What Christmas Decorations Symbolize?

Every year, we see the same things associated with Christmas and the holiday season, and many times, we may get so caught up in the other activities of Christmas, such as presents, Santa Claus, decorations, and Christmas dinner, that we often forget the true meaning of Christmas. So, have you ever wondered what these Christmas symbols mean? With this article, you may see things in a different light this Christmas!

Christmas Wreaths:

They are circular in shape, have no beginning or end, and are a never-ending circle of life. They are usually made of evergreens, berries, pine cones, fir, and holly, giving the meaning of eternal life, as evergreens do not wither in the winter. The holly branches also have thorns on them, representing the crown of thorns that Jesus wore when he was crucified, and the bright red berries represent the blood he shed for his people.

Stars:

Christmas stars are usually placed on top of Christmas trees. They represent the Star of Bethlehem, which the three wise men followed to help them find the baby Jesus. This star only appears in the story of Jesus' birth in the Gospel of Matthew, where the astrologers (wise men) from the East were inspired by the star and traveled to Jerusalem.

Angels:

The angel you can place on top of your Christmas tree comes from Gabriel, the archangel in the Book of Revelation who told Mary that she would be the earthly mother of Jesus. This angel also visited Joseph in a dream, telling him that he would be the father of Jesus Christ. A large number of angels also gathered in the sky above Bethlehem to announce the birth of Jesus to the world and proclaim that he would be their savior. The image below shows an angel speaking to shepherds.

Christmas Trees:

Christmas trees are made of evergreen fir and represent eternal life. In ancient times, Romans placed Christmas trees in their homes in anticipation of the arrival of spring after winter. Christians believed that Christmas trees were eternal life coexisting with God. Another theory is that a monk brought a Christmas tree to Germany to decorate it. He said that because the Christmas tree was in a triangular shape, it represented the Holy Trinity - God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The Germans quickly accepted this tradition and began decorating Christmas trees with candles. Pagans believed that Christmas trees had to be taken down on or before January 5th or the tree spirit would turn bad. Many still believe that keeping Christmas trees after this date brings bad luck!

Baubles and Ornaments:

The old tradition of decorating the Christmas tree was to place various offerings on the tree, including apples. In 1858, a harsh winter destroyed all the apples, and the use of apples disappeared. A glassblower came up with the idea to replace the apples with colorful blown glass balls, which became the baubles we know today! Other popular modern decorations include:

Bells – represent the bells used to return lost sheep to the fold.

Candles – represent Jesus as a divine light.

Gift bows – represent Christian commitment and are closely tied to everlasting goodwill.

Gifts:

Gifts are given at Christmas to remind us of the gifts the wise men brought to the baby Jesus – gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It can also be seen as God’s great gift to the world – Jesus!