Merry Christmas Everyone!!!
Hope you're all having an amazing day so far!
I have been wanting to write this post since last Christmas and I'll tell you why...
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Since I was a little girl, presents are always given in my house but as great as they are, they were never the focal point of my Christmas celebration.
Every year, it was tradition to watch the nativity movies they would show on TV and be reminded of all the nativity productions I used to star in as a kid in primary school. They taught me the real reason why people from all over the world in the midst of all its chaos always united at this time of year to celebrate such a life changing event, and made me understand the reason behind why people gave gifts and acted selflessly.
So, last year I put on my cosy jumper, whilst Christmas dinner was brewing in the oven and started to flick through channels to find a nativity film to watch...
I did not find a single one. Not one. I even tried again after my Christmas dinner but no. Still nothing.
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| Google result for most popular Christmas Movies |
Though for some that may not be a big deal, for some reason it really bothered me. I mean don't get me wrong I still like to watch Home Alone 1,2,3 and 4, Elf, Santa Claus, etc, you know all the 'classics', but for some reason without seeing anything displayed anywhere about the actual reason for the season, nothing felt the same.
I even took it as far as thinking about my future children. I used to really look forward to watching the nativity story with them and teaching them about who Christ was and how significant and important his birth was, and what it would mean for their lives. I thank God that I still have home videos of me singing my lungs out as Mary in Nativity productions and singing carols, that I can show them.
I remember as a child in 'Sunday School' (throwback I know) we were taught that all these festive decorations such as Christmas trees, mistletoe, wreaths, candles, and even presents, all had a significant meaning related to the real purpose of Christmas. Though over the years, this seems to have been more and more disregarded and decorations and presents are purely bought for tradition.
So I took it upon myself to remind myself of the real for the season as well as familiarise myself with the significance of the signs and symbols we use to decorate our homes and streets, and what they actually mean:
From all the various sources I read regarding the significance of Santa Claus in relation to the birth of Christ, I think it's safe to say there is no correlation between the two (although since there is no mention of him in the bible I should have known that). The principle of giving as well as the fairytale incentive that keeps children on their best behaviour, is what has kept Santa a relevant icon in society today. But it is seems this 'X-mas'/'Santa Claus is coming to town' concept is slowly overshadowing the importance of 'Christ-mas'.
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The infamous Christmas is a fundamental part of Christmas decoration galore but it does have a meaning.
The evergreen tree stays green all year round and is believed to represent the everlasting hope of mankind.
It is also believed to be a symbol of life, representing the birth of Jesus Christ in the season of winter
Why do we place a star on top of this tree then?
God promised a saviour for the world and the star was a sign of his promise.
Matthew 2:2-
'Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi (wise men) from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”'
The candles we light at Christmas symbolise Christ: the light of the world
When we see this powerful light we are to be reminded of the power and purpose of Christ- he fills our lives with light
We often see Christmas Wreaths on peoples doors or as decoration around peoples homes.
These symbolise the real nature of Christs love: it never ceases-Gods love has no beginning or end
I personally struggled to remember what association mistletoe had with Christmas because whenever someone presented me with mistletoe I happily declined and I'm sure you know why lol. But, having researched its significance I found that it originated as far back as pre-Christian Europe, where it was believed that mistletoe possessed life bestowing properties and was associated with fertility. It was also believed that mistletoe possessed "life-giving" power. The tradition of hanging it in the house goes back to the times of the ancient Druids. It is supposed to possess mystical powers which bring good luck to the household and wards off evil spirits. It was also used as a sign of love and friendship in Norse mythology and that's where the custom of kissing under Mistletoe comes from. I personally don't think this has any association with the real reason for Christmas but is simply a tradition that has remained in society for many years.
Holly on the other hand is believed to represent the crown of thorns worn by our Saviour as it is quite sharp. Red holly therefore is perceived as a symbol of the blood shed by Christ for us.
Luke 2:10-11
'The angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord'.
John 3:16
'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life'
This is the gift that appears to be becoming more and more forgotten.
As you can see the real purpose of Christmas has slowly becoming more and more intertwined with societal and generational traditions which may not have anything to do with the actual biblical story of Christ's birth.
For any one who wishes to refresh their memory of the story of Christ's Birth or even read it for the first time you can do so here
Let's not follow society blindly, but let's make meaningful memories and celebrate with purpose!
So this Christmas as much as we bask in the gift giving, food munching and family festivities, let's not forget the Reason that the season even exists in the first place! And let's pass on the true meaning of Christmas to our loved ones and to the generations to come!
The magic of Christmas is not THE presents but in HIS presence.
Merry Christmas Y'all x
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