Article By:
Urban Dsouza,
M.A; B.Ed; Diploma in Journalism, Executive MBA
1.Christmas Star
The colorful Christmas stars hung on the trees and houses have now become a prominent symbol of Christmas. Available in a range of sizes, colors and patterns, these adorable decors bring the flavor of festivals along with them.
Have you ever thought how these stars became the symbol of Christmas?
Christmas star, also known as the Star of Bethlehem, is associated with the birth of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Christians all over the world believe that it is this star which revealed the birth of Jesus to the shepherds and the magi and led them to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. This symbol of birth of the king of kings appears in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew. The wise men asked King Herod who, upon interpreting the verse from the Book of Micah and as if by prophecy, directed them to Bethlehem, a nearby village.
The Star of Bethlehem led them to Jesus’ birth place in Bethlehem.
The Story of Star of Bethlehem
A new star was seen in the sky, along with other stars, one fine night and this star was so radiant that its bright rays spread light as bright as day on the gray hills of Bethlehem. The shepherds, who were resting after a hectic day, saw this strange, bright star and were frightened because of the unusual shine. Immediately, to their surprise, an angel came to them and said: "Do not be afraid; the star has come to bring you good tidings of great joy, and to show you the place where a little baby is born,--a little babe whose name is Jesus, and who will give peace and joy to the whole world." The angel disappeared after saying this and the shepherds decided to go and see the child. They left their flock of sheep resting on the hillside and took their crook.
The shepherds started towards Bethlehem, following the bright star and reached the stable where Jesus Christ was born. They bowed the baby who was cradled in a manger. It was the same star that appeared before the three wise men who noticed the star moving. They understood that it was some omen and began to follow it. These wise men too, reached Bethlehem and bowed down before the baby and presented him with the various gifts that they had got with them. The star, which casted the bright light and led the shepherds and wise men to Bethlehem, then went back to heaven.
The Christmas star is not just a colorful decor; it signifies peace and high hopes. It gives you the ray of hope that the Son of God will help you confront and conquer every difficult situation you come across. It shows that every good thing comes from within and that there is a silver lining in every dark cloud.
2. Christmas Tree
The ever famous and the evergreen Christmas trees have been adorning the beauty of many Christmas seasons since as long as one can remember. Whole generations have passed through in between who probably have never heard a Christmas without a Christmas tree being set up in the house and decorated with dazzling ornaments and lights. Till date, this needle like firry tree stands, not only as an integral part of the Christmas tradition, but has a symbol of an important historical era gone by. Today, although the Christmas trees that are used don't necessarily have to be traditional live trees that have been cut down, the tradition continue to flourish world over.
It all started in Germany a thousand years ago when Saint Boniface, while converting the German people to Christianity, came across a bunch of pagans worshipping an Oak tree. It is believed that in anger Saint Boniface uprooted the Oak tree, only to find a young fir tree emerging from beneath the roots, which he took as a sign of faith. However, it was only in the 16th century that the Christmas trees began to be brought inside the homes for decorative purposes around the Christmas season. The following lines will throw light on Christmas tree traditions that have long been in existence and are still held close to the heart.
Traditions of Christmas tree
According to the old traditions, it wasn't until the arrival of Christmas Eve that Christmas trees were bought and decorated. It was in the tradition to leave them decorated for 12 days.
Tree worship has been a common practice in many ancient cultures and the trees are being planted since many centuries. For long they've known to bring in good fortunes and have also been linked to divinity.
Egyptians are believed to be the treasurers and worshippers of the evergreen. To symbolize and celebrate life's triumph over death, they used to bring in palm leaves into their homes.
The modern Christmas tree tradition is known to have sprung from the ancient tradition of the Germans and Scandinavians who used to place evergreen trees in front of their homes to symbolize their hope in the forthcoming season.
The start of the tradition to decorate trees is attributed to Martin Luther. It is believed that around the year 1500, when Martin Luther was walking across the snow covered woods, he was very impressed by the snow covered branches shining under the moonlight. To share this story with his children, he put a small fir tree and decorated it with candles in honor of Christ's birth.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a large Christmas tree placed annually in Rockefeller Center, in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
In Great Britain, the Christmas tree tradition is known to have brought in by Prince Albert, a German, who married Queen Victoria in 1840 and set up a Christmas tree at the Windsor Castle in England. Soon after which, the custom spread quickly over England, from royal court to middle class to working people.
Today, due to modernization, environmental consciousness & a forestation ideology, artificial Christmas trees are becoming more common. Most all-artificial trees are created in across the Pacific Ocean in large warehouses in China. Though artificial Christmas trees have been popular in recent years, research shows that getting back to the good old fashion Christmas tree is not only good for the environment but also for your health.