1 Symbols of Christmas
2 2012 Steve and Kara Murphy. All Rights Reserved. This work is our Christmas gift to you. You may share this freely with anyone. All we ask is that you share it complete and intact and that you do not use portions of this work without express permission from the authors. A Note About Christmas Symbols: Some of our brothers in Christ, good Christians whom we love, object to the use of certain (or all) Christmas symbols because pagans (or people claiming to be God s people) abused those symbols in history past. To that we counter: These elements were and are God s first and we are charged to bring everything under the Lordship of Christ. Years ago, Christians shied from the use of the rainbow because unregenerate men practicing what God calls evil adopted this particular symbol as their own. It took Christian several decades to realize that God gave the rainbow to his people first as symbol of his promise after the flood. Upon this realization, we took it back to use it in its proper way. In the same way, we believe that non-christians borrowed many Christmas symbols from God and his people and used them to worship wrongly. We must reclaim these created objects and use them for the holy purpose for which they were designed to give glory to God (Psalm 19).
3 Fifteen Symbols of Christmas The etymology of common symbols of Christmas can be an interesting topic of study. Where and when a practice began, its original purpose, and how it represented Christian truth or was reclaimed by Christians to teach truth is worth examination. Here, though, our purpose is not to discover what a symbol meant, but what it means today and how as we behold these symbols in day-today life we can focus our attention on the Truth of Christmas. How can we see Christ in the Christmas motifs of our day? We hope this guide will help you lead your children closer to the Savior who left his home in heaven, became incarnate as a Man, died to save us from our sin, and rose again to conquer sin and death and keep your hearts focused on the One who gives us merry rest in Him. Merry Christmas! Christmas Wreath with Bows The King s Unending Love The Christmas wreath represents the crown of the King and the crown of thorns that was placed on Jesus head in mockery. The wreath is a circle which represents the continuous, never-ending nature of God s love for us. The tied bows represent our bond in Christ purchased through Jesus blood, but also of the red cord Rahab placed outside her window, the sign of salvation for a pagan Gentile and her family.
4 Xmas Christ s Death on the Cross Mistakenly, many Christians believe that Xmas is an attempt to take remove Christ from Christmas. Actually, it is short hand for Christ s Mass, the name this holiday was given. X is the Greek letter chi, and the first letter of the word Christ in Greek. Xmas prompts us to take communion on Christmas morning and keep Christ central in importance on this holy day (holiday). Holly and Mistletoe Everlasting Life through the Blood of Christ Holly, an evergreen that reminds us of life everlasting, has sharp points on its leaves that remind us the crown of thorns. Its red berries represent Christ s blood shed for us. Mistletoe has no roots and must live off another tree, reminding us that He is the Vine and without Him we can do nothing. Mistletoe also represents love, our love for Christ, his love for us, and our love for our brothers.
5 Old Saint Nick Faithful Generosity Santa Claus is a corruption of Bishop Nicholas of Myra, a generous, loving man who served the Lord faithfully and was particularly attentive to children and the impoverished. The tradition of hanging stockings on the mantel grows from a story about Nicholas trying to secretly provide dowries for three young virgins by throwing gold balls or bags of gold in through a window. They landed in the young ladies shoes or stockings hanging to dry by the fireplace. Most of the commercialized symbols of Saint Nick grow from the Victorian poem, The Night Before Christmas and from Coca-Cola s widespread advertising campaign in the twentieth century. In our home, we celebrate Saint Nicholas Day but do not go see Santa at the mall. Poinsettias Offering Our Best to Christ The five, pointed leaves of the poinsettia flower remind us of the star over Bethlehem that indicated the place of the Christ Child, that earned it the name of the Christmas Star. A Mexican legend about two poor children who had nothing to offer the Lord picked weeds which grew into poinsettias at the manger scene popularized this flower. It was brought to the United States by the first Ambassador to Mexico in 1825.
6 Candy Cane Our Good Shepherd, Gave Himself for Us In the story, The Legend of the Candy Cane, the author explains some of the symbolism of this popular candy. It is shaped like a shepherd s crook reminding us of the shepherds who were the first to hear God s message of Christ s birth, the many shepherds God used throughout His redemptive plan, and most of, our Good Shepherd, Jesus. Turned upside down, the candy forms the letter J for Jesus. The red and white stripes represent Christ s blood and purity and that by His stripes we are healed. Bells Rejoice, We Have a High Priest! The first place bells were used was along the hem of the High Priest s garment. The tinkling was heard as the priest entered and left God s presence. It isn t hard to see why churches took up the practice of ringing bells at the beginning and end of times of worship. Bells remind us to rejoice that we have a High Priest who makes intercession for us and through whom we have access to the Father.
7 Angels and Stars Announce the Birth of the Savior The Bible speaks to the angels and the star as symbols of Christ s birth. Angels proclaimed the message of salvation to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. The start appeared over Bethlehem guiding the Wisemen to the place where Jesus lived. These are among the many miraculous signs surrounding the Lord s birth. You may want to point out the error of the effeminate representations of angels we often see. When angels appear, people tremble. They may be white robed, but they do not look like overgrown boys choir members! Christmas Carols Glory to God in the Highest! Singing is a natural expression of the joy we feel at the birth of our Savior. Throughout redemptive history, the people of God express themselves in song during times of triumph, giving thanks and praising the Lord. One of the things I love about Christmas carols is that you will see the most anti-christian pagans singing praise to the Lord in the theologically sound words of Christmas carols He makes the very rocks cry out!
8 Cookies and Pastries Jesus, the Bread of Life, Gave Himself so We Can Have Sweet Joy The Bread of Life offers Himself in the Feast the bread of communion. Why wouldn t we want to offer out finest breads and pastries to others when the Bread of Life was offered to us in a manger, a feeding trough? Preparing and eating our Christmas sweets reminds us of the sweet joy we experience because the Bread of Life gave Himself for us. Christmas Trees Christ Gives Us Eternal Life in Heaven For centuries the evergreen tree has reminded Christians of the eternal life we experience in Christ. The conical shape points our focus toward heaven. Many of the tree decorations are symbols themselves of Christ and the Christian life (especially if you are intentional about choosing them.) The tradition of topping trees with stars or angels reminds of the first Advent. This tree also reminds us of the first Tree of Life in the Garden. Even the fact that it is cut down and then erected again can remind us of the Resurrection.
9 Christmas Lights and Candles Jesus is the Light of the World The prophets prophecy that Jesus will be a light in the darkness. In the same way, we are to be lights, a city set on a hill, proclaiming His gospel to people who walk in darkness. One of the most common symbols of the Advent season is the Advent wreath with four candles each representing preparation, anticipation, hope, peace, and Christ. The light from the candles (and later, electric lights) also remind us of the star. Lights on the tree represent Christ, the Light of the world who offers everlasting life. Christmas Presents Because God Gives Us Gifts, We Offer Gifts The Wiseman brought gifts to Jesus, the first Christmas presents. God also gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit, the greatest Gift we can receive. Our gifts to one another are a logical outworking to the Greatest Commandment to love the Lord and your neighbor as yourself. Focus your attention on the gifts that you give to others. Let your gifts be given meaningfully and lovingly, not begrudgingly or out of duty. God gave, so we give.
10 Snow and Ice, December 25 Christ Melts Our Hard Hearts and Ends Our Spiritual Winter Although it is likely that December 25 was not Jesus actual birthday, the weather in the northern hemisphere reminds us of the hardness of our hearts and that Christ melts those hard hearts to soften them to the Gospel. December 25, the date set by the Church as the date to celebrate Christmas Day, is soon after the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year) and the return of longer days with more sunshine reminds of the hope we have in Christ and the effect his Advent has on the World, bringing more and more light into the darkness. Gingerbread Men Created Man has Hope Only in the Immortal Christ The poor gingerbread man his only purpose, as we know from the folktale, is to be eaten. The gingerbread man does not create or sustain himself in the same way that humankind must have a Creator and Sustainer. Thankfully, we do not get eaten like a gingerbread man, but we are created for a specific purpose and we are to be consumed (though in a different way) by Christ. The spiciness of the gingerbread can also remind us of the spices offered to the Savior at his birth, and just before and after his death. May we be like Mary who poured out her best, most expensive in worship of her Lord.