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Christmas Lane

I just love Christmas Season! When I stop to think of all the fabulous things Christ has done in and for my life it is no wonder that I want to sing all the carols, jingle the bells, light the candles and decorate a tree! The coming of a King who has so profoundly affected my life for good certainly is a reason to celebrate. He sets my heart to dancing!!!

In order to save you loading time I've put all my Christmas features on this page, featuring The Christmas Story, History of the Candy Cane, The Poinsetta Story and more. Just keep scrolling down for all the interesting tidbits on this wonderous holiday!

History of The Candy Cane

The traditional candy cane was born more than 350 years ago when mothers used white sugar sticks as pacifiers for their babies. Around 1670, the choirmaster of Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, bent the sticks into canes to represent a shepherd's staff. He then used these white candy canes to keep the attention of small children during the long Nativity service. The use of candy canes during the Christmas service spread throughout Europe. In northern Europe, sugar canes decorated with sugar roses were used to brighten the home at Christmas time. In the mid-1800s, the candy cane arrived in the United States when a German-Swedish immigrant in Wooster, Ohio, decorated his spruce tree with paper ornaments and white sugar canes. The red stripe was added to the candy cane at the turn of the century, when peppermint and wintergreen were added and became the traditional flavors for the candy cane. Some sources say that a candy maker in Indiana developed the candy cane as a witness of Christ's love. While we may never know the full history of the candy cane, we can share in the truth behind its symbol, of Christ's birth and redemption, and the gift of his love. taken from: The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg"

The Poinsetta Story

Long ago, in Mexico
Beneath a Christmas sky,
An angel asked a weeping girl,
"Why is it that you cry?"

"Oh Angel, all the people go
To celebrate the King,
With gifts of gold and flowers bright,
I have no gift to bring."

Said the Angel "Gather these," and waved his hand to show,
A narrow place beside the road,
Where weeds and brambles grow.
So weeds she gave, and ran away,
Ashamed and full of fear.
That all would think she mocked the child;
But, startled, turned to hear.

A gasp of wonder from the crowd!
Where once were only weeds,
A miracle had changed them to a wonderous gift, indeed!

Red flowers glowed with leaves of green,
And center crowns of gold.
Poinsettas, the Christmas flower;
Thus the tale is told.

Commands the Angel, "This advice,
To everyone impart!
Most loved by Christ,
Will be the gift,
That's given from the heart!"
(Source Unknown)

Poinsettias are native to Mexico. They were named after America's first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett. He brought the plants to America in 1828. The Mexicans in the eighteenth century thought the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem. Thus the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the poinsettia is small and yellow. But surrounding the flower are large, bright red leaves, often mistaken for petals.

The Christmas Tree

The Christmas Tree originated in Germany in the 16th century. It was common for the Germanic people to decorate fir trees, both inside and out, with roses, apples, and colored paper. It is believed that Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer, was the first to light a Christmas tree with candles. While coming home one dark winter's night near Christmas, he was struck with the beauty of the starlight shining through the branches of a small fir tree outside his home. He duplicated the starlight by using candles attached to the branches of his indoor Christmas tree. The Christmas tree was not widely used in Britain until the 19th century. It was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans in the 1820's.

Christmas is called a time of peace. People talk about it. You've probably seen doves or other kinds of peace symbols on Christmas cards. But, what most people don't talk about is why this is a season of peace.

When the angels announced Jesus' birth, they sang, "Peace on earth!" because one of the names for the promised Savior was the "Prince of Peace". (Isa. 9:6) They were proclaiming that Peace had now come to rule on earth! Many people thought that meant that as soon as the Messiah came, He would "protect all the good guys and git rid of all the bad guys (or maybe thro them in jail)" like some kind of cartoon super hero! But, Jesus came to bring a different kind of peace. He gives us peace that stays with us no matter what. God's kind of peace fills your heart and makes you feel loved. It is a peace that only God can give and there is nothing else that can take it's place.

Many people try to fill that place with something else. Do you know kids who are angry and try to bully other kids? They are trying to fill that place with power. Some adults try to fill that place iwth friends or food, or lots of "toys" or clothes. They are trying to fill that place with acceptance. Others try to fill that God shaped place with something good like getting achieving in career, or being helpful to others. But, even when we try filling that place in our heart with good things, it's like using the wrong key in a lock. It can never open the door to God's peace and it will never make you completely happy, because we tried to fill it with something that doesn't fit right.

Have you ever tried to open a door with the wrong key? It might look like the right key. It might even go into the lock. But, when you try to turn it and open the door, nothing happens. That's what it is like when we try to fill our hearts with something other than God. When we fill our hearts with the Lord, we find peace.

Jesus said, "In Me you may have peace. Int he world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, I have conquered the world" (John 16:33).

This means that no matter what difficult situation we face, we can have peace. If you aren't facing something hard right now, than the Lord. But, if you are, ask the Lord to help you, talk to Him, to a trusted Christian or even your pastor, and remember: No matter what you face, the Prince of Peace is right there with you.

Taken from The 25 Days of Christmas by Rebecca Hayford Bauer

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:1-20 New International Version

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