The Symbols Of Christmas

Matt 2.9

As you celebrate Christmas you have probably incorporated many signs into your holiday season.  For instance at our house we have: 

·        The Evergreen Tree that represents Everlasting life.

·        The Lights on our tree remind us that Jesus is the Light of life.

·        The White represents the purity of our Lord Jesus Christ who never sinned.

·        The Red in our season reminds us of the precious shed blood of our Savior.

·        The Silver in our season reminds us of the redemption He provides for us.

·        The Green represents our desire to grow in Him or may also represent life.

·        The Gold reminds us that He is the King of King's.

·        The Blue reminds us of heaven and its promised eternal home.

·        The Stars declare that He is the morning star and the bright hope of eternity to come.

 

There are many other symbols that decorate our Christmas celebration.  Each of which declare that Jesus is the reason for the season.   Hence, in a culture that is trying to strip the Christ out of Christmas one must wonder if the meaning of the ornaments that decorate the tradition of this holiday are understood by those who love the beauty of the Christmas season.

 

CAROLS 

Carols originated in the custom of joyfully celebrating various festivals, which have been held throughout the centuries.  As a mid-winter festival gave way to the more universally observed Christmas, many songs with the Christmas theme were written.  They came from the hearts of those who wanted to express emotions in song.  All of these come as a result of the great announcement made by the joyful angels to the shepherds on the night Christ was born. 

Probably no other songs are so well beloved as the Christmas hymns and carols.  Christmas time at church, in any church, should be filled with joyous singing.

 

ADVENT WREATH 

The very first Advent wreaths were probably used in the home where a spray of evergreen reminded everyone of the everlasting life found in Christ.  Soon the boughs were bent and shaped in a circle, which symbolized life without end. 

The wreath today combines the circle of evergreens with candles that are lighted progressively on each Sunday of Advent.  The candles symbolize the various themes of Advent and give visual evidence of the coming Christmas.  Lighting the candles helps us to remember the one who said, “I am the Light of the world.”

 

THE HOLLY AND THE IVY 

Because holly is evergreen and bears its fruit in winter, people as long ago as Roman times believed it had power to give strength, to frighten away witches, to bring happy dreams, to heal quarrels, and as a tonic to cure coughs.

At one time, the use of holly was forbidden because of its pagan association, but since about 1600, holly has been a popular Christmas green.  The early Christian church saw the pointed leaves of the holly as representing Christ’s crown of thorns and the red berries representing his blood shed on the cross.   Today we use holly as a reminder of Christ’s passion during the otherwise joyous Christmas celebration. 

Sacred to the Greeks and Romans, ivy is a popular Christmas decoration in England.  Its evergreen suggests eternal life; its clinging symbolizes both fidelity and human weakness depending on Divine strength. 

 

GARLANDS 

As we decorate our homes and places of worship, the evergreens symbolize God’s eternal and everlasting gift provided for us by His eternal Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He left His place in eternal glory to come in human form, to give us everlasting life.  This abundant life is awarded to every believer at the moment of their salvation, and provides a peace, joy and happiness that surpass human expression to all who will yield themselves to His divine and heartfelt sway.  

 

POINSETTIAS 

This plant blooms in Mexico at Christmas, where it is known by its native name, “flower of the holy night.”  In the progressive course of its flowering bloom, we find the redemptive story of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  As it grows, its blooms display a green liveliness, reminding us of the incarnation and life of our Savior.  Its blooms then turn white displaying the purity of our sacrificial Lamb.  Finally, its blooms turn a brilliant red, clearly declaring the payment rendered for our salvation, His shed blood.  Today the poinsettia is the most popular of Christmas plants, for in the flaming star of its red bracts, we see the star of Bethlehem, and remember that our Savior came to take away our sins. 

 

LIGHTING OF THE TREE 

The most popular legend holds that the first Christmas tree was cut down by Martin Luther, who brought it home and decorated it with candles to symbolize stars that light the Bethlehem skies on the night of Jesus’ birth.  There are many other legends concerning the history of the Christmas tree, but the meaning and symbol represented in all of the legends is one of a religious nature. 

We put up evergreen trees in our homes and churches to remind ourselves that Christ is ever-present and that He is the way, the truth and the Life.  The red we place upon the tree reminds us of the blood Jesus shed.  The white indicates the cleansing brought by the purity of Jesus’ blood.  The gold symbolizes the royalty of a resurrected King.  And the silver reminds us of the redemption purchased on Calvary’s tree. 

The lights on the tree also have religious significance.  The blue stands for courage, the red for sacrifice, the white for truth and the green for immortality. 

 

GIFTS 

We love because God first loved us.  Receiving with gratitude God’s gifts and gifts from others brings Christmas joy and blessing to the giver.  We give because God gives us life and love in Jesus Christ.  Giving as God gives, freely, thoughtfully, and with love is also a Christmas blessing.  God gives—not all the things we want—but what we most truly need.  A gift should always remind us of the greatest gift that was ever given—Jesus Christ. 

 

NATIVITY 

Traditionally, the origin of the Nativity scene is attributed to St. Francis of Assissi in 1223.  St. Francis was saddened by the ignorance of the peasants in the nearby hills.  Unable to read, they did not know the story of Bethlehem’s Babe.  To them, Christmas was just another day.  Then he hit upon a way to tell them the story so they would never forget.  He set up a stable in a cave behind the village church and filled it with real animals, hay and a manger.  Some stories say that he got a young couple from the village to play Mary and Joseph and asked them to bring their own baby to lie in the manger.  Other sources say that the baby was always a village orphan because St. Francis knew that after that night the child would always be treated well.  In any event, the villagers saw for themselves the Christmas story; God became flesh in circumstances just like theirs. 

Since that time people the world over have set up the Christmas Nativity at home and church. 

 

CrossRoads Email Dec16, 2008

 

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