True Meaning of Christmas

by blackspanielgallery

We are often told to remember the true meaning of Christmas. What can we do to help keep Christmas closer to its true meaning?

The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is of great importance in Christianity. While it may not be as theologically important as the event sequence from Good Friday through Easter Sunday, it was an early step in getting to that point.

In modern society Christmas has often taken on a secular holiday aspect. It has drifted to a fun family event, but too often the inclusion of the birth of Jesus is overlooked, or disregarded.

It is often said that we need to keep Christ in Christmas, but there is usually no guidance in doing so. To many people adding a Nativity Set seems to be all that they need to do. It is but a beginning. Certainly, attending Christmas service is needed as a minimum of keeping Christ in Christmas. Midnight Mass is becoming less of an option, since many churches have discontinued it for safety reasons. But, those churches still celebrate Christmas at later times, and even earlier on Christmas Eve. This is a problem caused by our current society.

Enhance Your Nativity Set

Add Angels

A Nativity Set is a significant part of Christmas decorating.  But, have you ever asked who was there on that first Christmas night.  I believe every available angel in Heaven would have been there.  So, why not enhance your Nativity Set with angels? 

 

There are different ways of doing this.  Angel lights in small trees surrounding your Nativity Set can stand for angels hovering in the area.  And who can say they were not?  Use battery power to make this possible.

 

Another method of giving this illusion is with several standing angels.  Imagine LED lights causing angels to glow. 

 

I would recommend three appropriate size trees with angel lights. Representing nine choirs of angels is a bit much for decorations, but can be grouped into three triads.  I would add at least four standing angels for Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel, even though Uriel is not included by the Roman Catholic Church, but is mentioned in both the Old Testament and in a Book of Enoch.  These would be close.  Standing back would be more.

Nativity Set Options

Different Places Have Different Customs

Our Nativity Set is filled with figurines once it is set up.  The local churches wait to add Jesus until Christmas Mass.  Some people wait to add the three kings until January 6.  I have read of countries where nothing is done before Christmas, and then the celebration goes until January 6.  Here, most decorations appear right after Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday of November. 

Nativity Set Article

Nativity sets are popular during the Christmas season, but adding santons is unique to just a few places. It is a practice well worth considering.

Olive Wood Christmas Ornaments

Religious Ornaments

Religious Christmas ornaments can be found in olive wood.  These often can be found in sets of twelve.  They would make a nice addition to a Christmas tree.  They are quite attractive.

Zazzle Christmas Ornaments

Interesting Unique Christmas Ornaments

Zazzle is a place to find unique Christmas ornaments.  Personalizing them allows messages in any language.

Jim Shore Christmas Ornaments

Stone Resin

Jim Shore quality Christmas ornaments in stone resin are easily found.  There are some of these desirable pieces depicting the Nativity.  Others are angel ornaments.  They would greatly enhance the message your Christmas decorations give.

Christmas Carols

A Christmas Playlist

Have you ever listened to the words of Christmas Carols?  Some focus on a part of the story of the first Christmas.  Think on playing the songs in an order that goes through the whole Christmas story.  It is not difficult.

 

The first song could be Joy to the World.  This song focuses on the birth of Jesus, and the joy it should have brought to the world. 

 

The second song could be Hark, the Harold Angels Sing.  Next in the story is the spreading of the joyous message by the angels. 

 

The song O Little town of Bethlehem can be placed here.  It has less of the storyline to reveal than the others, so it could be moved, or even omitted.

 

I would recommend our response should be Angels We Have Heard on High.  This is a stirring song, and should really convey the magnificent significance of the event.

 

Once things quieted down, the carol Away in a Manger focuses on the peacefulness of the time.

 

Perhaps the next song could reveal what the shepherds found with Silent Night.  This is not the original German version, the words did not translate well with rhyme and meter, so it was altered.  Still, it must be there.

 

Finally, We Three Kings of Orient Are addresses the close of the story.  It would fall last in the story, if we find sequencing important.

 

I realize there is to be some overlap, for some convey more than one aspect of the Christmas story.  And, others can easily be added.  But, collectively they remind us of the real meaning of Christmas.

 

This article contains links to affiliate programs and Adsense advertising.  These must use cookies to allow for proper crediting. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

The introduction image is allowed by an associate program.  It is our Zazzle product.  The mage is in public domain at W C Clipart

 

Updated: 09/26/2018, blackspanielgallery
 
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blackspanielgallery on 09/28/2018

As for Christmas carols, the German is the root of many, and translations of a song often loses rhyme. we can change to other words, but keeping the meter the same is more difficult.

blackspanielgallery on 09/28/2018

Thanks for the comments. I tried to make this more than one-dimensional. Nativity sets need to be here, but cannot be the whole article. There is so much more.

AngelaJohnson on 09/28/2018

When I was a child, we had a nativity set similar to your second photo.

Mira on 09/28/2018

I enjoyed this. We have many Christmas carols, but I haven't listened to the English ones in a while. I think I'll do that this Christmas season.

blackspanielgallery on 09/27/2018

I am pleased that you found something pleasant here. This is one I just wrote. I wish I could find holographic angels to hover over a Nativity Set, but I do not think such things are possible. I see angels as likely attendees.

I realize Christmas is not a celebration for our Jewish friends, but I am thinking maybe a tolerance article would be good. In this area we have several synagogues, and there are quite a few blue light displays. One lawn even has an inflatable dreidel. I live in a tolerant area, and this may not be so in many other places. Of course they decorate for Hanukkah, not Christmas, but it is nice to view all of the decorations. If I can find enough to say it may be a future article.

DerdriuMarriner on 09/27/2018

blackspanielgallery, Thank you for the practical suggestions and product lines. It has been about a month now that I've read through -- and voted up ;-D of course -- all your articles. So it's a reading pleasure to keep up with the ones that you've been releasing since August.
In particular, I like your statement that "I believe every available angel in Heaven would have been there" and your seven suggestions for carols. (The latter reminds me of one of my favorite parts of Funny Farm, where it's the old-fashioned holiday celebrations that persuade Chevy Chase's and Madolyn Smith's characters to move to and stay in small-town Vermont.)

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