Symbols of the Season

 ANGELS Angels are mentioned throughout the Bible as protective guardians and messengers from God. They appeared to the shepherds to tell them about the birth of Jesus. Angels are favorite decorations on cards and tops of Christmas trees. The message of the angels at Christmas is joy. There are also stories of people helping other people, and this help being credited to “an angel.”

 ANIMALS Jesus was born in a stable or barn because his family could not find a room in an inn or hotel. The story says that Jesus first bed was the manger, or eating trough that the animals used. The manger was filled with hay that was soft and warm. Mary rode a donkey on the way from Nazareth to Bethlehem before Jesus was born. And Mary and the baby Jesus rode a donkey as they escaped from King Herod, who was looking for Jesus.

 BELLS Ringing of bells at Christmastime is from pagan mid-winter celebrations. When the earth was cold and the sun was dying, evil spirits were thought to be powerful. One of the ways to drive them off was by making a great deal of noise. On Christmas Eve in medieval times, the bells warned the devil of the birth of Jesus. For an hour before midnight, the bells sounded sad. Then, at midnight, they sounded happy to announce the death of evil and the birth of Jesus. In Scandinavia, bells signal the end of work and the beginning of festivity.

 CANDLES The light from the candle and bonfires imitated the sun, which is scarce in northern areas in winter.  The candle at Christmas shows that Jesus was the “light of the world,” and lived a life of love for everyone.

 CANDY CANES A candy maker in Indiana made the candy cane to incorporate symbols of the birth, ministry and death of Jesus.

The white is the goodness of Jesus, and the hardness of the candy is the firmness of the promises of God.

The shape is the letter J for Jesus, and also represents the staff of the shepherds to help sheep in rough places.

The red is for the blood, because Jesus later died for his beliefs and teachings.

 CARDS The first Christmas card was made and sold in London in 1843 by John Calcott Hosley, an artist. The card had a picture of a family dinner and “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You” on a postcard. The first card in American was produced by Louis Prang in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1875. As cards travel around the world, they link friends and nations in celebration. Cards are displayed as Christmas decorations. Special cards are saved to remember friends. What would John Hosley say about “cards” being sent electronically?

 CAROLS Christmas songs were sung as early as 129 AD. In Middle English carole was a kind of round dance with singing, from Old French carole. Caroling was popular in England until it was banned by the Puritans as being pagan. This custom probably originated in pagan times to ward off evil spirits. Sometimes a group of musicians takes instruments to the belfry of a local church and lustily play four Christmas carols, one in each direction of the compass. They finish with a joyful peal of the bells, which announces that Christmas has arrived.

 Crèche. The crèche is the scene in the stable or barn at the time Jesus was born. The main characters in the scene are Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus. Usually there are some animals, like sheep, possibly some shepherds, and sometimes the three kings or wise men. Crèches come in all sizes. There are small ones that can be hung from the tree or carried in a pocket, and there are big ones, using people and animals, or life size statues.

  GIFTS/PRESENTS. There are many celebrations that include for giving gifts: St. Nicholas (Santa Claus), the kings giving gifts to Jesus, the Roman custom of giving gifts of good luck during Saturnalia, the predecessor to Christmas Day. Gifts are a major part of the Christmas celebration, both the gifts we give and the gifts we get. There are many traditions about giving gifts to the poor or sick or lonely. We spend time making gifts and buying gifts, and wrapping gifts. When we give a special gift, we are giving part of ourselves.

 YULE LOG The yule log may have started in Scandinavia and brought to the British Isles. It was a big event to go out and choose the yule log. The log was burned, hopefully for the 12 days of Christmas (Dec. 25-Jan.6) and the charred remains were saved to use as kindling for the following year's fire. The remains were also seen as a protection for the house against lightning and fire. The log should be carried into the house by the youngest and oldest in a family. There were many ideas about the good or bad luck that the log brought.

   WREATHS A wreath suggests a crown and seems to have been used first in Greece to indicate honor and peace. Legend says that little Jesus, carrying a fir branch, wanders on Christmas Eve seeking homes where he is remembered and loved. Whenever he finds a home with evergreen on the door or window, he touches it for a blessing. In England, Advent wreaths had four candles, one for each week of Advent, the time to get ready for Christmas.We light the candles each week for Faith, Hope, Love and Jo, and consider the wreath itself to symbolize Patience.

  HOLLY On the night that Jesus was born, it is said that fruit appeared on trees, even in cold areas. Maybe the red berries of England and France reminded people of this story. Early Christians in Rome were not allowed to celebrate Christmas. But Romans celebrated the Saturnalia festival, using holly. The Christians used holly to disguise their Christmas celebration.

The bright colors of the holly made it a natural sign of rebirth and life in the winter of northern Europe. In late December, people place holly and other evergreens around inside of their homes as a promise that the sun will return.

 BIRDS It is the custom in Scandinavia to place a sheaf of grain on top of a tall pole for the birds to eat, or popcorn chains, or even just seeds and bread are placed on a pole and set up outside where the birds are known to congregate. This is done on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The sight and sound of outdoor festivity at the bird’s Christmas tree adds to the indoor celebration of people.Birds are also part of the fun story of the Twelve Days of Christmas, with the "partridge in a pear tree" and swans and hens, to name a few.

 MISTLETOE Mistletoe was supposed to have healing powers. It was also a symbol of peace and enemies would stand beneath a spray of the plant to make peace compacts. Sometimes the peace would be sealed with a kiss. It became tradition that a kiss beneath a mistletoe branch held good luck. For each kiss, a berry was removed. When all of the berries were gone, that piece of mistletoe lost its magic.

 POINSETTIA In Mexican legend, a small boy had no gift to bring to church on Christmas. As he prayed, a plant grew at his feet, bright red and green. This plant became known as the “Flower of the Holy Night.”Between 1825 and 1829, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett was the American ambassador to Mexico. He brought the plant back to his home in South Carolina. It became a popular Christmas plant and was named after him. Actually, the “flowers” are really leaves! We now have different colors – red, white, pink.

 STOCKINGS Socks and shoes are used to collect things from St. Nicholas or Santa Claus. In Spain, Holland and Belgium, children fill their shoes with carrots and hay fro St. Nick’s white horse. We may leave cookies for Santa and something for the reindeer!. St. Nick is said to leave coal for children who have not been good and toys for those who have been good. By legend, a girl hung her stockings to dry and St. Nick left her gold.

ICC Religious Education
Immaculate Conception Parish
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Franklin
New Jersey, 07416

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