In case you didn’t know, I’m a big fan of Christmas. I love the decorations, the food, and friend and family get-togethers. There are so many traditions associated with Christmas, some are obvious and others are not. Have you ever wondered about the origins of some of these traditions?
Many of our traditions have pagan origins, but God can use pagan symbols making it His own. “December 25” comes from the pagan celebration of the Winter Solstice, which occurs December 21 or 22. From that date on, the days begin to get longer and so does the amount of light. Jesus is the Light of the World who brings light into a dark world.
It doesn’t take a stretch of imagination to see the significance of an angel tree topper, as the “angels we have heard on high” who proclaimed the birth of Jesus. And the triangular shape of the Christmas tree points to Jesus, representing the Trinity. Even the lights on the tree point to the Light of the world and our joining together to spread the light.
Did you know candy canes were originally all white, straight, and called a sugar stick?! The curved crook was added by a choirmaster in 1670 to cause it to resemble a shepherd’s staff. Red stripes were added in the early 20th century to represent the blood and purity of Jesus. While some maintain that the shape is a “J” for Jesus, others claim it is a symbol of The Good Shepherd!
Traditional red and green Christmas colors point us to Jesus – like those found in evergreen wreaths you hang on your door – green symbolizing the eternal life which Jesus gives us, and red represents the blood that He shed to give us eternal life.
This year as you open Christmas gifts, remember that even the giving of gifts points us to Jesus. God gave us the best gift ever by sending His Son to earth to provide us with salvation and His wonderful grace. Make sure you display His love and grace and shine your light into the darkness this year at Christmas. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not of your own doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast,” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV).