HAPPY CHRISTMAS
The
Candy Cane
The candy cane represents one of the oldest
symbols of Christmas, the shepherd's crook, for the shepherds were among the
first to experience that first Christmas.
The colors of the candy cane
have special meaning, too. The wide red stripe represents the sacrifice of
Christ, "For by his stripes we are healed." The narrow red stripes represent
our own sacrifices (giving). The white stripe is a symbol of purity.
The peppermint plant is a member of the hyssop family, referred to in
the Old Testament as a medicinal herb used for cleansing.
As you eat
your candy cane, you might want to break it, as Christ's body was broken for
you, and share it with a friend, thus sharing in the sweetness of the true
meaning of Christmas.
The Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree, which is an evergreen with it's boughs stretched
toward heaven, reminds us of the everlasting life that Christ came to bring
sinners. The candles or lights on the tree remind us that Jesus is the light
of the world. This surely is what Martin Luther envisioned back in 1535 when
he cut and decorated the first Christmas tree for his children. Prince Albert
carried the Christmas tree custom from Germany to Windsor Castle in 1841. Ten
years later, a Cleveland minister was accused of sacrilege and idolatry when
he put up the first American tree. But a young child saw it right. "Mother",
he whispered, "the pastor's got a tree from heaven!"
Santa Claus
There are many stories of how the
legend of Santa Claus began. My favorite story says that the modern Santa
finds his origin in a young pastor named Nicholas. His parents died when he
was still a boy, leaving him a fortune. He loved the Lord and cared deeply for
those in need. Not wanting to receive any glory himself, he went secretly,
during the night, to the homes of poor families. There he left gifts and money
because of his love for Christ.
Holly Leaf
The holly leaves and berries from the holly bush are widely used in
holiday decorations. The sharp pointy edges of the holly leaf remind us of the
crown of thorns that Jesus wore upon his brow. The red berries remind us of
the blood that Jesus shed.
Mistletoe
The tradition of kissing underneath the mistletoe began with a
Scandinavian goddess called Frigga. Frigga's son Balder was shot with an arrow
made of mistletoe. While Frigga's friends conjured up powers to save the boy,
his mother cried tears that became the white berries on the mistletoe.
Frigga's friends succeeded in saving Balder's life. Frigga ordered that the
mistletoe should never again be used to harm others. Instead, she made it a
symbol of love by kissing everyone who passed under it.
Christmas Carols
Not all songs that we sing at
Christmas time are carols. Most songs sung in church or by church choirs are
actually hymns. Centuries ago, a carol was a group dance accompanied by a
joyful song. Gradually it came to mean the song itself. A carol became a happy
melody that anyone could sing. Caroling still means singing songs of joy but
more than that it means singing the beautiful songs about the most joyous news
that men have ever heard.