During Christmas we celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
The Christmas Story
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirini-us was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!" When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
(Luke 2:1-20)
Did you know?
The word Christmas comes from old English "Cristes maesse", or "Christ's Mass".
The evergreen of the Christmas tree reminds us of God's love surviving even in the midst of winter and the hope of returning Spring which God brings us each year. It also reminds us that we can live forever with Jesus. It points upwards to heaven reminding us of the Christ Child who pointed us to God.
The angel on the Christmas Tree reminds us of the Angel who appeared to Mary and the angels who brought the Good news to the Shepherds.
A star on the Christmas Tree reminds us of the Star which led the Magi to Bethlehem.
The lights on the Christmas tree are attributed to Martin Luther seeing the stars shining through an evergreen tree and bringing this "gift from God" into his home.
Holly reminds us of the wreath of thorns worn by Christ, while the red berries are a reminder of the blood He shed for us;
Mince Pies are a reminder of the manger in which the baby Jesus was laid. Originally they were oval in shape like the manger and contained meat.
Presents remind us of God's the gift to us (Jesus!) and of the gifts the Magi brought to Jesus gold, frankincense & myrrh.
Bells remind us of the angels singing out the good news. They also remind us that Jesus calls us to worship him.
Candy Canes are attributed to a candy maker in the United States who made Christmas candy in a "J" shape for Jesus (or shaped as a shepherd's crook to remind us of the shepherds who came to visit Jesus and to remind us that Jesus is our guide), white for Christ's purity and red stripes to represent the stripes that Christ bore for us;
Santa Claus is an anglicised form of Saint Nicholas, the bishop of Myra in 342. (Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on the 6th of December each year).
The "Twelve Days of Christmas" song is said by some to be a secret Christian catechism, with:
- 1. The partridge in a pear tree as Christ.
- 2. The two turtle doves as the Old and New Testaments.
- 3. The three French hens stand for faith, hope and love. (1 Cor. 13)
- 4. The four calling birds are the 4 gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
- 5. The five golden rings recalls the Torah or law; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.
- 6. The six geese a laying are the six days of creation.
- 7. The seven swams a swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 7:30)
- 8. The eight maids a milking are the eight Beatitudes. (Matt. 5-6).
- 9. The nine ladies dancing are the nine truths of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5).
- 10. The ten Lords a leaping are the Ten Commandments.
- 11. The eleven pipers piping are the eleven faithful apostles.
- 12. The twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of belief in the Apostle Creed.