{"id":789,"date":"2018-10-10T10:07:49","date_gmt":"2018-10-10T08:07:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.holyart.it\/com\/?p=789"},"modified":"2019-03-28T12:40:12","modified_gmt":"2019-03-28T11:40:12","slug":"christmas-symbols-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.holyart.it\/com\/christmas\/christmas-symbols-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas symbols and their meaning"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christmas <\/strong>is the richest holiday in terms of sacred and profane symbolism, all intersected throughout centuries until they became an indissoluble and indistinguishable one. All Christmas symbols<\/strong> and the habits related to each one were preserved form generation to generation. From the Nativity to the tree, from the mistletoe to the Advent Wreath, from the holly to the Panettone, all merge together to create a unique atmosphere<\/strong>, whose meaning is often forgotten when looking at the whole, but that can only spread among everyone.<\/p>\n

The Nativity<\/h2>\n

The Nativity <\/strong>is maybe the most important symbol for catholics. From the stories of Evangelists Luke and Matthew, who described the Nativity<\/strong><\/a>, an immense mistery comes out: a God that chooses to become a man to descent among his Sons and lead them to Salvation, all enclosed in an apparently common event, in its semplicity, as the birth of a child in a starry night.<\/p>\n

The Christmas tree<\/h2>\n

The Christmas tree<\/strong><\/a> has instead pagan origins. It is a symbol for life that renovates itself and that’s why it is usually an evergreen tree. During Medieval times, the first Christmas trees were decorated with paper flowers, fresh and dry fruits, and other symbols for wealth, to recall the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. Later, people began to decorate Christmas trees with candles<\/strong><\/a>, symbols for Advent and for the Savior that defeats the darkness of sin, and place them inside their houses.<\/p>\n

The Advent wreath<\/h2>\n

Also the Christmas candle<\/strong> symbolically recalls Jesus as bringer of light and salvation, while the four candles of the Advent wreath<\/strong><\/a> are on one side a reference to ancient pagan traditions connected to light, and on the other side they are symbols respectively for Prophets, Betlehem, Shepherds and Angels. The lighting of each candle corresponds to a moment of prayer.<\/p>\n

\"Advent
Liturgical Advent kit<\/a><\/strong>