THEY'RE ALL ABOUT HIM!

I hope you all have loved the sights, smells and sounds of this Christmas Season. My prayer is that we have not been so distracted by the hustle and bustle that we have lost focus on the real meaning of Christmas - the Birth of Messiah, Christ Jesus! We enjoy the Christmas cookies, eggnog (well, some do), decorations, colored lights, magnificient displays, wreaths, cinnamon rolls, plays and pagents, Christmas dinner with pie for dessert and more! We delight in the Christmas concerts, singing or listening to favorite Christmas carols, worshipping Jesus in Christmas Candlelight Services and our family gatherings. The traditions we cherish all help us to make these 'HOLYDAYS" of Advent so very special!

But did you ever wonder WHY these seemingly random traditions signify Christmas in some way? Many of the Christmas symbols have very humble beginnings that go back very long ago, to more simpler times. I believe there are at least 24 different and definite emblems to remind us of Christmas. Relax! It's not my purpose to review all twenty-four of them, but I'll use this concluding blog of 2025 to reflect on some of them.

First, why do we set up CHRISTMAS TREES? Evergreen fir trees are universal winter decorations. Pagans displayed their branches as a reminder that spring would eventually reappear. The Romans placed evergreen trees around temples to honor Saturn, their god of agriculture. But, it is reported that the first time the evergreen was used as a Christmas Tree was either in Tallina, Estonia or Riga, Latvia. Each city lays claim to it being the true home of the first Christmas Tree. Another account reveals that the German Protestant reformer, Martin Luther, walking through a forest one winter night, saw stars shining through the evergreen tree branches. Amazed at the sight, which reminded him of the light of Christ shining into our world, he cut down one of the trees, carried it home and placed it inside his house with candles on it so that his family too would be reminded, as he had been, of the light of Christ. In the 16th Century, Christians all over Germany began bringing these trees inside their homes as a Christmas symbol of the light Christ brings into our lives, our homes and our world. When this news spread, Queen Victoria of England had her German husband, Prince Albert, set up a Christmas Tree in their palace, and it suddenly became a tradition and Christmas symbol in England and America.

Traditional stories and legends aside, we also notice that the Evergreen Tree points UPWARD showing us that the Sovereign God is in heaven. Christ, who was with God and is God, came down from heaven and was born of the virgin Mary and came to give us eternal life. Christ Jesus ascended back into heaven and is preparing a place for us that we might be eternally with Him in heaven. Jesus told His disciples, "I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).

Second, why CHRISTMAS CANDLES? The symbolism of light during the Christmas Season goes beyond just the lights on Christmas Trees and outdoor decorations. During the darkest days of the year, candles and even fire represented hope, warmth and rebirth in winter solstice traditions around the world. These eventually merged with the Christian traditions for Christmas. In Scandinavia, young girls wear wreaths lit with candles on their heads for St. Lucia Day on December 13. In New Mexico and other states, luminarias, which are lit candles placed in paper bags, light pathways, driveways and sidewalks at Christmas. A similar Mexican tradition, Las Parados, has young people carrying lit candles to symbolically light the way for Mary and Joseph's journey before the birth of Christ. How fitting is the Christmas Candle, for Jesus said, "I am the light of the world, he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12).

Third, why hang CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS? We give Ol' Saint Nick credit for those treats that fill up the kids' stockings. According to legend, the real-life Saint Nicholas, a Christian bishop in the 3rd century, had inherited great wealth and was renowned for his secret gift-giving to the poor. One story is told about when he heard of a widower who was distraught that his three daughters would never marry because they were too poor. He found where the family lived and that night, he took some gold coins to their home and snuck in by going down their chimney. Seeing their stockings drying over the fireplace, he filled them with the gold coins and left. When the girls got up on Christmas morning, they took their stockings down and realized they finally had dowries to get married. Quite the folklore I would say! The book "Twas The Night Before Christmas" written in 1822 made this tradition famous. Laying the legends aside, we can be reminded that God supplies our needs. "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

Fourth, why the CHRISTMAS BELLS? Church bells, sleigh bells, silver bells, jingle bells - there's no shortage of these objects during the Christmas Season. WHY? These ornaments have a history that is both practical and symbolic. Bells were used by some to scare off evil spirits. As for "Jingle bells". . . they were used to warn of a sleigh approaching so people could get out of it's way. After all, horses' hooves cannot be heard in the snow, but Bells Can Be! But far more importantly, church bells have been rung through the ages to signify an important event, such as Christ's birthday, and to let churchgoers know it is time to gather for corporate worship to begin, during which Christ Jesus will be exalted in praise through song and the preaching of God's Word!

You've heard the song, "Come on ring the bells, light the Christmas tree, Jesus is the King born for you and me. Come on ring the bells, everybody say, 'Jesus, we remember this your birthday!' "

Fifth, why CHRISTMAS WREATHS? Making wreaths is a neat way to use the Christmas Tree trimmings, which could be how the custom developed in 16th Century Germany. But the Christmas symbolism of wreaths goes back to ancient Greece and Rome. Those victorious athletes wore leafy branches woven into a crown. Later, this emblem was adopted into Christian Christmas Celebrations with the Advent Wreath, which is used to count down the four weeks of Advent until the birth of Christ Jesus. The never-ending circle made of evergreens symbolizes God's never-ending love and the everlasting life He provides. The LORD said, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness" (Jeremiah 31:3).

Sixth, why so MANY CHRISTMAS CAROLS? When Christians began replacing pagan winter festivals with Christmas Celebrations, bishops across Europe requested certain hymns to be sung at their Christmas Worship services. That's a far cry from our culture in which we now have reversed and replaced CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS with Winter Festivals, Winter Breaks, and Winter Programs. I think it is time for churches, pastors, and Christians to reverse this secular and ungodly trend in our culture.

In 1233, St. Francis of Assisi started Nativity Plays which included canticles or sacred songs that told of Christ's birth. They were in the language that the audience could understand, rather than in Latin, and the people loved being able to sing along. Christmas Carols still help people enter into joyful worship as Christ Jesus is praised!

Seventh, why CANDY CANES? This is one of my favorite symbols of Christmas! It's not just something sweet and pepperminty for Santa to hand out, and it's not just a decoration for your tree. You may have heard this Story of the Candy Cane. Many years ago, a man who loved Jesus, and was a candy-maker wanted to make a candy to symbolize the true meaning of Christmas - JESUS! He made the candy hard to represent Jesus being the "Rock of All Ages". It was formed in a shape that when turned one way it was like a Shepherd's Staff to signify Jesus as "the Good Shepherd" (John 10:11), and when turned the other way it was a "J" to remind us of the name above all names. "Therefore God . . . gave him the name that is above every name . . ." (Philippians 2:9) He made the candy WHITE to stand for the Purity and Holiness of Jesus! He added the RED color to stand for the Blood that Jesus shed on the cross to save us all from sin. Originally, his candy cane also had GREEN in the color mix, which represented the Eternal Life found only in Jesus.

So, the very next time you hear, read or think about the symbols, legends or stories relating to Christmas, take the time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas -JESUS - HE'S THE ONLY REASON FOR THE SEASON! "And the Word (Christ) was with God, and the Word was God. . .And the Word became flesh (Jesus), and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. . . ." (John 1:1 and 14). "She (Mary) will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). THIS IS THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE! DON'T MISS IT!