Red- the first color of Christmas symbolizing the Savior’s sacrifice for all (the blood he shed for us)
Christmas Tree – Why aren’t Christmas trees apple trees or oak trees? They are always evergreen which symbolizes everlasting life. The needles point heavenward.
Wreath – most wreaths are evergreen which also symbolizes eternal life and they are always round to represent that God’s love has no beginning or no end.
Star – the star the Wisemen followed to find Baby Jesus. It is a heavenly sign of prophecy fulfilled long, long ago—the shining hope of all mankind.
Angels – the angels that announced Jesus’ birth
Bells – They ring out to guide lost sheep back to the fold—signifying that all are precious in the
eyes of the Lord
Tree Topper –points to Heaven where Jesus Christ is alive today
Christmas Ball Ornament – traditional Christmas tree ornaments are round
symbolizing that God has no beginning or ending and also symbolizing the
earth (God created the earth and loves everyone on the earth)
Gift Bow – Tied as we should all be tied together in bonds of goodwill and love forever
The Candle – A mirror of starlight reflecting our thanks for the star of Bethlehem as well as
Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
Lights – to remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World
Gifts – The gift of our Savior that Heavenly Father gave to us, and the gifts the Wisemen gave to Jesus Christ.
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Nativity Set – depicts the real Christmas and helps us to remember Christ came for us personally
Christmas Stockings came about through a story of the real Santa Claus
Santa Claus was a real man. He lived about 400 years after Jesus. He was the Bishop of a church. He loved Jesus. Bishop Nicholas had a friend that had three daughters, but they could not get married because their father did not have the money for their dowries. So late one night, in secret, Bishop Nicholas threw three bags of gold into their living room. The bags landed in socks that were drying by the fireplace (thus the tradition of stocking hung by the fireplace). Later the Catholic Church made Bishop Nicholas a saint, making him Saint Nicholas. The Santa Claus that we know today in America is a result of Clement Moore’s poem, The Night Before Christmas, written in the mid-1800s. This description of Santa Claus was expanded upon by Coca-Cola in an advertising campaign in the early 1900s.
Candy Cane- The shepherds crook, used to bring lams back into the fold—a reminder that we are our brother’s keeper.
Another meaning is found in this story: A candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy--White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church and firmness of the promises of God. The candy maker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the “Good Shepherd” with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray. Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promises of eternal life. Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cane, a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those who “have eyes to see and ears to hear.” I pray that this symbol will again be used to remind us of Jesus Christ and His great love.
Santa Claus was a real man. He lived about 400 years after Jesus. He was the Bishop of a church. He loved Jesus. Bishop Nicholas had a friend that had three daughters, but they could not get married because their father did not have the money for their dowries. So late one night, in secret, Bishop Nicholas threw three bags of gold into their living room. The bags landed in socks that were drying by the fireplace (thus the tradition of stocking hung by the fireplace). Later the Catholic Church made Bishop Nicholas a saint, making him Saint Nicholas. The Santa Claus that we know today in America is a result of Clement Moore’s poem, The Night Before Christmas, written in the mid-1800s. This description of Santa Claus was expanded upon by Coca-Cola in an advertising campaign in the early 1900s.
Candy Cane- The shepherds crook, used to bring lams back into the fold—a reminder that we are our brother’s keeper.
Another meaning is found in this story: A candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy--White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church and firmness of the promises of God. The candy maker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could also represent the staff of the “Good Shepherd” with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray. Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promises of eternal life. Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cane, a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those who “have eyes to see and ears to hear.” I pray that this symbol will again be used to remind us of Jesus Christ and His great love.
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