ON DESIGN: Decorate your home with religious history in mind
We see them everywhere, before the Halloween pumpkin is sent to the landfill -- Christmas decorations in stores, in yards, on streets and in homes. So many families cannot stop to enjoy Thanksgiving weekend because the decorations are dragged from the attic, the tree is anchored in its stand and the house decorated to the nines!
This year take the time, with your family, to explore Christmas history and decorating traditions. Like so many religious celebrations, Christmas has evolved to a fast-paced marathon of shopping, party going and ensuring the house is bedecked from tip to stern with greenery, lights, ornaments and special collections that we feel compelled to make larger and better with each year.
A TRADITION OF SYMBOLISM
For Christians, the Christmas season begins with advent, the period of expectation and anticipation of Jesus' birth. The dates vary from western to eastern Christianity, and between Catholic and Protestant tradition.
In protestant churches, advent generally begins on the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas; this year falling on Nov. 29. In churches and homes, advent wreaths are prominently displayed with four candles on the periphery, one ceremoniously lighted each Sunday, and a fifth in the center, the Christ candle, which is lighted on Christmas Eve.
The candles, three purple, one pink and the final one, white, have religious significance. The first candle, purple, signifies hope based on the prophet's message that a Messiah's arrival was imminent; the second purple candle, Bethlehem, reminds followers that Mary and Joseph were traveling to that city for Jesus' birth. The third candle, pink, symbolizes joy that the journey was almost over; the final purple candle brings the message of peace.
The final and optional fifth candle, white, is the universal symbol of purity, the unblemished innocence of the newborn Christ child.
Advent wreaths are used as a reminder of the endless circle of faith and redemption and are usually decorated with greenery, the symbol of eternity. The job of lighting the candle each Sunday is a favorite ritual for children and a teaching opportunity to help them make the connection between their religious history and its interpretation.
Similarly, the Christmas tree, purported to originate in Germany in the 15th century as an icon for tree-worshipping pagans, was adopted for the Christmas season, probably by Martin Luther, who pointed out the evergreen conifer's shape to his followers as the triangle of the trinity -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
European Christians had long decorated with swags of greenery, but gradually added the tree to their traditions. Records vary on the appearance of the first tree in this country, from the late 18th to the early 19th century, often in the homes of German immigrants.
COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS
The advent calendar informs celebrants with biblical verses, homilies and collects relative to the impending birth of Christ. Decorative calendars are now made as ornaments with tabs or "doors" to be opened on each day, some with little gifts or with secular sayings relative to the season.
Fabric calendars have become part of the family tradition, re-used every year, behind their doors surprises for children, something to assuage the impatience of what seems like a very long four weeks until the big day.
Nancy and Jeff White still use the traditional wreath and calendar even though their son, John, is now an adult. They begin their celebration soon after Thanksgiving when they start decorating with familiar mementoes that chronicle the family's Christmas history.
Trees were first decorated with fruits and nuts, used outside to feed the birds, and inside to treat the children. Candles were used on the first recorded trees although decorative flourishes were not added until much later.
Queen Victoria's fascination with the decorated tree popularized the practice among the elite classes in England in the mid 1800s. Her countrymen did not embrace the tree until much later -- although the 1850 publication in the American colonies of "Godey's Lady's Book" touted the use of decorated trees in every well appointed home.
Originally, the tree was the centerpiece of activity on Christmas morning when gifts were unwrapped and the family was together. Hanging stockings by the fireplace is current practice. However, before the use of trees, children would hang a sock on a bedpost for fruit and small presents brought by St. Nicholas.
First a pagan practice in Scandinavia where children left treats for Odin's horse, to be rewarded with fruit replacing the food for his steed, the tradition merged with that of St. Nicholas after the rise of Christianity in Europe.
Gifts were simple but anticipated with the same fervor as the expensive items today's children expect as the norm.
THE MAJESTY OF THE CHRISMON TREE
Since the early 20th century, evergreen trees decorated with Chrismons have been used in Christian churches during advent.
The term refers to figurative expressions of the life of Christ, which are represented in white and regal gold, the liturgical colors of the day when Christ's birth is celebrated.
The numerous symbols include a shepherd's crook, the chalice used for Eucharist, a fish and the Christogram (or monogram) of the first two Greek letters of Christ's name, chi and rho intertwined with alpha and omega, the beginning and the end.
The parishioners at St. Paul's Episcopal Church decorate the sanctuary with greenery, poinsettias and the Chrismon tree the Sunday prior to Christmas, the crescendo to the advent season.
Everyone pitches in, after the church service, to check the lights and carefully place the glorious ornaments on the 12-foot tree. Candles, nested in greenery, are placed in the windows and dozens of poinsettias bank the altar.
Vineville United Methodist Church erected its Chrismon tree and held the "greening" of the sanctuary to usher in the advent season on Nov. 29.
ORIGIN OF THE CRECHE
St. Francis of Assisi is credited with the first crèche, or manger scene, which he staged with villagers and live animals in a grotto in Greccio, Italy, in 1223. Impressed by a visit to the Holy Land, he was concerned almost 800 years ago with the materialistic mindset of his countrymen, whom he thought should be focused on Christ's birth.
In the New Testament, there are two accounts of the birth of Christ, one from the book of Luke that describes an angel's visit to shepherds to announce Jesus' birth in a barn where Mary and Joseph had their newborn lying in a manger -- a crib for cattle feed.
In the book of Matthew, the account relates the journey of the wise men, or Magi, to find Jesus living with his parents as an almost 2-year-old. Although live and sculptural manger scenes are displayed by churches, in malls and on front lawns, there is no written confirmation that angels, animals or wise men were at the scene.
In many Christian families, setting up the crèche is a vital part of Christmas, the reason behind what has become a much anticipated holiday. Merry Christmas!
Katherine Walden is an interior designer and freelance writer in Macon. Contact her at 478-742-2224 or kwaldenint@aol.com.
This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 7:41 PM with the headline "ON DESIGN: Decorate your home with religious history in mind ."