Although Christmas decorations include a mix of family traditions and personal tastes, not many people know what the symbolism behind them are.
The website www.whychristmas.com says the first decorated trees were adorned with apples, white candy canes and pastries in the shapes of stars, hearts and flowers.
Glass baubles were first made in Lauscha, Germany, as well as garlands of glass beads and tin figures that could be hung on trees. The popularity of these decorations grew into the production of glass figures made by highly skilled artisans with clay moulds.
The ornaments were hand-painted and topped with a cap and hook.
Tinsel and several types of ribbons are also used to decorate a Christmas tree.
Silvered saran-based tinsel was introduced later.
The website ChristianBibleStudies.com gives the symbolism of the evergreen tree as an ancient symbol of life in the midst of winter.
The website familycrafts.about.com provides the symbolism behind the decorations usually seen during Christmas.
- The star is a heavenly sign of prophecy fulfilled long ago about a Saviour who is the shining hope of mankind.
- The colour red is symbolising the Saviour’s sacrifice of dying for all mankind.
- The evergreen fir tree symbolises everlasting light and life and the tree’s needles point up to heaven.
- Bells ring out to guide lost sheep back to the fold, signifying that every person is precious in God’s eyes.
- Gift bow: tied as all mankind should all be tied together in bonds of goodwill.
- The candy cane: represents the shape of the shepherd’s crook, used to bring lost lambs back to the fold.
- Wreath: a symbol of the never-ending eternal value of love.
The website www.achristmastestimony.kingdomdesignministry.com gives further symbolism.
Candles and Christmas lights represent Christ, the Light of the World.
Giving gifts: a reminder of the greatest gift mankind could ever receive when Jesus gave Himself to die for the sins of the world. The wise men who brought their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to honour the infant King in Bethlehem’s manger have inspired the concept of gift-giving at Christmas.
About tinsel, the thin, metallic strands that are used in Christmas decorations, the website gives a legend about a poor, faithful family who wished to decorate a Christmas who had no money for decorations.
In the night, spiders came and spun webs across the tree.
The legend continues that the Christ Child, honouring the family’s faith, turned the threads into silver.
