Have you ever stopped to wonder what all of the decorations and symbols of Christmas actually mean? Several years ago, I came across a great children’s book that explained the meaning behind each of the decorations that were put on the tree. Although I don’t have the book or even remember the name of it, I was able to remember some of the book and also used some information on Being Saint Joseph. I found it interesting, as I had never really stopped to think about it before reading the story book.

What do the Decorations Mean?

Green is the colour of Life!

Poinsettia: These beautiful flowers are shaped like the Star of Bethlehem and bloom in the Christmas season. The red blooms and green foliage represent the traditional red and green Christmas colours.

Wreaths: A circle has no beginning and no end and thus the wreath represents the eternal nature of God and the never-ending value of love. An evergreen wreath is a true representation of this eternal love and hope, as it contains both the circle and the evergreen branches.

Bells: Bells ring out to guide the lost sheep back to the fold. This also signifies that all are precious in the eyes of the Lord.

Christmas Lights and Candles: Light removes darkness and Jesus came so that there might be light in the world.

Star: The stars that are used to decorate trees, cut into cookies or placed on wreaths are symbolic of the star that guided the Wise Men to where Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Angels: Remind us of the angels that attended the birth of Jesus.

The Christmas Tree: The “evergreen” tree represents eternal life and that fact that there is hope for new life after the long cold winter. It points to heaven and is a reminder that heaven is our ultimate goal.

Bow: Represents family ties and the fact that we should be tied together in bonds of goodwill.

Candy Canes: The candy canes are used to remind us of the Shepherd’s staff, used to guide the sheep. Of course, Jesus is considered to be a shepherd and “people” the sheep that he guides. The white stripe in the candy cane symbolizes the purity of his perfect life and the red for the blood of Jesus. The stripes on the candy cane represent the “stripes” that Jesus suffered for us during the crucifixion.

Red represents the blood of Jesus that was offered as a sacrifice for our sins when Jesus died on the cross.

Holly: The prickles and thorns are not unlike the crown that Jesus wore on his head and the bright red berries are like the drops of blood he shed.

Amongst the presents and the festivities, let’s not lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas. Let’s embrace the true spirit of Christmas and take this time to count our blessings and make CHRIST the center of our CHRISTmas!

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