Christmas Symbols

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Christmas Symbols
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Tree
Evergreen tree was chosen as Christmas tree. Why?
Evergreen never shed unlike deciduous trees like
maple. It symbolizes that God is eternal.
Psalm 902 - Before the mountains were brought
forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and
the world, even from everlasting to everlasting,
thou art God.
Tree symbolizes what?
Tree symbolizes the cross. I Peter 224 - Who his
own self bare our sins in his own body on the
tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live
unto righteousness by whose stripes ye were
healed.
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• A tree has three corners. It symbolizes Trinity.
• A Christmas tree is derived from the so-called
  paradise tree from German plays. The use of trees
  began in 17th century in Strassburg, France
  before it spread to Germany and the rest of the
  Europe. German immigrants brought Christmas trees
  in Pennsylvania during the colonial period.

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Lights
Martin Luther saw the trees with snow shining
from moon. Then he went home and put candles on
the branches of the tree.
What does light symbolize?
Jesus Christ
John 812 - Then spake Jesus again unto them,
saying, I am the light of the world he that
followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of life.
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Star or Angel
What does star or angel symbolize?
They symbolize guidance and promise of the coming
Savior.
Examples of guidance Angel informed Mary that
she will bear a Savior named Jesus Angel informed
the shepherds that they will see Jesus wrapped in
cloth Star led the wise men to Jesus
John 16 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth,
is come, he will guide you into all truth for he
shall not speak of himself but whatsoever he
shall hear, that shall he speak and he will shew
you things to come.
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Gifts
There are gifts under tree. Why under the tree?
You receive free gift at the cross.
Romans 623 For the wages of sin is death but
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
Do you return gifts to those who gave you for
being bad?
Rev. 2127b but they which are written in the
Lamb's book of life.
John 2031 But these are written, that ye might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
and that believing ye might have life through his
name. Ephesians 1 12-14
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Beads

• Beads represents the unity of Christians through
  the Holy Spirit.
• Examples garland, string of popcorn and berries

Ephesians 4 2 With all lowliness and meekness,
with longsuffering, forbearing one another in
love  3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace.  4 There is one
body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in
one hope of your calling  5 One Lord, one
faith, one baptism,  6 One God and Father of
all, who is above all, and through all, and in
you all.
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Ornaments
The ornaments on the tree represent sins on the
cross. 1 Peter 224 Who his own self bare our
sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being
dead to sins, should live unto righteousness by
whose stripes ye were healed.
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Candy Cane

• A candy maker in Indiana in 1800s wanted to
  invent a candy to express the meaning of Jesus
  Christ.
• He made the cane out of hard candy. The hard
  candy reminds us that Jesus is the Rock
  of Ages.
• The candy cane represents Jesus as the Great
  Shepherd using the staff caring for the flock.
  John 10 11 I am the good shepherd the good
  shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
• The staff turning upside down shows J as Jesus.
• Three small stripes present the stripes He
  received on our behalf when The Roman soldiers
  whipped Him.

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• But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was
  bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of
  our peace was upon him and with his stripes we
  were healed
• Large white stripe represent purity as Jesus has
  the sinless nature. Hebrews 415 For we have not
  an high priest which cannot be touched with the
  feeling of our infirmities but was in all points
  tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
• Red stripe symbolizes blood for cleansing. I John
  17 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the
  light, we have fellowship one with another, and
  the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us
  from all sin.
• The cane is made of peppermint which is similar
  to hyssop used in Old Testament for sacrifice and
  purification. Therefore, Jesus is the pure Lamb
  of God. John 129 The next day John seeth Jesus
  coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of
  God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
• Sometimes green stripe is added tp present that
  is a gift from God. Eph. 28 For by grace are ye
  saved through faith and that not of yourselves
  it is the gift of God

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December 25

• The idea of celebrating Christmas was originated
  by the Catholic Church in 4th century (300s).
  The Romans was celebrating the birthday of the
  sun god, Mithras. Therefore, the church leaders
  decided to celebrate Christs birth to compete
  with the Romans even though Dec. 25 isnt the
  actual date of Christs birth. Jesus birth could
  occur in the fall or spring.

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X-mas

• Abbreviation for Christmas X-mas is of Greek
  origin.
• Greek name for Christ is Xristos.
• X marked the place of the martyrs.
• X (chi) is the ultimate symbol of devotion and
  sacrifice as well as the ultimate statement of
  faith
• X-mas wasnt existed until 3 ½ centuries later.
• Why X-mas instead of Christmas? The paper and ink
  were scarce. In 1800s the reasons for X-mas were
  to save print space and that many Americans
  couldnt read.
• Americans look at X-mas as a way to take Christ
  out of Christmas or to cross out Christ and as a
  sign of disrespect.

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Santa Claus

• Santa Claus comes from St. Nicholas. Nicholas,
  who was born during the third century in the
  village of Patara in Turkey. He was known for his
  generosity for the poor, his love for children
  and his concern for the sailors. Under Roman
  Emperor Diocletian he was persecuted for his
  faith. When Constantine became the emperor of the
  Rome, he let St. Nicholas free. In 1500s Dutch
  children place their wooden shoes by the hearth
  hoping they will be filled with treats. The
  Dutch spelled St. Nicholas as Sinter Klaas and
  finally in Anglican, Santa Claus. In 1822 Clement
  Moore wrote his famous poem The Night Before
  Christmas. Tom Nast from harpers Weekly posed
  Santa Claus as a fat jolly man

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Family Reunion at Christmas
All the believers will gather and fellowship
together in the presence of God. Ephesians 219
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints,
and of the household of God Merry Christmas!