Christmas – Did you know?
- A traditional Christmas dinner in early England was the head of a pig prepared with mustard.
- In 1834, Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert brought the first Christmas tree to Windsor Castle for the Royal family.
- Mexicans call the poinsettia “Flower of the Holy Night” – the Holy Night is the Mexican way of saying “Christmas Eve”.
- A wreath with holly, red berries and other decorations began from at least the 17th century. Holly, with its sharply pointed leaves, symbolised the thorns in Christ’s crown-of-thorns. Red berries symbolised the drops of Christ’s blood. A wreath at Christmas signified a home that celebrated to birth of Christ.
- The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, or “Christ’s Mass.” There is no set date for his birth in scripture and it wasn’t celebrated on any particular day. However Christmas was first celebrated on the 25th of December in Rome in 336AD with an aim to replacing the popular pagan winter solstice celebrations.
- Popular belief holds that 3 wise men visited Bethlehem from the east bearing gifts. However there is no mention in the bible about the number of wise men who visited. Three gifts were brought – gold, frankincense and myrrh, but names commonly attributed to the wise men – Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar were added some 500 years later.
- In France, Christmas is called Noel. This is derived from the French phrase “les bonnes nouvelles,” which means literally “the good news” and refers to the gospel.
My invitation in this post is to come and hear the good news this Christmas and be prepared to let God surprise you.
Please join us this December to celebrate the traditional with the renewed. We have Advent Carols, a Scratch Nativity (where everyone who wants a part gets one!), a children’s Christingle service – but where all ages are welcome, Nine lessons and Carols, Midnight Mass and Christmas day services. Christ was born for you – come and be part of his story.
Click here for details!
Mother Katie