The Christingle

Marie Macri came up with the idea of posting a series on "putting Christ back into Christmas". For the next several weeks she will be sharing some interesting and fun ideas for activities you can do as a family to make the holidays more meaningful.

Enjoy!

The Christingle History:
The Christingle has its origins in a Moravian children's service held in a castle in Germany on Christmas Eve in 1747. The bishop conducting the informal service gave each child a lighted candle, tied with a red ribbon, in memory of the Saviour's coming which he said has kindled a flame in each heart which keeps burning "to His joy, and our happiness".

Christingle Today:
Much later, this simple candle was replaced by a more elaborate Christingle which is rich in symbolism.
The modern Christingle consists of (I've added scripture readings to be read as you make the Christingle):
• an orange: representing the world
Scripture: Genesis 1:1; Psalm 24:1; Jeremiah 32:17
• a red ribbon, tied round the orange: representing the blood of Jesus OR the love of God encompassing the entire earth.
Scripture: John 3:16; Psalm 119:64; John 15:12
• four toothpicks - North, South, East & West representing the four seasons
Scripture: Psalm 107:2,3
• fruits and sweets (raisins & small candies), skewered on 4 cocktail sticks (toothpicks) which are pushed into the orange: representing God's good gifts - the fruits of the earth and the four seasons.
Scripture: Genesis 1:3,4; Genesis 1:29
• a small cross-shaped cut: The cross on which Christ died for our sins, into this cut is place the candle
Scripture: Genesis 3:4-6; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8
• a lighted candle, pushed into the centre of the orange: representing Christ, the light of the world (can use a small white candle with foil or a birthday candle with holder)
Scripture: John 1:1-5

To make a Christingle you will need:
an orange, red ribbon, a pin, silver foil, a candle and candle holder, four cocktail sticks,sweets or raisins.