Tyler Brooks
Christingle is a symbolic object used in the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany services of many Christian denominations. It is made from a candle in an orange, typically decorated with a red ribbon and sweets or dried fruit. The candle, which is placed in the centre of the orange and lit, represents Jesus Christ as the Light of the World.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Candle | Jesus Christ as the Light of the World |
| Orange | The world |
| Red ribbon | The blood of Christ |
| Dried fruits and/or sweets | God's gifts to the world, including kindness and love, the fruits of the earth, and the four seasons |
| Aluminium foil | Preventing accidental burns from molten candle wax |
| Cloves | A replacement for the dried fruits and/or sweets, making it into a modern pomander |
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What You'll Learn
The candle represents Jesus, the light of the world
The candle on a Christingle represents Jesus, the light of the world. The Christingle is a symbolic object used in the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany services of many Christian denominations. The name Christingle likely derives from the German word "Christkindl", meaning "Christ-child" or "Christmas gift". Alternatively, it could be a combination of the words "Christmas" and "ingle", an old Scots word for "fire", thus meaning "Christ Light".
The tradition of the Christingle began in a Moravian Church in Germany on December 20, 1747. The minister, John de Watteville, gave children at the service a lighted candle with a red ribbon around it. This candle represented Jesus as the light of the world. The final prayer of that first service was, "Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these children's hearts, that theirs like Thine become".
The Christingle consists of an orange representing the world, with a candle inserted in the centre. The candle stands tall and straight, shedding light in the darkness, just as God's love shines in a world of darkness. The light of the candle symbolises the light that Jesus brings to the world.
The red ribbon wrapped around the orange or a paper frill around the candle represents the blood of Christ. Dried fruits and/or sweets skewered on cocktail sticks pushed into the orange represent the fruits of the earth and the four seasons. Aluminium foil placed underneath and around the base of the candle prevents accidental burns from molten candle wax.
Christingle celebrations have been taking place for over 50 years, with the first Christingle service taking place at Lincoln Cathedral in 1968. However, the tradition of using lighted candles in these services dates back to the original Moravian Church service in Germany in 1747.
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The orange represents the world
The Christingle is a symbolic object used in the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany services of many Christian denominations. The name Christingle likely derives from the German dialectical word "Christkindl", meaning "Christ-child" or "Christmas gift". Alternatively, it could be a combination of the words "Christmas" and "ingle", an old Scots word for "fire", thus meaning "Christ Light".
The Christingle consists of an orange decorated with a candle, red ribbon, fruit, and sweets. The orange represents the world, with its round shape mirroring that of the globe. The candle, which represents Jesus, the Light of the World, is placed in the centre of the orange and lit to symbolise the light shining in the darkness.
The red ribbon wrapped around the orange symbolises the blood of Christ, shed for the forgiveness of sins. The fruits and sweets skewered on cocktail sticks represent God's gifts to the world, including kindness, love, and the fruits of the earth. They also symbolise the four seasons or the four corners of the world, pointing in different directions.
The Christingle is rich in symbolism and serves as a reminder of the Christian story and the birth of Christ. It has been a feature in Moravian churches across the United Kingdom for many years and has since spread to other denominations. The simple yet meaningful tradition is especially popular among children and is often used as a fundraising tool for children's charities.
The Christingle's message of hope and light continues to resonate with Christians around the world, making it a beloved and significant part of Christmas celebrations.
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The red ribbon represents the blood of Christ
The Christingle is a symbolic object used in the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany services of many Christian denominations. It symbolises the birth of Christ, the Light of the World. The tradition is believed to have started in Germany in 1747 by Moravian Bishop Johannes de Watteville, who wanted to find a simple way to explain to children the happiness that had come to people through Jesus.
The Christingle consists of an orange decorated with a candle, red ribbon, fruit and sweets. The orange represents the world, and the candle represents Jesus, the Light of the World. The red ribbon around the orange represents the blood of Christ. The four cocktail sticks could have either of two meanings: the four seasons or the four corners of the world. The sweets (or dried fruit) represent God's gifts to the world, including kindness and love.
The red ribbon represents the blood of Jesus, which was shed for us so that our sins may be forgiven. The colour red is associated with blood, and the ribbon is wrapped around the orange, symbolising the world, to remind Christians that Jesus died for them. The blood of Christ is a central concept in Christian theology, as it represents Jesus' sacrifice and atoning death on the cross. His blood is believed to have been shed for the forgiveness of sins and the redemption of humanity.
The Christingle ceremony is a way for Christians to remember and celebrate Jesus' sacrifice and the gift of salvation. The red ribbon is a visual reminder of his passion and death, and it serves as a powerful symbol of his love and grace. The ribbon also adds a striking touch of colour to the Christingle, making it more visually appealing and festive.
The red ribbon is also a reminder of the unity and communion Christians have with Christ and each other through his blood. In the Bible, Jesus speaks of the significance of his blood, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood" (Luke 22:20). The red ribbon, therefore, takes on a deeper meaning, pointing to the new covenant established by Jesus and the promise of eternal life for those who believe in him.
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The fruits and sweets represent God's gifts to the world
The Christingle is a symbolic object used in the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany services of many Christian denominations. It is made from a candle placed in an orange, decorated with a red ribbon, and adorned with sweets or dried fruit. The candle represents Jesus, the light of the world, while the orange symbolises the world itself. The fruits and sweets that adorn the Christingle represent God's gifts to the world, including kindness and love. They are said to symbolise the fruits of the earth, nurtured by the sunshine and the rain, and the four seasons. The four cocktail sticks on which the fruits and sweets are skewered can represent the four seasons or the four corners of the world.
The name Christingle likely derives from the German word "Christkindl", meaning "Christ-child" or "Christmas gift". Alternatively, it could be a combination of the words ""Christmas" and "ingle", an old Scots word for fire, thus meaning "Christ Light". This interpretation aligns with the Christingle's symbolism, as the candle represents Jesus as the light of the world.
The tradition of the Christingle began in the Moravian Church in Germany on 20 December 1747. The minister, John de Watteville, distributed candles with red ribbons to the children at the service, symbolising Jesus as the light of the World. The custom spread worldwide with the Moravian Church and was adopted by other denominations. Today, the Christingle is a popular feature of Christmas services in churches across the globe, especially among children.
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The four cocktail sticks represent the four seasons or the four corners of the world
The Christingle is a symbolic object used in the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany services of many Christian denominations. It is made from a candle placed in an orange, decorated with a red ribbon and sweets or dried fruit, skewered on four cocktail sticks. The orange is said to represent the world, with the candle representing Jesus Christ as the Light of the World. The red ribbon represents the blood of Christ.
The four cocktail sticks can be interpreted in two ways. Firstly, they can represent the four seasons, with the fruits or sweets on the sticks representing the fruits of the earth, nurtured by the sunshine and the rain. Alternatively, the four cocktail sticks can represent the four corners of the world, symbolising North, South, East, and West. This interpretation highlights the global reach of Christ's message and the four directions from which people come to receive his light.
The Christingle tradition is believed to have originated in a Moravian Church in Germany on December 20, 1747. The minister, John de Watteville, gave children a lighted candle with a red ribbon, representing Jesus as the light of the world. The word "Christingle" is thought to derive from the German word "Christkindl", meaning "Christ-child" or "Christmas gift". It could also be a combination of "Christmas" and the old Scots word "ingle", meaning fire, thus forming "Christ Light".
The Christingle service is a popular Christmas tradition in the UK, especially among children, and is often used as a fundraising opportunity for children's charities. The simple symbolism of the Christingle serves as a powerful reminder of the Christian faith and the light that Jesus brings to the world.
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Frequently asked questions
The candle on a Christingle represents Jesus Christ as the Light of the World.
The candle is placed in an orange to represent Jesus bringing light to the world. The orange symbolises the world, and the candle represents Jesus.
The tradition of Christingle began in a Moravian Church in Germany on 20 December 1747. The minister, John de Watteville, gave children at the service a lighted candle with a red ribbon around it.
In addition to the candle, a Christingle typically includes an orange, a red ribbon, dried fruits and/or sweets, and cocktail sticks. The red ribbon represents the blood of Christ, the fruits and sweets represent the fruits of the earth and God's gifts to the world, and the cocktail sticks represent the four seasons or the four corners of the world.
