Christmas Greenery

Some material taken fromShe Reads Truth Advent 2016

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and that life is in His Son. 
1 John 5:11

So many of the traditions we have at Christmastime are tied to symbolism.  Some you may know about, but others you may not be aware of.  Christmas greenery is one that I was unfamiliar with. 

Mistletoe–This magical little stem of greenery with white berries is usually used to steal a kiss from someone. But mistletoe is also used as an ancient symbol of God’s resurrection power.  Mistletoe is a tough little plant.  It grows by latching onto other trees.  So, the tenacity of the mistletoe caused second century Christians to use the plant to remind them of God’s power to bring life from death.  

Holly– Another traditional holiday greenery that you see a lot of during the Christmas season is holly.  Holly has bright red berries in the late fall that add beautiful color to the Christmas decorations.  Holly has been around as a Christmas decoration since the middle ages and has been mentioned in Christmas hymns and poetry since at least the 18^thcentury.  The red berries are symbolic of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  Some also see holly as a symbol for the crown of thorns that Jesus wore due to its prickly leaves, again, making the holly the shed blood of Jesus.  The cross, the sacrifice, 

Pine – Evergreen– Evergreens symbolize growth and vitality.  Evergreens stay green all year long, even in the dead of winter.  Just as the branches of the pine tree remain green long after the frost comes, we can look forward to our coming life in Christ in the seasons of winter in our lives. The smell of pine is so distinctive. I love to have a real pine wreath or swag in my house at Christmas.  The fragrant branches rouse the Christmas spirit and remind us of the blessings of the season.  

Ivy- Ivy is an evergreen vine.  Like pine, it remains green all through every season.  Ivy is a climbing vine, so it must hold tight to survive, which symbolizes our need to cling to God’s promises.  

The Christmas Wreath– The circular shape of wreaths, with no beginning or end, symbolize the eternal nature of God.  God, and everything about Him, is unending.  His unending grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, and the list could go on.  He has no beginning and no end.  He never runs out or comes to the end of any of His attributes.  Because of this, we have the hope of eternal life.  He is, in every way, eternal.

Let the decorations around you this Christmas remind you of the real reason we celebrate – Jesus and all His eternal love, power, and His blood shed for us so we can have eternal life.

Scripture to Claim:
 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!  2 Corinthians 9:15