FEATURES
accompanying his sleigh progress.
Holly
The evergreen holly symbolises eternal life. This
shrub’s most conspicuous features have long been
associated with Jesus Christ. The bright red berries
represent the drops of blood He shed on the cross;
their color also represented the burning love for
God present in the hearts of the faithful. The prickly
leaves remind us of the crown of thorns the Roman
soldiers placed on Jesus Christ’s head.
Mistletoe
The kissing under the mistletoe was originally a
belief that this plant, which stayed green even in
winter, could produce and increase sexual power.
In a few parts of the world it was regarded as being
so potent that it could increase the productivity of
the soil, be used as a fertility drug for cattle, and it
was also used as a cure for impotence in humans.
The Druids believed that the mistletoe’s magic
potency extended far beyond just conferring
fertility. It was thought to cure almost any disease
and was therefore known as ‘all healer’. Sprigs fixed
above doorways of homes were said to keep away
lightning and many kinds of evil. As the plant had no
roots it was believed that it grew from heaven.
An old wives tale has it that a girl who had not been
kissed under the mistletoe would be barren. Now it
is only an excuse to take innocuous liberties.
Poinsettia
The poinsettia is named after Joel R. Poinsett, who
served as the USA’s first ambassador to Mexico,
from 1825-1829. He saw this indigenous plant with
large scarlet leaves encircling small, greenish-yellow
blossoms, which was the Mexican Christmas flower.
He sent specimens back to the USA, where they
flourished.
A Mexican legend tells how the poinsettia became a
Christmas flower. A poor peasant girl was anxious
to bring a gift in honor of the Virgin Mary to the
Christmas Eve service. She had nothing ot give so
she went with nothing. On the way she met an
angel, who told her to pick some weeds. She did
this. As by a miracle they were transformed into the
bright scarlet ‘flowers’. Ever since poinsettias have
been popular decorations for churches and homes
during the Christmas festival.
Ivy
Ivy had been a symbol of eternal life in pagan
religions. The Christians believe it stands for the new
promise of eternal life
In England Ivy is considered to be feminine while
holly is masculine.
The Star
The star placed at the very top of the Christmas
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tree recalls the one seen by the three wise men ‘in
the East’ at the time of Jesus Christ’s birth, the star
that ‘went before them till it came and stood over
where the young child was’
Matthew 2:1-12
Candles
The lighting of candles at Christmas originated far
back in time when it was part of early sun worship:
like bonfires, candles were lit in the depths of winter
in an attempt to magically strengthen the weakened
sun. The Church tried to stamp this ancient custom
out, but, instead it invested the lighting of the
candles with a new meaning. Candles were lit so it is
said to symbolise the divine light that was believed
to illuminate the world. Another tradition is that
candles were meant to recall the lights people lit in
their windows at the time of Jesus Christ’s birth,
so as to let Mary and Joseph know that they would
be welcome in their homes.Another association
of the lighting of candles was the period in Irish
history when the Catholic religion was banned. A
Catholic family would signal when it was safe for a
priest to come in their home to celebrate Mass by
placing a lighted candle in the window. It is in this
way Christmas candles are a silent tribute to those
people of all faiths, who, have faced persecution and
who have remained loyal to their beliefs.
The Nativity Scene
The crib, representing the manger in which the
baby Jesus Christ was laid after his birth in a stable
in Bethlehem, has become a favorite Christmas
decoration. It has been used for centuries to bring
to life the story of Christmas.
Francis of Assisi, who was renowned for his love
of animals, instituted the custom of the nativity
scene. After receiving permission from the Pope, he
erected the first one during the Christmas of 1224
in a cave outside the town of Greccio in Italy. It
was not a hand crafted or modren type of crib but
a live scene. When people gathered to watch the
spectacle. Francis stood in front of the manger and
would recite the Gospel relating to the scene; then
he would deliver a sermon.
Nowadays, nativity scenes with all the figures
such as Joseph, Mary and the three wise men have
become popular throughout the Christian world.