CHRISTMAS SYMBOLS AND WHAT THEY MEAN

We celebrate Christmas each year with a lot of preparations, decorations, sweets, lights,
crib etc. Every year we put in a lot of efforts to make sure we have all the things ready for
Christmas. Right from the clothes to the Christmas cake we make nothing is left out. But the
sad part is we do a lot of things without knowing the meaning behind some of the things we
do. Today the situation is so bad that some of things we do has lost its taste and meaning it has
become a mere show. Have u ever asked yourself why do we put up the Crib? Why do we sing
Christmas Carols? In my article are try to point out the meaning behind some of the Christmas
Carols

1. Wreathe

We begin the season of advent by placing the Christmas wreath with 4 candles
symbolising 4 Sundays of Advent. There is an inherent Christian spiritual meaning of eternal
life associated with Christmas wreaths, but other meanings and symbols are found in ancient
Rome and Greece. The history of the wreath is common Christian lore and explains that the
honoured art of wreath-making began 1,000 years before the birth of Christ. Christians
assembled “Advent wreaths” to symbolize the strength of life they showed by persevering
through the harsh forces of winter. Today, still, the Christmas wreath is symbolic of Christian
immortality, as the circle and sphere both represent immortality.

2. Crib
This is very common symbol of Christmas every Christian House has this. The
appearance of the crib in our churches is a sure sign that Christmas is at the doorstep. It was St
Francis of Assisi who popularized such a tableau. He had great devotion to the Infant Jesus
and, wanting to share the happiness of that devotion with others, he enlisted the help of his
friars and set up a replica of the first nativity. People, animals and even a tiny babe played their
part. This took place in Greccio, a small Italian village near Assisi in 1223 AD. Cribs now
grace churches all over the world. We find them in public spots and common stores as well.

3. Christmas Carols
Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas
Carols. These were songs sung on different occasion, by group of people, friends or family
around a camp fire during winter season. In 129, a Roman Bishop said that a song called
"Angel's Hymn" should be sung at a Christmas service in Rome. Another famous early
Christmas Hymn was written in 760, by Comas of Jerusalem, for the Greek Orthodox Church.
Soon after this many composers all over Europe started to write 'Christmas carols'. However,
not many people liked them as they were all written and sung in Latin. By the time of the 1200s,
most people had lost interest in celebrating Christmas altogether.
This was changed by St. Francis of Assisi when, in 1223, he started his Nativity Plays
in Italy. The people in the plays sang songs or 'canticles' that told the story during the plays.
Sometimes, the choruses of these new carols were in Latin; but normally they were all in a
language that the people watching the play could understand and join in! The new carols spread
to France, Spain, Germany and other European countries. In time these carols turned into great
hymns and slowly started becoming a part of Church Service like we have today.

4. Candles
The Christmas candle reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world. He is the light we
should follow and through Him we will find our way in the darkness of life. Christmas candles
are found in all shapes, colours, sizes and scents. On the Advent wreath, a candle is lit each
week to remind us of the coming of Christ or the ray of hope.

5. Star
The Christmas star symbolizes the star of Bethlehem, which according to the Biblical
story, guided the three kings, or wise men, to the baby Jesus. The star is also the heavenly sign
of a prophecy fulfilled long ago and the shining hope for humanity. The Christmas star
symbolizes high hopes and high ideals - hope for good fortune, hope for reaching above
oneself.
6. Angels
The angels proclaimed the news of the Saviour’s birth. They sang, “Glory to God in
the highest” and proclaimed the good news on that first Christmas night. The term angel
literally means “messenger,” and it is in this prominent role that angels take part in the
Christmas story. An angel appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Christ (Luke 1:26-38).
An angel appeared to Joseph telling him that what was conceived in Mary was from the Holy
Spirit (Matthew 1:20-21).
7. Bells

The sound of bells announces the birth of Christ on earth. If we go back to history we
will see that the tradition of bells started way back to the 12th century in which bells were the
only form of communication or sound to gather large crowds together. Even during church
ceremonies bells would often be rung to signify a particular part in a service like a prayer or
bowing to those who were outside the church and could not see what was going on so they
would know how to participate. Through the ringing of a bell the importance of a bell is
understood. In some churches, Easter was a 3-bell event, and Christmas was a 4-bell event. So
bells play quite a vital part in the celebration of Christmas.

8. Christmas Tree

The tradition of the Christmas tree may actually be older than Christmas itself. The
Ancient Egyptians, the Ancient Greeks, the Germanic cultures of early Europe, and the Ancient
Romans all practiced some version of the tree decorating ceremony we now associate with
Christmas. In many of these cultures, trees were symbolic of eternal life and fertility. The
typical life cycle of a deciduous tree, which drops its leaves in the fall and winter, naturally
called to mind the human cycle of life and death. The evergreen stood out because of its
tendency to hold needles all year, leading people to associate this type of tree with vitality and
magic.

9. Santa Claus
St. Nicholas was a Bishop who lived in the fourth century in a place called Myra in
Asia Minor (now called Turkey). He was also a very kind man and had a reputation for helping
the poor and giving secret gifts to people who needed it. Because of his kindness Nicholas was
made a Saint. St. Nicholas is not only the saint of children but also of sailors! One story tells
of him helping some sailors that were caught in a dreadful storm off the coast of Turkey. But
with time the stories of St Nicholas became unpopular and people stopped remembering,
however the habit of giving gifts to children had to continue. so in England, he became 'Father
Christmas' or 'Old Man Christmas', an old character from stories. In France, he was then known
as 'Pere Noel'. In some countries including parts of Austria and Germany, present giver became
the 'Christ kind' a golden-haired baby, with wings, who symbolizes the new born baby Jesus.
In the early USA his name was 'Kris Kringle' (from the Christ kind). Later, Dutch settlers in
the USA took the old stories of St. Nicholas with them and Kris Kringle and St Nicholas
became 'Sinterklaas' or as we now say 'Santa Claus'!
10. Gifts

During Christmas we give each other gifts especially children. This tradition of giving
gifts to Children goes back in time to symbolise something special. One of the main reasons
we have the custom of giving and receiving presents at Christmas, is to remind us of the
presents given to Jesus by the Wise Men: Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh.
Gold: is associated with Kings and we believe that Jesus is the King of Kings.
Frankincense: is used in worship in Churches and showed that people would worship
Jesus.
Myrrh: is a perfume that is put on dead bodies to make them smell nice; we believe that
it showed that Jesus would suffer and die.

11. Kuswar and Cake

Like any other festival, Christmas too has very unique sweets prepared for the occasion.
In other counties there is a candy cane, or pudding but in Mangalore we have a special sweets
like Gullio, Nevryo, Kiddiyo, Laddu, Chakuli, Tukdi, Karakadi, etc. in Goa they add more
unique sweets which are very popular there coming from the Portuguese. All these sweets are
exchanged and given to one another to express joy and happiness of Christmas. Christmas
cakes are made many different ways, but generally they are variations on classic fruitcake.
They can be light, dark, moist, dry, heavy, spongy, leavened, unleavened, etc. They are made
in many different shapes, with frosting, glazing, and a dusting of confectioner's sugar or plain.
The traditional Scottish Christmas cake, also known as the Whisky Dundee, is very
popular. It is a light crumbly cake with currants, raisins, cherries and Scotch whisky. In Japan
Christmas cake is a frosted sponge cake with strawberries, chocolates or seasonal fruit. In the
Philippines Christmas cake is a yellow pound cake with nuts or the traditional British fruitcake.
Both cakes are soaked in brandy or rum, a palm sugar syrup and water. Rosewater or orange
flower water is usually added. The cakes have a long shelf life, usually lasting many months.
Sometimes they are eaten the following Easter or Christmas.

Conclusion
These are some of the symbols of Christmas. It is good to know them. I have identified
only few of such symbols seen here in Mangalore and other places surrounding it. There are
many other symbols and traditions in different other countries. We must always remember
Christmas. May our celebrations always remain faithful to the traditions and meaningful to our
feast? The Feast of the Incarnation of the Lord.