Advent Calendar Day 25: Christ

December 25, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Image source

Christ

So I wanted to research the word "Christmas" to see what it really meant.  Basically it means Christ's Mass.  Apparently when people were first celebrating Christmas, the most important part of their celebration was the Mass ceremony.  So they started calling it Christ's Mass (of course this was the Latin version of the words, or maybe Italian, I don't remember) and over the very long years, it evolved into "Christmas."  I also wanted to know what the word "mass" meant but it seems like no one is really sure what it means and I don't have access to a linguist.  Since there is a lot of speculation I won't go into it.  It doesn't really matter anyway.
What I think is important is that we remember Christ today.  As we spend time with family and enjoy all the traditions that come with this special holiday, I hope we can set some time aside to think about our Savior and give thanks for His birth.  I hope we can take a moment to appreciate His life and the sacrifice He made for us.  I am grateful to our Heavenly Father for sending His Son to provide a way that we can return to live with Him again.  I know Jesus Christ is real.  I am grateful for the influence of His gospel in my life.  And I am grateful for this time of year when we can reflect on Him and what He has done for mankind.  I hope you have enjoyed my posts this month.  It has been fun to research the many traditions and symbols of Christmas.  Though I have to say, doing a post every day is kind of hard.  However, I am grateful for all that I have learned and the insights I have gained.
I hope today will be very special as we celebrate Christmas and I hope we can feel the joy of the season and extend it throughout this coming year.
Merry Christmas!

Advent Calendar Day 24: Nativity

December 24, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Image source

Nativity

Over the past few years I have accumulated a collection of Nativity sets.  All of them were gifts given to me, with the exception of one that I made myself.  But I love all of them!  Each one has sentimental value.  I have a big, beautiful one from my mother-in-law (the traditional kind).  Two little ones from my parents (one is 3D laser crystal engraved and the other is a small porcelain one small enough for a cramped apartment).  Another one from my parents is fabric, which my mom made for Adam and is great because it's unbreakable.  One from my brother that is probably my favorite because he hand carved all the figures (but I still need the Wise Men so when he gets back from his mission, there will be no excuses!).  The other ones were given to me by friends or other family members; the most recent one I got this week from my sister-in-law (thanks Janny! I LOVE it!).  I have 10 altogether and they are my favorite part of decorating at Christmas time.  I remember we had a porcelain one growing up and we just loved to set it up and look at it during the holidays.  My favorite piece was the little lambie (sp?) because it was so cute and little.  I love the Nativity because it is probably the most visual reminder I have of why we celebrate Christmas.  I hope my children will enjoy the tradition of setting up the Nativity as much as I did.  

We actually used to reenact the Nativity story on Christmas Eve when we were all living at home.  When I was little, my sister and I would alternate playing Mary and Joseph, but as we got older and more kids came along, we were promoted to the Wise "Men."  I think my last time doing it Janelle and I were wise men, Shaylin was Mary, Loren was Joseph (obviously), Kristina and Breanna were the angel and shepherd (I don't remember which was which) and we used a doll for baby Jesus and stuffed animals for the lambs.  My dad was the narrator usually (or the donkey when we were little) and my mom was the innkeeper.  We used blankets and sheets and old ties for costumes.  It was fun and I think I will continue that tradition with my kids.

The Nativity is a good teaching tool as well.  Already, Adam knows where Baby Jesus is in the one we set up for him, and he is just barely one year old.  He also knows where the lambies are too.  One time, he even took Baby Jesus with him to bed at nap time.  It was so cute!
As Christmas approaches, I hope we can take time to ponder and appreciate the special event that happened over 2000 years ago in a little town called Bethlehem.

Advent Calendar Day 23: Mary

December 23, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Image source
"Be It Unto Me"
By Liz Lemon Swindle

Mary

I just love, love, love, LOVE this picture!  I think it's my all-time favorite of any other gospel pictures out there.  I get emotional when I look at it and I don't know why exactly, but I think I feel what the artist must have felt when she painted it.  In her own words, she says:

I remember a moment after the birth of my first child when everyone had left and I was alone with my son for the first time. I looked at him lying on the bed and realized I was responsible for this new life. How could I teach him everything he needed? I was terrified

I held him close and the two of us cried. Those were tears of fear and tears of joy, but most of all they were tears of love. Looking into his little face that day I made promises to my Father that I have tried very hard to keep.

Was it different for Mary on that night in Bethlehem? Like any first-time mother she must have felt all the fear, all the joy, and all of the love that comes with a child. This painting reminds me that we are never alone when we look heavenward. (source site here)

Last year I was very pregnant with my son at the beginning of the holiday season (he was born shortly after Thanksgiving) so I thought about Mary a lot and what it must have been like for her to know that she was the mother of Christ.  Not only that, but she gave birth under less than favorable circumstances.  It sure made me thankful for the modern comforts we enjoy.  I often think about what a wonderful mother she must have been.  This year I wanted to devote some time to Mary, and really think about her life and role as the mother of Christ.  Thinking about her and the special role she had on earth makes me think of my own calling as a mother.  At times it can seem like quite a daunting task, but what a wonderful opportunity it is!  I love being a mom.

As we think about Christ over the next few days, take a moment to think about His mother and appreciate her for her willingness to accept her calling as the mother of Christ. 

You can see more of Liz Lemon Swindle's paintings here.  I really love how well she captures emotions in her  artwork.

Advent Calendar Day 22: The 25th

December 22, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

The 25th

I don't know if you could really call this a symbol, but I wanted to do a post about it because a lot of people don't know why we celebrate Christmas on the 25th.  Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, though even though we know he wasn't actually born on December 25th, this is the day we celebrate it.  But why was the 25th of December chosen over any other date?  This site offers a good explanation in a nutshell:

The decision to celebrate Christmas on December 25 was made sometime during the fourth century by church bishops in Rome. They had a specific reason for doing so.
Having turned long ago from worshiping the one true God and creator of all things, many early cultures in the Roman empire had fallen into sun worship. Recognizing their dependence on the sun's yearly course in the heavens, they held feasts around the winter solstice in December when the days are shortest. As part of their festivals, they built bonfires to give the sun god strength and bring him back to life again. When it became apparent that the days were growing longer, there would be great rejoicing.

The church leaders in Rome decided to celebrate Christ's birth during the winter solstice in an attempt to Christianize these popular pagan celebrations. For the most part their efforts failed to make the people conform, and the heathen festivities continued. Today we find ourselves left with a bizarre marriage of pagan and Christian elements that characterizes our modern celebration of Christmas.

I don't think it matters that the traditions at Christmas have evolved so much.  I for one, enjoy everything about Christmas.  But what matters is why we celebrate.  The reason for doing this virtual advent calendar is to help me (and you, if you so choose) to focus my thoughts toward Christ and the reason for celebrating His birth.  I figure if everything about Christmas can be connected to Him somehow, it will be the perfect visual reminder for me so that everything I see or do will remind me of Him.  I really like what the author of the article from this site says about Christmas:

What other event throughout all time is more significant than the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ? ... His is the most significant birth ever. It is the central event in all of history. Time chronicles backward and forward from this moment. I find myself wanting to ask, how can we fail to remember this day with great joy and reverence? How can we not celebrate Christmas?

 I hope we will remember who we are celebrating on the 25th and why we are celebrating.  Christ did so much for us.  The least we could do is acknowledge Him on His day.  I am so grateful for the gift of our Savior, and I am grateful for the love He has for me.  And I am grateful for this time of year when we can honor Him.

Advent Calendar Day 21: Dove

December 21, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Image source

Dove

The dove has always been a symbol of peace and joy.  We see it on greeting cards, and as little ornaments.  But why peace or joy?  I want to go to the scriptures for this one.  There are two places in the scriptures that come to mind when I think of a dove.  The first one is in Genesis 8 where Noah sends out a dove to see if the water from the flood had dried up.  After being in the ark for so long, I imagine Noah was very joyful when the dove came back with an olive branch in her mouth.  I'm sure his feelings of joy led to feelings of gratitude and peace as he realized that he could soon leave the ark.

The second place in the scriptures is in Matthew 3:16 (or in Mark, Luke or John) when Jesus is baptized.  "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him."  Many times the dove is used as a symbol for the Holy Ghost.  I think this is perfect, because the Holy Ghost can bring feelings of peace and joy to us.  One of the other names he goes by is the Comforter.  When we are troubled or sad, we can feel the comforting influence of the Holy Ghost and have peace and joy.  I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost in my life.  At this time of year, it seems fitting that we use a dove as a symbol of Christmas.  We can find peace and joy in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and help others to feel it too.

Advent Calendar Day 20: Mistletoe

December 20, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Image source

Mistletoe

I guess the most common use of mistletoe at Christmas is for people to kiss under.  But I just learned some interesting facts about this plant from this site.  The most interesting thing (and I'm not trying to be gross) is where the name comes from.  According to the site, "The word "mistletoe" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words, "mistel" (dung) and "tan" (twig) --misteltan is the Old English version of mistletoe. It's thought that the plant is named after bird droppings on a branch."  Kind of gross, right?  That makes me think twice about doing any kissing underneath.  Another interesting fact from the same site is this:

Mistletoe (Phoradendron flavescens or Viscum album) is a parasiticplant that grows on trees, particularly hardwood trees like oak and apple. A parasite is a plant or animal that needs another plant or animal to survive. As mistletoe grows on a tree and uses its roots to invade a tree's bark, which allows mistletoe to absorb the tree's nutrients. Sometimes, mistletoe can harm a tree and cause deformities in a tree's branches, but usually it doesn't kill its host. If the host dies, the mistletoe dies.

But what about the kissing stuff?  The article goes on to explain some myths that might be the origins of this tradition:

There are a lot of myths surrounding mistletoe. Vikings dating back to the eighth century believed that mistletoe had the power to raise humans from the dead, relating to the resurrection of Balder, the god of the summer sun [You can read the details of this story here]. Another myth in mistletoe's past comes from Britain. In the first century, the Druids in Britain believed that mistletoe could perform miracles, from providing fertility to humans and animals to healing diseases and protecting people from witchcraft. ... The origin of the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is vague. However, the tradition may have stemmed from either the Viking association of the plant with Frigga (the goddess of love) or from the ancient belief that mistletoe was related to fertility. Another explanation for the tradition is that it is derived from the festival of Saturnalia, a popular mid-December celebration in ancient Rome.  While mistletoe is widely viewed as a symbol of love and fertility, it's also representative of peace. Ancient tales tell of enemies who encounter each other underneath trees bearing mistletoe. The enemies lay down their arms, embrace, and agree to a truce until the next day. This act of goodwill is yet another possibility for why we kiss under mistletoe: abstaining from violence and exchanging greetings under the plant may have prompted the custom of kissing.

Okay, but what does mistletoe have to do with Christ?  If you remember, mistletoe is a parasite.  It needs a host plant to survive.  We can make the analogy that we are like the mistletoe, and Christ is the tree.  When we attach ourselves to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are spiritually nourished.  And just as mistletoe lives all year long, we can enjoy the prospects of eternal life as long as we hold fast to the gospel.  I also like that mistletoe is a symbol of peace.  Christ said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).  I hope we can show goodwill toward others, not just at Christmas time, but throughout the year as we hold on to the joy of the gospel, and share it with others.

Advent Calendar Day 19: Wise Men

December 19, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Wise Men

Image source

I feel like I have to do a post about the Wise Men.  I've often wondered about them.  They are a little mysterious, I mean, there is so little written about them and we don't even know that there were three of them.  We just assume that there were because of the three gifts that they gave.  Everything we know about them comes from Matthew 2 in the New Testament and thought it's now much, there are things we can learn from them.  I think they must have been very holy men.  They had knowledge of the scriptures and words of the prophets.  How else would they know what the star meant?  They also understood the importance of the event because they sacrificed a few years in order to make the journey, for Christ was a young child at the time the Wise Men got there (see Matthew 2:11).  This is what stands out to me, and I never really thought about it before.  They must have traveled so far!  I like the Wise Men because they are an example to us of how we should commit ourselves to Christ.  I hope we can understand the importance and significance of His birth, and not take such a wonderful gift for granted.  And if we are wise, we will continue to seek Him always.

I just watched the video "The Wise Men Seek Jesus."  It's one of the new Bible Videos that the church put out recently.  I liked it because they really illustrated well how long of a journey it was for them.  If you haven't seen it yet, you can watch it here.  I watched most of the other ones too (they are only a few minutes long) and they are also very well done.  You can see the other available ones here.

I am grateful for the example of the Wise Men, and all they stand for at Christmas time.  Just as they followed the light of the star to find Christ, I hope we can follow the light of the Gospel, which will also lead us to Christ.

Advent Calendar Day 18: Gingerbread

December 18, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Image source

Gingerbread

Probably one of the most common holiday cookies is gingerbread, weather in the shape of a man, house, or basically anything else.  What is the origin of gingerbread and how did it come to be associated with Christmas?  This site explains how:

The origins of gingerbread are steeped in a flavorful tradition, and date back to the ancient world. Ginger root is Malaysian, and was once used to soothe an upset stomach and prevent a cold. Throughout pre-Christian Europe, the Winter Solstice was celebrated with the creation and ingestion of small gingerbread cakes adorned with symbols of the sun.

Catholic monks began to bake gingerbread for special religious celebrations, constructing the cakes into specific designs. Often depicting saints and other religious motifs, these wonderful early carvings were made via large and elaborately carved "cookie boards" that impressed the pattern onto a stiff rolled dough.

Gingerbread became so popular during medieval times that many festivities were actually known as "gingerbread fairs." Early bakers created certain shapes in association with the different seasons of the year. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, decorative themes expanded to include elaborate depictions of lords, ladies, soldiers, castles and occasionally floral and geometric designs.

In Medieval England gingerbread meant simply "preserved ginger" and was actually a corruption of the Old French gingebras, derived from the Latin name of the spice, Zingebar. The term was not applied to a kind of cake made with treacle and flavored with ginger until the 15th century. It is probably no accident that recipes for cakes, cookies and flavored breads developed rapidly after it was discovered that ginger had a preservative effect when added to pastries and bread.

Of all the countries in Europe, Germany has the most enduring tradition of flat, shaped gingerbreads. Even today, throughout Germany at every autumn fair, there are rows of stalls filled with hundreds of gingerbread hearts, decorated with white and colored icing and tied with ribbons. Of all the German cities, Nuremberg became known as the "gingerbread capital" of the world.

 I had no idea that gingerbread was such a huge tradition in Europe!  Those Germans, they just have so many great ideas.  (I find it interesting that many of our Christmas traditions come from Germany.)  Since gingerbread became associated with festivals and holidays, it makes sense that we see it a lot a Christmas.  After the story of Hansel and Gretel became popular, gingerbread houses became popular at Christmas as well in America.

But is there a symbolic meaning for gingerbread?  Historically, not really.  But I found this site that offers a possible symbolic meaning, at least for the gingerbread man:

The gingerbread man does not create himself but rather is created. Gingerbread people remind us of God's creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden, and God's creation of each of us. Spices, reminiscent of those mentioned in the Old Testament, make the gingerbread man the color of earth (Adam was created from the dust of the earth). Like us, gingerbread people are not immortal. They are destined to be eaten and thus to unite with their creators. God does not eat us, but our mortal bodies, like that of the gingerbread man's, will not live forever. God created us for eternal union with Him after we die. Gingerbread people remind us to look beyond ourselves to our Creator with whom we will one day be united.

What I gain from this is that the gingerbread man is a reminder (even if it is somewhat stretched) that we have the opportunity to live with our Heavenly Father again in the eternities.  Jesus Christ made it possible for us to be able to do this.  Because of His atonement, we can be forgiven of our sins and become worthy to enter into the presence of our Heavenly Father again.

I also wanted to put in a little blurb of my own.  I noticed while researching, that ginger was used as a preservative.  I will now refer you to the following scripture in Alma 44:4 which says, "Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith."

Just like ginger preserves the bread, the gospel in our lives can be a spiritual and physical "preservative" for us.  I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ which offers physical and spiritual protection.  And I am grateful for the simple reminders of our Heavenly Father's love for us that we have all around us this time of year.

Advent Calendar Day 17: Candle

December 17, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Candle

You see the candle a lot at Christmas time weather it's in an advent wreath, in a window or a part of other holiday decorations.  Apparently, putting a candle in the window on Christmas Eve is a pretty common tradition.  I have seen them at the store but I didn't really know what they were for or the tradition that is behind it.  My sister-in-law used to live in New Hampshire and she said that it was a very common tradition there.  Actually, I just found out from this site, that it is an Irish tradition.

One beautiful way that the Irish have traditionally kept this holy night [Christmas Eve] is with the lighting of a candle in the window. The warm light from its glow acts as a welcome to all so that no one should be without shelter.

Offering hospitality to others by way of a lighted candle is a tradition as old as ancient Ireland. In more recent centuries during times of persecution in Ireland, the candle offered a welcome to priests that the home was a safe haven and that Mass could be offered there. On Christmas Eve, the candle also symbolizes the willingness of the household to welcome the Holy Family, so that the Infant Jesus and his family would not again be turned away. One Irish belief held that Joseph, Mary and Jesus still wandered the world, seeking a place of refuge from Herod.

 Obviously Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus don't wander the earth still, but we still have the opportunity to let Him into our homes.  The candle at Christmas time can be a symbol that we have the light of the gospel in our homes, and that our homes can be a refuge from the world.  We can share that light with others so that they too can feel the warmth and safety of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Advent Calendar Day 16: Poinsettia

December 16, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Poinsettia

This is the first symbol of Christmas that I've researched that doesn't have European beginnings.  Poinsettias actually come from Mexico and they are a Christmas tradition from that country.  But long before that the poinsettia was used by the Aztecs.  I got some information from this site about the poinsettia, where it came from and how it became a traditional Christmas flower.

The earliest records of the plant date to Aztec times. Poinsettias had their beginning in Mexico near present day Taxco. For most of the year, they are nondescript shrubs, but when the days grow shorter, they develop brilliant red flowers. The Aztecs called the plant "Cuetlaxochitle," and it was a symbol of purity. King Montezuma imported poinsettias because they could not be grown in the capital city (now Mexico City) due to the high altitude and climate. Aztecs made a reddish-purple dye from the bracts and extracted medicine for fever from the plant's latex.

The association with Christmas, according to legend, comes from a young Mexican girl named Pepita. She was sad because she was poor and had no gift to present to the Christ Child at the church service on Christmas Eve. As she walked sorrowfully to church with her cousin, Pedro, he consoled her by telling her even the most humble gift, given in love, is acceptable.
Pepita gathered a bouquet of "weeds" along the road and entered the church. She approached the altar and placed her gift for the Christ Child. Miraculously, her "weeds" burst into brilliant red blooms they called "Flores de Noche Buena" — or "Flowers of the Holy Night."
Although poinsettias never change color quite that fast, they do "bloom" as the days become shorter. 

New research sheds additional light on how this plant made it to American and European markets.  Joel Roberts Poinsett, was a plantation owner and botanist from South Carolina.
While serving as the first United States ambassador to Mexico from 1825-1829, he was impressed by the brilliant red flowers he found while visiting Taxco one December. He had plants sent to his home and grown in his greenhouse. Poinsett sent seeds and plants of early poinsettias to a commercial nursery in Philadelphia.  The poinsettia's history as a successful cultivated crop goes to Albert Ecke. He emigrated from Germany to Switzerland and then to Southern California and eventually started growing the bright scarlet flowers to sell as cut flowers for Christmas.

Whew!  I had no idea!  What I found interesting was that the poinsettia doesn't "bloom" until winter.  I don't know how much truth there is in the Mexican legend about the poinsettia, but reading that story reminded me of a another story.  It's found in 1 Kings 17:10-16.  This is the story about Elijah and the widow.  The Lord commanded Elijah to go to a city called Zarephath.  There he would find a widow who would be able to feed  and provide shelter for him.  When he found her, he asked her to give him some water and some bread, but she literally didn't have anything left except a little flour and oil which she was preparing to make for herself and her son, expecting it to be their last meal.  He commanded her to make it for him and told her that everything would be okay and she would have enough for herself and her son.  She did as she was told and miraculously, the containers of flour and oil never emptied and she had enough to feed her family for many days.  Just like in the Mexican legend, and this story of the widow, when we give everything we have to the Lord, He will open up the windows of heaven and bless us with the things we need.  So for me, the poinsettia is a symbol of miracles.  Miracles happen when we are faithful and trust in the Lord.  Christ blessed the lives of others while He was on this earth, performing many miracles for those who had faith in Him.  Miracles don't have to be big though.  There are miracles all around us every day if we stop and look for them.  This holiday season, take time to recognize the miracles in your life and give thanks to our Father in Heaven for them.  And as we celebrate the birth of Christ, let's not forget the miracle of His birth and what a wonderful blessing it was to the world.     

Advent Calendar Day 15: Holly

December 15, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Holly

As far as holiday plants go, holly is probably one of the top three we think of, next to the evergreen and poinsettia.  Holly actually has a very old history and I was surprised to find that the use of holly in winter celebrations goes way back before Christianity.  I found a really good site here that gives the details.  These few paragraphs sum it up in a nutshell:

Originally, the holly was a type of offering that was given to the God Saturn by the Romans during the festival of Saturnalia. It was said that the holly was the sacred plant of Saturn and was thus even more valued by the Romans. All images of Saturn are depicted with him with the holly. It is also considered a special gift that was interchanged with a high regard for its symbolism.

At some point the holly became significant to Christians.  [Side note:  Early Christians were persecuted for their beliefs and winter celebrations at that time were not about Christ.  In order to avoid persecution but still be able to celebrate in their own way, they incorporated holly into their decorations to make it seem like they were celebrating the traditional winter festival.]

At first it was placed within decorations that adorned doors as a method of preventing persecution.  The power of the holly as a method of preventing unforeseeable trouble was not limited to the problems that earthly creatures could inflict but also demonic forces. It was believed that hanging the holly on the door of any home would prevent the entry of terrifying specters who were more likely to attack during the holy days. Soon it began getting more mainstream acceptance as an essential symbol of Christmas festivals, as expected the initial purpose of the holly became less recognized by the Christians who used it in yearly celebrations.

Another part of its symbolic significance is related to the crucifixion of Christ who wore a crown of thorns that caused him to bleed from his head. Thus the look of the hollies is similar to the look of Christ's make-shift crown, and the berries symbolize the blood that oozed forth from Christ during his darkest hours....It is not truly known if the Holly was actually used to create the crown that Christ wore, some schools of thought believed this is so, while others believe as suggested before that the holly is merely symbolic of Christ's trials through crucifixion. There are some theories that go further stating that Christ was crucified on a holly tree. Regardless of the view taken the Holly has since been a very important symbol in Christianity...[and] subsequently more of a religious symbol for those who subscribe to this metaphorical depiction of the widely-popular plant.

 I think I'll stick to the traditional Christian metaphor of holly representing the pain that Christ went through during his crucifixion.  Not that I want to remember such a horrible thing, (it really is hard for me to think about) but it is a reminder of why He went through all that.  Actually, I want to insert a scripture here, John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  And that is why He did it.  He loved us so much that He was willing to go through all that pain and suffering.  Even if it was only for one person, he still would have done it.  This is why He came into this world.  He himself said, "...To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world..." John 18:37.  I truly am grateful for all He did and I am grateful for this Christmas season that we have to honor Him.

Advent Calendar Day 14: Wreath

December 14, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Wreath

Next to the Christmas tree, this is probably the second most popular decoration to have at Christmas time.  Mostly you see them hung on doors or over mantels.  But what is the significance of this traditional decoration?  This site gives a good explanation.

According to historians, wreaths have had a special place in pre-Christian era itself. It is said that in Eastern Europe, people used to illuminate wreaths made of evergreen leaves in winters, with the belief that it would bring spring and sunshine. ...In the ancient period, wreaths symbolized pride and victory. Evergreen twigs, branches and flowers were used to make handmade wreaths. They were used during auspicious occasions like weddings. Historical records suggest that it was sometime around 776 BC, when Greeks started using laurel wreaths as crowns, to award athletes who finished first in Olympics. Another record suggests that wreaths were worn by military heroes and kings in ancient Rome. Wreaths were used as embellishments by women, and were sometime complemented with jewels.
The tradition of hanging wreaths during Christmas is essentially a Catholic ritual. This is done during the Christmas season, traditionally known as Advent. The traditional Advent Christmas wreath has four candles in the circle and one candle in the middle. The candles are either white or colorful. If the candles are colorful, three would be violet in color and one would be a rose colored candle. Traditionally, the Christmas wreaths were made of evergreen leaves, which symbolize the permanence of life. A traditional wreath is a circle, which means that there is no beginning or end and that God is eternal.

 I am finding that many of the symbols we have at Christmas, like the wreath, are symbols of eternal life.  It seems like it is human nature to want to live forever.  Doctrine and Covenants 14:7 says, "And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God."  That doesn't mean we will never die if we always do what is right.  It means that after this life on earth, we can continue to live with our Heavenly Father again in the eternities.  Of course, nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes, but that is why God sent His son, Jesus Christ to this earth.  It is Christ that we celebrate at Christmas time.  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Advent Calendar Day 13: Snowflake

December 13, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Snowflake

Ok, so this post is going to be a little different.  I had a hard time coming up with 25 symbols of Christmas so I had to make up a few.  I figured that since Christmas happens to be in the winter and a lot of our holiday decorations and such have snow or snowflakes in them, it seems fitting that it should be a symbol of Christmas.  However, there is no connection between snow and Christ's birth, so I'm going to stretch it a little.  Side note:  It really is fitting that I'm doing this post today, seeing as how it has been raining for two days straight and although there is no snow in the valley, I'm sure the mountains are getting dumped on.  Plus, it's a really cold 45 degrees right now.  I know, some of you are thinking that's not cold, but here in Tucson, we consider that cold.  Plus it's raining, which it hardly ever does.  I need some hot chocolate and a fireplace to sit in front of.  Anyway, I decided to make the snowflake a symbol of Christmas.  Here it goes!

First things first, snowflakes are very intricate and beautiful.  No two snowflakes are alike.  Just like snowflakes, each of us is a beautiful son or daughter of God, and very unique.  Snowflakes are white.  White represents purity.  Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, when we repent of our sins, we can be pure and clean again, like snow (Isaiah 1:18).  When we see snowflakes at Christmas, it is a reminder of God's love for us.  He sent His Son, Jesus Christ who was perfect, to atone for our sins so that we can be pure and clean if we repent.  As no two snowflakes are alike, the Atonement is a very personal and individual thing.  Christ suffered for each and every one of us, weather we choose to accept it or not.  He knows our individual pains and trials because he has been through it (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16).  I'm grateful that there is a way that I can return to live with my Father in Heaven again.  And I'm grateful that we have this time of year to remember and honor Jesus Christ, who made it possible to do so.

If anyone has any other insights as to how snowflakes are a symbol of Christmas, I'd like to hear them!

Advent Calendar Day 12: Carols

December 12, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Carols

We hear them on TV and in the store even before Thanksgiving.  We have probably gone out caroling a few times before as well.  We sing them in church, in our car, and while cleaning the house during the month of December.  The subjects range from snowmen and bells, to reindeer and Christmas trees, to shepherds and angels, to baby Jesus.  But why are carols so popular at Christmas and why do we sing them?  This site has a good explanation of where carols originated from:

Carols, which are more joyful songs associated with dance (the word “carol” comes from either the Old French term for a circle dance, carole, derived from the Latin choraula, or the Greek dancechoraulein), seem to have been first introduced in the 12th century by St. Francis of Assisi, who is also credited with creating the first Nativity scene. He wanted to teach people about the birth of Jesus through music, so he added religious lyrics to well-known tunes. The concept of Christmas carols then traveled throughout Europe, including to Germany where many carols were written in the 14th century. Carols today often retain the medieval choral patterns from the tradition of these early carols. As time went on, the popularity of Christmas carols and hymns grew, and from this we have some of the most popular Christmas songs today. Probably one of the more well-known, mainstream Christmas hymns today is “Silent Night,” which was written in 1818 in Austria. The Latin hymn “O Come All Ye Faithful” (also well-known by its Latin name, “Adeste Fideles”), was composed by John Francis Wade in 1743.

Actually, I think the first record of a Christmas carol being sung can be found in Luke 2:13-14: 

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, good will toward men.

I know these verses don't say the angels were singing, but I can't imagine them doing anything otherwise.  Singing praises unto God is one way we can worship Him.  Singing is also a way to express joy and gratitude.  There are many, many references to singing as a form of worship or expression of joy in the scriptures.  One that I like is in Psalms 30:4; "Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness."  I think this is why we sing Christmas carols.  It is a way that we can express our joy and thankfulness for Christ and what He did for us.  It is a way that we can worship Him.  Even when we sing songs that don't have anything to do with Christ, such as Jingle Bells, or Deck the Halls, we are singing because we are happy and joyful at this time of year.  I love listening to Christmas music and singing the Christmas hymns at church.  It makes me feel happy, and reminds me of the reason we celebrate Christmas.  What better way to celebrate the birth of our Savior than to honor and praise Him with music?  It really is "the most wonderful time of the year!"

Advent Calendar Day 11: Red and Green

December 11, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Red and Green
These two complimentary colors together make up the "Christmas Colors."  But why these two?  Why not purple and yellow?
Even before Christ was born, people saw green as the color for life.  They saw that plants like the evergreen and holly stayed green all year.  During the winter solstice they would use these plants in their celebration of the sun's return, symbolizing the return of life in the spring.  As Christians began to celebrate Christmas, churches would preform Paradise plays (if you don't know what a Paradise play is, this site explains it).  Because apple trees were dead in the winter, they used evergreen trees and tied apples to the branches.  It eventually became popular to bring a Paradise tree into the home and this, along with the traditions integrated from winter solstice celebrations (such as evergreen and holly boughs) are the beginning of the "Christmas Colors."  Red from the apples and holly berries, and green from the evergreen boughs and holly leaves.  Because Christmas is about Christ, red also became a symbol of the blood He shed in the garden of Gethsemane.
For me there are no better colors than this.  After all, it is because of Christ and His atonement that we can have eternal life.  The blood He shed was for us.  Each and every one of us.  When we see these colors at Christmas time, we can remember His sacrifice and the wonderful gift it is to us.

Advent Calendar Day 10: Candy Cane

December 10, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Candy Cane

If I remember right, the rule was we couldn't eat the candy canes on the tree unless they were broken.  But a candy cane just sitting by its self on the tree isn't going to break very fast.  But maybe if it accidentally got knocked off it would break...

I'm sure we tried everything.  But other than a yummy treat at Christmas time, what is the purpose of the candy cane?  I found a good explanation from this site:

When the practice of using Christmas trees to celebrate Christmas became popular in Europe the people there began making decorations for their trees. Many of the decorations were food items including cookies and candy. Our modern candy cane appeared at about this time in the seventeenth century. These were straight, white sticks of sugar candy.

Part of the Christmas celebration at the Cologne Cathedral were pageants of living crèches (nativity). In about 1670 the choirmaster there had sticks of candy bent into the shape of a shepherd’s crook and passed them out to children who attended the ceremonies. This became a popular tradition, and eventually the practice of passing out the sugar canes at living crèche ceremonies spread throughout Europe.

The use of candy canes on Christmas trees made its way to America by the 1800′s, however during this time they were still pure white. They are represented this way on Christmas cards made before 1900, and it is not until the early 20th century that they appear with their familiar red stripes.

It seems like this is one of the few traditions that doesn't have a long history and hasn't really evolved much.  So in keeping with the original meaning, the candy cane reminds us of a shepherd.  But why should we think about shepherds at Christmas?  Well, Christ is sometimes referred to as the Good Shepherd, and we are like His sheep.  And then there are the shepherds from the story of His birth.  I want to focus on them because of something I read the other day when I was doing the post about the angel.  This is in Luke 2:15-20.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds...And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

I sometimes wonder about these shepherds.  What must it have been like to see and hear the things they did?  A few words stood out to me as I read.  The first one was in verse 16 where "they came with haste."  They must have been pretty close by because when they found Jesus he was in the manger still.  But they went quickly.  They didn't wait until morning, or until they could find someone else to watch their sheep for them.  They went as soon as the angels left.  Then when they had seen Jesus, they didn't go home but they went and "made known abroad" everything that had happened, what they'd seen and heard.  After all that, they finally went home but it didn't end there.  They still "glorified and praised God" for everything that had happened to them.

The candy cane can remind us that we need to be like the shepherds.  We have a wonderful gift.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is available to us.  We have the opportunity to embrace it now, and not wait until it may be "convenient."  When we have the light of the gospel in our lives, we can share it with others wherever we go. We can "make it known abroad" more easily now than ever with the use of modern technology.  And finally, we can glorify and praise God for the wonderful gift we have, and for His son, Jesus Christ, not just at this time of year, but always.

Advent Calendar Day 9: Ornaments

December 9, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Ornaments

Short story- I was thinking I would try and get a head start on this post last night.  It was around 9:30 PM and I had some time to myself so I figured I could write something real quick.  However, in an attempt to research the history of ornaments and find a good picture, I got majorly distracted.  I stumbled upon Martha Stewart's craft site and spent the next hour and a half looking at all the Christmas crafts on there.  WOW.  I now have a few more things to add to my "I-want-to-make-that" list.  Looks like another trip to Jo-Ann is in the near future.  So much for getting a head start.  I decided to go to bed, seeing as how it was after 11:00 PM.  This is a good segue into my topic for today though, because one of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is make Christmas ornaments!

I think the most common ornament is the glass bulb.  Those were always my favorite to put up.  But why do we decorate with ornaments and where did this tradition come from?  I found a pretty good explanation from this site:

Although Christmas trees first appeared in America in the 1700s, the emergence of the modern Christmas tree actually dates back to 15th and 16th century Germany.  Evergreens were used first in church plays at Christmas and were hung with apples to symbolize a Paradise tree. Paradise trees later found their way into homes, where they were adorned with small white wafers, and later, small pastries cut into stars, angels, hearts and flowers.

I have to insert a little blurb here about the Paradise Tree because I didn't know what it was at first.  I found a good explanation from this site:

The Paradise tree apparently appeared in the Middle Ages. It was associated with the Paradise Plays which were performed in English and Spanish churches and Medieval villages during Advent. The plays told the story of humankind from the creation of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden up to the birth of Messiah in Bethlehem. During the play, a large tree, its branches laden with red apples was brought onto the stage. In addition to the apples, small white discs, representing communion wafers also hung from the branches. The apples and representative communion wafers were a forceful reminder of the existence of good vs. evil.  As time passed, candles representing Jesus as the Light of the World, were added to the tree.  

Now that we know more about the Paradise Tree, I want to continue with the first article:

During the next 200 years, this custom slowly spread throughout Germany and Europe. Decorated trees were brought to America by Hessians – German mercenaries – fighting in the Revolutionary War.

Christmas wasn't widely celebrated in the United States until the 1800s, however, because of the Puritans' influence. As a result, decorated trees did not become widely popular until people saw the ornaments brought to America by families emigrating from Germany and England in the 1840s.

 I really like that the Paradise Tree is meant to symbolize the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  I find it interesting that one of the most common ornaments nowadays are the bulbs.  They are round like fruit and very beautiful.  To me, they symbolize the fruit of the tree of knowledge.  This is a reminder that Heavenly Father has a plan for us.  The fall of Adam was a key part in that plan.  The fall of Adam made it possible for us to come to this earth, to learn and to have families and to have joy (2 Nephi 2:25).  God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to be our Savior, so that we can have the opportunity to repent and be forgiven when we make mistakes.  I am grateful for the sacrifice He made for us.  When we look at the tree with all the beautiful ornaments, we can remember that sacrifice, that God has a plan for us, and that we can return to live with Him again and have eternal life.

Advent Calendar Day 8: Stockings

December 8, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Stockings

It used to be almost like a ritual, on Christmas Eve, we would all take turns hanging our stocking above the fire place.  Too bad I don't have a picture of me in my jammies hanging up my stocking.  There's probably one at my parents' house but as far as I'm concerned, it can stay there.  I looked pretty dorky in my youth.  Anyway, it was always so fun to see what we got in our stocking the next morning.  Mostly it was candy and nuts, but there were always some other little treasures on top.   Its a fun tradition, but where did it come from?
One legend says that  there was once a man who had three daughters.  But he was poor and couldn't afford a dowry for his daughters to get married.  Saint Nicholas, when he heard of their predicament,  wanted to anonymously help out the family.  He went to their house at night and saw that the girls had hung their socks to dry by the fireplace so he dropped some gold coins down the chimney into each sock.  Now the girls could get married and live happily ever after.  The story spread and children began to hang their socks by the fireplace in hopes that Saint Nicholas would leave something for them too.  An orange in the toe of the sock would eventually come to represent the gold coins.
Another possible origin traces the tradition back to the the winter Yule festival. During the Yule festival, children would place their boots, filled with carrots, straw or sugar near the chimney for the Norse God Odin's flying horse. In exchange for this kindness, the god would then reward the kids by leaving gifts or candy. This practice later became associated with St. Nick.  
Either way, it seems the tradition came about because of someone showing kindness toward someone else.  Isn't that what Christmas is about?  I think this fits in with my post about Santa Claus from yesterday.  The stocking at Christmas, along with Santa Claus, reminds us to be charitable towards those around us, whether it is doing something nice for someone like giving them a plate of goodies, or really helping someone in need.  We never know how we may bless the lives of others, but we can be instruments in God's hands if we are willing to let Him use us.  As we commemorate the birth of Christ, I hope we can honor Him by finding ways to enrich and bless the lives of those around us.

Advent Calendar Day 7: Santa Claus

December 7, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Santa Claus

I think Santa is the most magical part of Christmas.  I remember sitting on his lap when I was little, telling him what I wanted for Christmas.  I remember when my sister and I first discovered that Santa "wasn't real."  My parents had accidentally left some shopping receipts on the dining room table which coincidentally had the same items which we had received "from Santa" on Christmas.  I started to put two and two together and when we asked my mom about it, she gave us a really good answer.  She told us about Saint Nicholas, a very kind man who would do good deeds for the poor and needy and he would leave presents for the children.  When he died, the moms and dads decided to carry on the tradition of leaving presents for their children from "Santa Claus."  I thought that that made perfect sense.  And since then for me, Santa Claus has always been a symbol of charity.

Looking at the history of the origin of Santa Claus, it seems my mom got it pretty much right.  This site gives a pretty good explanation of the origin of the Santa Claus tradition (it's kind of long).  Though almost every country has it's own traditions and version of Santa Clause that evolved over time, it seems pretty universally accepted that the Santa Claus tradition originated from the charitable acts of someone.  So for me, Santa represents charity, or the pure love of Christ.  After all, Christ was the perfect example of charity.  It makes me think of the scripture Matthew 25:40 "...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."  Christmas is a time to remember Christ and what better way to remember and honor Him than to show kindness and charity to those around us.  I don't mind letting my kids "believe in Santa" as long as I remember to teach them what Santa represents.   After all, as President Monson said, "...Christmas is what we make of it."  I want to make Christmas a time of giving and for spreading love and kindness, and for telling those I love that I care about them.  I think Saint Nicholas would be deeply honored to know that he would eventually come to represent the spirit of Christmas which I believe is charity, the pure love of Christ.

Advent Calendar Day 6: Tree

December 6, 2011

Symbol of Christmas:

Tree

One of the most important things to have at Christmas time is a tree.  Where else would you put all the presents and hang all the ornaments?  Probably one of the most fun things about Christmas time is putting up the tree.  I remember as a kid we couldn't wait to put up the tree and it was always a sad day when we had to take it down.  But why do we put up a tree?  Where did that tradition come from?  Boy was I in for a surprise when I began to research this.  In fact, there are quite a few traditions (most of them predating Christianity) which claim to be the  origins of the Christmas tree.  Because there is so much information on this subject, I will refer you to this site, which I feel sums everything up in the best way.  The one thing I found which all these traditions had in common was that the evergreen was used as a symbol of eternal life.
We were able to watch the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional on Sunday and I really liked something that President Monson said in his message.  He said, "...Christmas is what we make of of it."  This is so true!  So in keeping with that, I decided that no matter what the origins of the Christmas tree are, for me it is a symbol of Christ and the eternal life we can have if we live live His gospel.  I also find it interesting that the shape of the tree is in a triangle pointing upward like a spire.  Just like the spire on the temples and church buildings reminds us of our goal to reunite with our Father in Heaven, so does the the Christmas tree.  If you didn't get a chance to watch the Devotional, I encourage you to do so.  After all, "Christmas is what we make of it."