The Christmas season is a time of color and light, with Christmas Trees, evergreen boughs, garlands, lights, candles and extravagant yard decorations. The holiday decorations and lights are put up during the Advent Season, which is a time of hope and joyful anticipation.
Christmas commemorates that very first Christmas, when Jesus was born in a humble stable in Bethlehem. Over 2000 years ago, people were hoping and praying for the Messiah to deliver them from sin and reconcile them with God. Today, people commemorate the birthday of the Savior.
Many of the decorations that are used today have origins that go back hundreds of years.
Hanging of the Green
Advent is the four week season before Christmas, a time of hope and joyful anticipation. Traditional Christmas decorations include the hanging of the greens and evergreen trees in the home.
Ancient Romans considered evergreens a symbol of peace, joy and victory. Early Christians placed evergreens in their windows to show that Christ had entered their home.
Evergreen trees, pine, fir, holly and ivy are called evergreens because they never change color. They are ever green, alive. Even in the midst of winter the evergreen trees are alive. Their unchanging nature reminds people of everlasting life through Jesus.
Holly was considered the burning bush and became widely used in church celebrations. The holly was a symbol of Mary, whose being glows with the Holy Spirit. The red berries symbolize the blood drops for the thorns in the crown of Jesus on the cross.
Isaiah 60:13, in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, says; ‘The Glory of Lebanon shall come unto you, the fir tree, the pine tree and the box together, to beautify the place of your sanctuary.’
The Christmas Tree
The Christmas Tree has become the center of festivities, with lights and ornament a beautiful part the Christmas. There are several legends about the Christmas Tree.
The first use of the Christmas tree was in medieval German Paradise Plays that were held outdoors. The trees portrayed the creation of humankind. The Tree of Life was a fir tree decorated with apples. Later ornaments were hung on the tree.
Martin Luther, the religious reformer was perhaps the first person to decorate a tree with candles to celebrate Christmas.
Poinsettia
The poinsettia is a Christmas tradition that comes from Mexico and Central America, wheer people called the colorful tropical plant the ‘Flower of the Holy Night. The poinsettia, with it pointed leaves, looks like a flaming red star.
Resources:
The Voice CRI/Voice Institute
Biblical and Theological Resources for Growing Christians
