Do the lights on your tree twinkle?
It is right about now when people start thinking about setting up, or acquiring a tree to decorate for Christmas. It is custom steeped in tradition dating back to the 16th century in Germany. They would put lights on an evergreen tree to symbolize life in the dead of winter. Legend has it Martin Luther said he was inspired by the starry sky on Christmas Eve, to light the first tree, symbolizing Jesus being the light of the world. In 1832 a Harvard professor decorated the first American Christmas tree. Candles on a Christmas tree were dangerous, but in 1878 Frederick Arty invented a clip on candle holders. People still only lit the candles for 30 minutes at a time. It was all very festive and through the years have become a custom for all the wrong reasons.
The tree symbolized life and the lights Jesus Christ bringing light into the world. There was a star present at the birth of Christ, which is often placed on top of the tree, or an angel symbolized the angel announcing the birth of the Saviour of the world. What do you think of as you string your lights? Do you play carols or ‘grandma got run over by a reindeer?’ Has this become a commercial holiday in your home, or a celebration of the birth of our Saviour? It isn’t too late to start some traditions with the right meaning this year.
As parents it is important that we instill the true meaning of Christmas to our children. Before they make their list for Santa Clause, read them about Christmas from the New Testament. It tells how Jesus brought light into the world to save mankind. Then tell them the history of St. Nicholas, a monk born in the fourth century. Upon the death of his parents, became rich, and used his wealth to give help to others. Once he dropped a small bag of gold down the chimney into a house of a poor man who was about to sell his daughters because he could not provide a marriage dowry for them. The small sack of gold landed in a sock that was hanging on the fireplace to dry, starting a whole custom of its own. Give this Holiday season all the meaning it should have.
We as authors have the opportunity to instill our readers with all the reverence that Christmas should inspire. Let’s do our part to take back this precious Holiday from the hands of the mega markets, and back into the home, making it a Holiday of Love and Light.
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.
John 8:12
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:5
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
II Corinthians 4:6