw the starlight glistening off the icicles on an evergreen tree. It so reminded him of Jesus the light of the world that he cut the small tree down and took it inside and decorated it with candles to illustrate what he saw.

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition in the sixteenth century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. The Christmas tree custom became popular in other parts of Europe.

In England, Prince Albert, who was the husband of Queen Victoria, made Christmas trees fashionable by decorating a tree at with candles and a variety of sweets, fruits, and gingerbread in 1841. Of course, other wealthy English families followed suit, using all kinds of extravagant items as decorations. Charles Dickens described such a tree as being covered with dolls, miniature furniture, tiny musical instruments, costume jewelry, toy guns and swords, fruit and candy, in the 1850s.

Most nineteenth century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830�s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania. They put one on show to raise money for a local church. In 1851, a tree was set up outside of a church. The people of the parish thought it such an outrage and a return to paganism that they asked the minister to take it down.

By the 1890�s, Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas to reach from floor to ceiling.

The early twentieth century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with
homemade ornaments, while the German- American groups continued to use
apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright
colors, interlacing it with berries and nuts.

Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country. All important buildings, private and public, signaled the beginning of the Christmas holiday with a tree ceremony.

All Over the World:

In Poland, Christmas trees were decorated with angels, peacocks and other birds, along with many, many stars. In Sweden, trees are decorated with brightly painted wooden ornaments and straw figures of animals and children. In Denmark, tiny Danish flags along with mobiles of bells, stars, snowflakes, and hearts are hung on Christmas trees. Japanese Christians prefer tiny fans and paper lanterns. Lithuanians cover their trees with straw bird cages, stars, and geometric shapes. The straw sends a wish for good crops in the coming year. Czechoslovakian trees display ornaments made from painted egg shells.
A Ukrainian Christmas tree has a spider and web for good luck. Legend has it that a poor woman with nothing to put on her children's tree awoke on Christmas morning to find the branches covered with spider webs that looked like silver when touched by the rising sun.

Another story comes from Germany about spiders and Christmas trees. Long ago, families allowed their animals to come inside and view the Christmas trees on Christmas Eve. Because the Christ Child was born in a stable, they felt that the animals should take part in the Christmas celebration. But spiders weren't allowed because housewives didn't want cobwebs all over everything. Of course the spiders were unhappy about this, so one year they complained to the Christ Child. He felt sorry for them and decided that late at night He would let them in to see the trees. The excited spiders loved the Christmas trees and all night long they crawled about in the branches, leaving them covered with webs. On
Christmas morning the housewives saw what the spiders had done . But instead of being angry, they were delighted. For in the night the Christ Child had turned all of the cobwebs into sparkling tinsel. And even today, tinsel is often used to decorate Christmas trees to add that same sparkle the Christ Child gave the cobwebs long ago.

Bible: Read James 1:17

Discuss: What good gifts God has given you?

Sing: O Come, O Come Immanuel