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Traditions and Symbols

The Christian church seasons of Advent and Christmas are rich with traditions and symbols.  Many of these had their origins in pagan traditions.  So Christians interpreted many of these in spiritual ways to help them as well as new believers focus on Christ.

 Advent Calendar

Many people use an Advent Calendar during the Christmas season.  It  counts down the first 25 days in December and often has little doors that open to reveal an object related to Christmas. Advent Calendars come in both secular and religious styles.

Advent colors - a blue surprise!

Advent wreathThe traditional colors of Advent and of Advent Wreath candles have been purple, pink, and white.  But blue has begun replacing purple.

So did use of purple for Advent come from? Well, Advent was originally 40 days long, just like Lent, and the church used to stress penance during Advent.

But at the Vatican II Council, the emphasis during Advent was changed to one of hope.  Blue is the church color associated hope.

Most modern Christian churches no longer stress penance during Advent.  Rather, Advent is a most often seen as a time of preparation, hope, and joy... of looking forward to Christ's second coming as well as backward to his birth.  Since the color blue represents hope, many congregations believe that blue candles fit modern Advent celebrations and services better than purple.

Congregations that continue to use purple during Advent now rationalize its use as a color of royalty.

The Advent wreath

Advent wreath and candles - Avondale Pattillo UMC The Advent wreath is a very popular Advent tradition. Although its exact origins are not known, most sources trace use of a winter wreath back to pre-Christian Germany and Scandinavia, where the people gathered to celebrate the return of the sun after the winter solstice. The circular wreath made of evergreens with four candles interspersed represented the circle of the year and the life that endures through the winter. As the days grew longer, people lit candles to offer thanks to the "sun god" for the light.

Many sources attribute the use of the Advent wreath as a Christian religious custom to Lutherans in Eastern Germany. Fr. William Saunders states that by 1600, Lutherans and Catholics had adopted more formal rituals concerning use of the Advent wreath.

The traditional Advent Wreath has five candles, three being blue (or purple), one pink (or rose), and one white. The four non-white candles are placed in a wreath of evergreens or an ornamented wreath. One candle is lit each Sunday in Advent, with the pink candle being lit on the third Sunday (Gaudete Sunday, often misspelled "Gaudette") in Advent.  When the candles from the previous weeks are relit, it's symbolic of the arrival of Christ bringing light into darkness.

The traditional color of the purple came from when the tone for Advent was penance, just like Lent.  The more modern color of blue for three of the candles comes from the modern emphasis on hope.  Blue is the liturgical color for hope.

 Bells

bellsBells both call us to worship (church bells) and remind us of the joyous angelic announcement of Christ's birth to the lowly shepherds.

The golden color of ones often seen is a Kingly one and reminds us of our Lord and Savior.

 Candles

candleTo Christians, lit candles remind us that Jesus is the light of the world... the light we should follow.

"I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won't be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life."  [CEV] John 8:12

That's why they are part of the Advent wreath.  At a time of God's own choosing, He came, to shine a light in a spiritually dark world.

 Candy Canes

Candy canesThe candy cane is a symbol of the humble roots of Christianity, the shepherd's crook. Legend has it that in 1670, the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral in Massachusetts handed out plain white sugar sticks among his young singers to keep them quiet during the long Living Crèche ceremony. In honor of the occasion, he had the candies bent into shepherds' crooks. Since then, more Christian symbolism has been attributed to these Christmas candies.

The hardness of the candy cane reminds Christians that the church was founded on solid rock.

The traditional peppermint flavor of the cane is tastes like hyssop, a plant in the mint family.  It was used in the Old Testament for  purification and sacrifice.

Records show that some people gave candy canes to children who learned their prayers. The shape of the candy cane, like a 'J', signifies Jesus.

In 1847, a German-Swedish immigrant named August Imgard of Wooster, Ohio, decorated a small blue spruce with paper ornaments and candy canes.

It was not until the 1920's that the candy cane's more recognizable striping was added. It is in this regard that Georgian Bob McCormick, from Albany, even has a place in candy cane history.  Bob McCormick ran a small confectioners in Albany, GA, and started by hand-twisting the colors into the candy canes. In the 1950s, Bob’s brother-in-law Gregory Keller, a Catholic priest, invented a machine to automate candy cane production. "Bob's Candies" is now a very common commercial brand of candy cane.

In the now traditional candy cane, Christians have found ways to remind themselves of the true focus of Christmas -- Christ.  We are reminded of Christ's blood and His purity by red and white stripes. You may have noticed the different size of the red stripes. The wider red stripe reminds us of the blood that Jesus shed on the cross. The stripes and wounds that he received are symbolized by the smaller red stripes. The white stripes represent Christ's sinless purity.  The three stripes together represent the Holy Trinity.

The following links are off-site and open in a new window:

 Christmas carols

CarollersThe word "caroling" dates back to ancient Greece and the word choraulien, meaning "to dance to a flute." During the Middle Ages, carols were English and French dances accompanied by singing.

In the French Midi, for example, the "carol" was a kind of round dance. Over time, the word "carol" has changed its meaning, and now refers only to certain kinds of songs.

The Anglo-Saxon tradition was to assemble small choirs on the village lawn to sing carols and Christmas songs for the pleasure of passers-by. A number of popular American Christmas carols came from France and England.

 Christmas cards

First Christmas cardChristmas cards are a Victorian creation that began in London, England, in 1843 and was helped along by the development of the public "Penny Post" and the speed with which the new railroads could deliver mail. They started out as a kind of stationery.

Sir Henry Cole, a British Postal Service worker, together with an artist he hired named John Horsley, created the first card. This early card showed a Christmas scene framed in three panels. The center panel was a home table scene -- children, parents and grandparents seated, with some raising their glasses for a toast. The side panels depicted acts of Christmas charity -- to the left, feeding the hungry; to the right, clothing the naked. Underneath was the now familiar phrase "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You."

At first the cards were almost exclusively religious, but they slowly branched out to include humor and non-religious sentiments.

In Germany, manufactured Christmas cards flourished in the 1860s. The earliest known Christmas card posted in Finland dates from 1871.

Christmas cards started in America just three years after being introduced in Britain -- 1846.  But they made their real breakthrough in the 1920s. Advances in printing techniques added to the popularity of Christmas cards. This was also the time when red became the color most associated with Christmas.

 Christmas Eve

Christians may derive the Christmas Eve tradition from Jewish holidays, which extend from sundown to sundown.  Christmas Eve services are often a Candlelight Service, when at some time the only lighting is provided by candles placed around the sanctuary and ones held by worshippers.  The service often includes a retelling of the Christmas Story and singing of several favorite Christmas hymns.  Some churches hold a midnight service -- one that ends at midnight as the day celebrating Christ's birth is ushered in.

Many families have Christmas Eve traditions too.  Some have a complete ritual that is followed -- lights turned off except for Christmas tree lights, eating certain foods, opening of one gift, and so on.

 Christmas Rose

Rose of SharonThe Rose of Sharon is the common name for one of two unrelated plants. One plant is Aaron's beard, or goldflower (Saint-John's-Wort). The other is the  althaea. But the biblical rose of Sharon, made famous in the Song of Solomon, has actually not been identified. Some botanists think it's a species of narcissus; others think it's the autumn crocus.

Adapted from Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. 
All rights reserved.

 Christmas stockings

Christmas stockingsAccording to an old tradition, three poor girls who needed the money for their wedding dowries had hung their stockings by the fire to dry.  The original Saint Nicholas found out their need and left his very first gifts of gold coins in their stockings.

For a long time, it was traditional to receive small items like fruit, nuts and candy in your stocking. But since the 1950s, many homes have seen more expensive gifts replacing the simple ones.

The tradition of a lump of coal in the stockings of naughty children comes from Italy.

 Christmas trees

Christmas treeAt a time of the year when the leaves of other types of trees have browned and fallen off, evergreens keep their fresh, green look.  They are a symbol for life.

Dr. Martin Luther was one of the first to use the Christmas tree as a home decoration. Tradition holds that while on a walk one Christmas Eve, Dr. Luther noticed an evergreen tree shining in the moonlight. He couldn't forget this beautiful picture. He returned home with an evergreen tree and decorated it with candles. Luther told his children that the tree should remind them of the brightness of Christmas and its message of the Savior's birth.

By the beginning of the 19th century, all of Germany had adopted the use of the green "Christmas" tree. They added stars, sweetmeats, tiny toys, and gilded nuts together with candles on the trees.

The custom spread to England in the 19th century during the reign of Queen Victoria, who was married to the German Prince Albert. He wanted to have his children enjoy one of his childhood memories. The custom of a Christmas Tree soon spread throughout Europe and was brought to the United States by Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820's. Queen Victoria had a Christmas Tree placed in Windsor Castle in 1841.

 Dr. Henry Schwan introduced the custom of a lighted Christmas tree in church, in Zion Lutheran Church in Cleveland Ohio, Christmas Eve 1851.

In Germany and in ancient northern cultures, after the December  festivities, the branches were removed and the trunk was decorated on May 1st as a May Pole, celebrating a rebirth of spring. The tree was then cut up and the largest log was used the next December as the Yule Log.

 Christmas tree ornaments

Star tree topperThe Star.  Christ is the star that all wise people follow, as did wise men of old.

Christmas tree ornament bulbsOrnaments.  The common Christmas season colors of red and green originated with the red apples that once hung on the green Paradeisbaum, or Paradise Tree, which was part of 14th century religious pageantry. Most decorations we hang on trees today have a long history and once had very specific religious associations.

Gilded nuts and gingerbread cookies were hidden in the tree. Marzipan candies, shaped like fruits and vegetables, were hung from the boughs. Brightly decorated eggshells, cut in half and filled with tiny candies, were set in the tree like bird nests. So many sweets were hung from the tree that some people called it "the sugar tree". On the Twelfth Night of Christmas, January 5th, when it was believed that the Magi arrived in Bethlehem bearing gifts, the tree was shaken and the children finally were allowed to eat the sweets that fell from the tree.

The wafers once hung on the Paradise tree were replaced with cookies in the form of hearts, bells, angels and stars. With time, maybe because many decorations were eaten before the tree was taken down, decorations made out of thin, painted metal replaced the cookies.

The type of Christmas tree decorations we use today started  when families in colder climates combined the decorations of the Paradise Tree with the candles that were used on conifer trees. Even today some people decorate the Christmas tree with strings of popcorn or hang cookies on some branches.

In 1880, Woolworth's department store was first to put manufactured Christmas tree ornaments on sale. They were immediately popular.

Christmas tree lightsLights.  Martin Luther, in the 16th century, is credited as being the first person to put candles on a tree. The first electrically lighted Christmas tree appeared in 1882.

Albert Sadacca was only fifteen, when in 1917 a tragic fire in New York City involving Christmas tree candles inspired him to invent electric Christmas lights. The Sadacca family sold ornamental novelty items including novelty lights. Albert adapted some of the products into safe electric lights for Christmas trees. The first year only one hundred strings of white lights sold. The second year Sadacca used brightly colored bulbs and a booming multi-million-dollar business was born.

In 1923 Calvin Coolidge held the first lighting of an outdoor Christmas tree at the White House, thereby starting a long tradition.

 Christmas wreaths

Christmas wreathA circle symbolizes continuance - it never ends.  It also reminds us of the never ending love of God.  Christmas wreaths are traditionally circles made with evergreens, which symbolize life.  They are often decorated with other natural plant parts, such as pine cones and holly berries.

As the Christmas wreath tradition has become more commercialized, all kinds of decorated wreaths can be found, some with no evergreens in them at all.

 Chrismons

Chrismon, n. [Medieval Latin, from Latin Christus + Late Latin monogramma.] Christ Monogram. A type of Christmas Tree decoration used in many churches and often in the homes of Christians.

Chrismon tree, Avondale Pattillo UMCThe symbols used in the decorations represent Christ, Christianity, or a variety of biblical and theological concepts. Crowns, crosses, doves, butterflies and stars are a few examples of a Chrismon design. If the ornaments on a Christmas tree are comprised mostly of such Christian symbols, the tree is known as a "Chrismon Tree." Most Chrismons are white with gold decorations of beads, ribbon, glitter, etc. White is the liturgical color for Christmas and suggests purity and joy. Gold is a color for kings and represents the glory and majesty of God.

The symbols themselves date back to the early Christian church. Early Christians were not very good artists. In fact, they were afraid to allow any kind of art that could possibly encourage anyone to worship  "graven images" of any kind. But as the church grew, leaders found that art was needed to help give it a sense of identity. Also, art helped people who couldn't read or write to understand certain Christian ideas and principles.

Throughout all the controversy surrounding the use of art in the church, symbols seemed to be somehow different from "art", so they were accepted.

The Anchor Cross Chrismon tree ornamentMrs. Frances Spencer, a member of the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia, began making her own Christmas tree decorations and eventually became a professional tree decorator. In 1957 she was asked to decorate the tree at her church. Wanting to make the tree decorations special in order to reflect the tradition of her faith, she began to use these early Christian symbols. Thus the "Chrismon Tree" was born.

Since 1957, her ideas have been published in several books (she assigned the copyrights to the name "Chrismon" to her church).  One stipulation is that Chrismons may never be sold for profit, which explains why you don't find Chrismons in stores. Patterns for making Chrismons are for sale, though.

The following Chrismon links are off-site and open in a new window.

 Crèche (manger scene)

Creche used at Avondale Pattillo UMCA crèche is a model of the stable in which Jesus was born, complete with figures. Though we don't know for sure exactly what it looks like, it is most often depicted as a wooden stable, with some showing it as in a cave.  Some manger scenes are even stylistic, with no real shelter, just a platform to display the figurines.  The scene always includes Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus.

Traditionally there are also angels, shepherds, sheep, wise men, camels, donkeys, and other animals. The French call it a crèche, the Italian Presepio, the Spanish Nacimiento, the German Krippe, the Irish Manger, and the British call it a Crib.  Most Americans call it either a crèche or a manger.

It was St. Francis of Assisi who created the first crèche in Italy in 1223. He used real animals and people to depict the birth of the Savior. The building of crèches became popular after his unique and touching re-enactment of the Nativity. Crèches have now become an important part of Christmas in America and around the world. The crèche reminds us to focus our Christmas celebration on the birth of Jesus, the Savior.  His birth is the real cause for joy at Christmas.

"Crèches bring together faith and art. They show a respect for different cultures and artistic expressions,” says James Govan, president of Friends of the Crèche.

Crèche resources:

Crèches from around the world

 Evergreens, Holly, and Ivy

Holly and berriesHolly and ivy, along with pine and fir trees are called evergreens because they are always green. They look alive even in the middle of a frigid winter, when other trees and shrubs look dead. 

Evergreens were an ancient symbol of immortality, life and growth.  Ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life.

In many countries people believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness. Ancient Romans considered evergreens a symbol of peace, joy, and victory.

But for Christians, evergreens symbolize the unchanging nature of our God, and remind us of the everlasting life that is ours through Christ.

Early Christians placed evergreens in their windows to indicate that Christ had entered the home.  Holly became widely used in church celebrations, as the bush with its red berries is considered by some as representing the burning bush.  The Holly bush reminds others of Mary, aglow with the Holy Spirit. The red berries represent the blood drops from the cruel thorns in the crown of Jesus.

Fruitcake

GOlden FruitcakeFruitcakes started with the Romans, who needed to sustain their army in faraway lands. And just like Rome, a good fruitcake is not built in a day nor does it last just a day. From Rome, fruitcake took Europe by storm. In fact, it was law that the serving of fruitcake (also known as plum cake) was limited to certain holidays and only the most important milestones (e.g., weddings and funerals).

Prior to the 1700's, crusaders and hunters carried fruitcake to sustain themselves over long periods of time away from home.

Although in modern times we associate fruitcake with Christmas, fruitcake has been used since the 1700's in ceremonial celebrations of all kinds throughout Europe, including religious holidays, harvest celebrations, birthdays and weddings.

Traditionally, the top layer of the wedding cake called the "Bride's Cake", was a dark fruitcake that was removed and stored for the bridal couple to savor on their anniversaries.

A separate piece of fruitcake from the "Groom's cake" was wrapped in a wedding napkin, tied with a white ribbon and put at each guest's place at the table. Single women would put it under their pillow to dream of a groom of their own.

The "Party 411" Web site creators proclaim, "According to information gleaned from the web, the majority of Americans feel that fruitcake is best used as a doorstop, as a gift for someone else, or as land fill (the opinion of the majority)."

Recipes (you can substitute fruit juice for any liquor in a recipe).  And here's a recipe tip... Dried fruits cooked in juice can take the place of candied fruits, and seeds can replace nuts. To convert a "dark" fruitcake recipe to a "light" fruitcake, leave out the dark spices, use light colored fruits (golden raisins, dried apricots, etc.), and replace dark corn syrup or molasses with light corn syrup.

 Giving of gifts

Christmas presentIn ancient Rome, people exchanged gifts on New Years' Day, as a way of saying "Happy New Year". Gifts might be jewelry, pieces of gold and silver, or homemade pastry, cookies and candies, depending on the wealth of the giver.

When the Apostles brought the Gospel to Rome, the locals learned of the Wise Men who had come to present gifts to the newborn King. From then on, the exchanging of presents remained, but it was done in imitation of the Three Kings (a.k.a. Wise Men). The gifts of the wise men foreshadow the life and death of Jesus. Gold was a gift fit for a King. Incense (frankincense - a resin that burns with a wonderful smell) was burnt in worship of God. Myrrh (plant oil with a very strong sweet smell) was used when burying the dead.

Nobody was really in the habit of exchanging elaborate gifts until the late 1800s. In 1867, the American department store Macy's, in New York City, stayed open until midnight Christmas Eve. Seven years later, in 1874, they were the first to design their window displays around a Christmas theme. That seems to have started the secular-oriented, commercialized gift-giving craze. 

Today, heavy Christmas advertising, shopping, and even street decorations starts well before Thanksgiving! Some believe that the increasing din of commercialism is drowning out the spiritual message of Christmas.

 Jesse Tree

Jesse ornamentThere was an old custom in Europe and early America of hanging symbolic ornaments on a Christmas tree during Advent -- ornaments which represented the Messianic prophecies -- often with the prophecies included within the ornaments. This tree was gradually assembled during the days of Advent and was called the Jesse Tree, after King David's father.

 

"A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots." Isaiah 11:1

A branch is a biblical sign of new hope arising in discouraging times.  This became a way to talk about the coming of the expected messiah.  This is where the Jesse Tree gets its name.  

Jesse treeChristians see this passage in Isaiah as foretelling the birth of Jesus, a descendent of King David. A small tree or symbolic tree is decorated, usually by the children, with ornaments or objects that represent Old Testament events from Creation to the Birth of Jesus. Thus the spiritual heritage of Jesus is displayed on a kind of "family tree." Traditionally, the ornaments are handmade.

Are you "stumped" (pun intended) about how to make Jesse Tree ornaments? You can buy  a Jesse Tree ornament kit, if you want a "jump start" on ideas.

 Mistletoe

MistletoeMistletoe is a parasitical plant with white berries.  Mistletoe seems to have been used as a decoration in houses for thousands of years. It's also associated with it Celtic druidism and many pagan rituals. Marriage ceremonies conducted by Druids included kissing under mistletoe. For Scandinavians, the goddess of love (Frigga) is strongly associated with mistletoe. This may be where our tradition of kissing under mistletoe comes from. 

The Church was concerned with the plant's pagan past and substituted holly, making it a symbol of Christ. The sharp leaves of the holly plant represent Christ's crown of thorns, and the red berries symbolize drops of his blood. In spite of this attempt to stamp out mistletoe as a Yuletide symbol, the practice of kissing under the mistletoe has persisted, even in song.

 Poinsettias

PoinsettiaPoinsettias were attached to Christmas starting in 1828. Joel Roberts Poinsett, then the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, imported the plant from Mexico, which had a Christmas "miracle" story about how the plants leaves became red.  The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. Thus the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season.

With their huge popularity as a Christmas season plant, horticulturists have developed hardier and redder varieties.  The seeds to these plants are considered so valuable, that they are even copyrighted!

 Yule log

Decorated Yule logThe Yule log was a huge log used as the foundation of holiday fires long ago. Many superstitions surrounded the log. It had to be ignited the first time a flame was put to it or bad luck would surely follow. It had to be lit with a stick saved from the fire from the year before or the house would burn down. And unless charcoal from the great fire was kept under the family beds for the following year, the house might be struck by lightning. 

Bringing the Yule log in was, as recently as the 19th century, as much a part of the pre-Christmas festivities as putting up an evergreen tree today.

The origin of the word "Yule" goes back to the Middle English "yollen", meaning " cry aloud". Its use may stem from early Anglo-Saxon shouts in celebration of the discovery (after the winter solstice) that nights were becoming shorter.

Yule logs today may be plain, with an added candle, or decorated.

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