What on Earth is a Christingle?

Usually at this time of the year, people ask me whether I am missing being back in Britain. My answer is usually ‘not really' as the thoughts of snow and grey skies return from my memory. But there are certain traditions and practices about the Christmas season which my mind turns to which aren't replicated on this side of the Atlantic.

One such tradition is the making of Christingles. These homespun decorations, designed to help children understand the fullness of the Christmas season, were first used in 1747 when Bishop Johannes de Watteville was planning his Children's Christmas message. He took an orange and told the children that represented world, created and nurtured by god. He then took a candle and stuck it into the orange, to represent the light of God coming into the world through Jesus. Next he wrapped a red ribbon around the orange to represent Jesus' blood being shed later in his life. Then four small sticks were inserted into the orange, representing the four seasons of the year, and on those sticks were put dried fruit and candies to represent the fruits of the earth, and the gifts of God to each of us. In case that description doesn't make any sense whatsoever, I have included a picture of a Christingle with this article which might hopefully make things clearer!

I grew up making Christingles at school and at church, and I have continued that tradition ever since. Despite perhaps being the only Christingle in Arizona, the light shines just as brightly, and its meaning remains just the same.

This Christmas Eve, I shall light my Christingle and shall sing the song that tells its story. It's sung to the tune of ‘The Holly and the Ivy', and its second verse goes like this;

A candle burning brightly can cheer the darkest night, and these candles tell how Jesus came to bring a dark world light. So Father we would thank you for all that you have done. And for all that you have given us, through the coming of your son.

Perhaps you'd like to sing those words to that familiar tune this year as we give thanks for that light. May the light of peace, shine brightly from our Christingles, candles, homes and hearts forevermore. Merry Christmas to you all!

Our upcoming Spiritual Life opportunities for the rest of the year are:

• Christmas Eve Service on Friday, December 24 at 3:00PM in the Life Center
• Christmas Day Catholic mass on Saturday, December 25 at 9:00AM in the Life Center
• Handel's “The Messiah” performed by the Sydney Opera House on Saturday, December 25 at 2:00PM shown on Channel 1-2
• catholic mass on Sunday, December 26 at 9:00AM in the Life Center
• Sunday Worship Service on December 26 at 3:00PM in the Life Center

Author Info: Andrew Moore

Chaplain Andrew is the Associate Chaplain here at the Campus. Before relocating to Arizona in 2014, Andrew lived and studied in the United Kingdom. Andrew was ordained in the Anglican Church and has worked in a variety of parishes.