Friday, December 23, 2011

The Symbolism of Christmas

I probably won't be posting is weekend because I'll be out of town.  But then, I doubt that many of you will be on line reading survival posts!  I am reposting what I wrote last year because I liked it.  While you may not think so, this post does have a lot to do with being a survivalist.  Your spirituality is more important than the rest of your prepping. 
 
Many say that Christmas is an American holiday and everyone should celebrate it.  They are truly wrong.  It is a Christian holiday and those who want to celebrate Christmas as an American holiday because it's fun rather than a religious commemoration are missing the true meaning.  We think the commercialization robs it from its religious values but so much of what is thought of as commercialism is truly symbolic.   The meaning is forgotten by turning it into an American holiday.

The wood tree - the wood of the cross and life and resurrection. 
A star on the top of your tree - the stars that the wise men followed.  (same with the lights on your house)
Tinsel - angel's hair and therefore is a symbol of the angels who attended the birth of Jesus. 
Mistletoe - is a symbol of life. 
The wreath -  the crown of thorns.
The red berries - the blood. 
Gifts - to remember the gifts of the wise men.
More gifts - for the unselfishness of Jesus

Each Christmas symbol does have religious importance.  When you have these symbols in your home do not distance yourself from the religious significance and adopt them into an American celebration that is merely fun.  This is disrespectful to the Christian religion.  Teach your children well.

Merry Christmas to my Christian friends.  Have a wonderful day.  To my Jewish friends Happy Chanukah.  So far four nights of family and friends celebrating religious freedom.  Four more nights to go! 

1 comment:

  1. Luke 2:7-15 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn
    8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold,[a] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
    13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
    14 “ Glory to God in the highest,
    And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

    15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

    THE REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON!!!! Merry Christmas from the Long Family!!

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