Crib, star, two interlocked circles, Trinity, tree, lambs,
angels, trumpet, Holy Family, symbols, three steps,
candles, throne, shepherds, hand of God, dove, hawthorn,
Glasronburg thorn in blossom.
Significance of Other Symbols
The significance of most Christmas symbols is obvious,
others, although commonplace have deeper meaning not
immediately apparent, and some represent stories no
longer remembered.
Candy Cane
The Shepherds crook, representing the nativity’s first
witnesses and Christ the Good Shepherd, inspired the
candy cane. Its alternating white and red stripes represent
the Lord’s purity and sacrifice, even as the same colors do
liturgically. Its lively peppermint flavor stands for the royal
gift of spice. Finally, like the Body of Christ itself, the candy
cane is given to be broken and shared.
Carnation
The carnation is known as a flower of rejoicing because
of the legend that it first appeared at the birth of Christ.
Christmas holly
The bright green leaves and red berries, well into the cold
season, make holly right for Christmas. Its symbolism,
however, is much deeper. For the early Christian it was not
only reminiscent or the burning bush seen by Moses, but
prophetic as well: In the face of Christmas sentimentality; it
foretells, with its prickly points and drop of blood-like
berries, Christ’s crown of thorns. According to ancient
legend, its berries were once yellow, but were stained
permanently red by Christ’s blood, since it was used to
fashion the Savior’s crown of thorns. (Maybe this is the
reason for the superstition that holly, if brought into the
house before Christmas Eve, would provoke family fights).
Holly’s symbolic roots go deeper still, into the subsoil of the
Roman culture. The Romans would send holly to friends,
in a gesture of friendliness and good will during the mid-
winter feasts. Later, Northern Europeans hung it on doors
as a symbol of shelter for the wood spirits.
Poinsettia - The “Flower of the Holy Night”
It has a fabled origin: Long ago, on Christmas Eve, a poor
child made his way to church in great sadness because he
had no gift to offer the Christ child. Not daring to enter the
church, he knelt humbly on the ground outside and prayed,
tearfully telling the Lord of his great desire to offer a gift.
Unwilling to approach with empty hands, he finally rose
only to behold springing up at his feet a plant with dazzling
red, spectacular blooms. This was the answer to his
prayers. These blossoms he took to the feet of the Christ
child. Since then, the “flower of the Holy Night” spread
through the whole country, blooming each year at
Christmas with such glorious abandon that the very sight of
it filled believers with the spirit of this season of the
Saviour’s birth.