The Class A Truckstop Chapel

Christmas Traditions


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The Legend of the Candy Cane:

A candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the
Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols from the birth, ministry, and death of
 Jesus Christ.

 He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize
 the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize
the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the
promises of God.

 The candymaker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the
 precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. It could
also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He
reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift
out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used
 three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The
 large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of
eternal life.

 Unfortunately, the candy became known as a Candy Cane -- a meaningless decoration seen at
Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those who "have eyes to see and ears to hear."
Every time you see a Candy Cane, remember the Wonder of Jesus and His Great Love that came
down at Christmas, and that His Love remains the ultimate
and dominant force in the universe today.

Christmas Wreaths:
Christmas wreaths are primarily a recognition of the crucifixion of Jesus.
They represent the crown of thorns placed on Christ's head.  Red berries represent drops of blood.
Wreaths are placed on the door or in a window of a house to represent
that Christ has entered that home and has a place of honor there.
Ball Ornaments:
Represent our world was created by God; the different colors remind us that the Gospel
 is for all different nations and peoples on the earth.
Ornaments in general remind us of all of the beautiful things Jesus did.
Christmas Cards:
The first formal card was designed by an Englishman, J.C. Horsley, in 1843. It was
lithographed on stiff, dark cardboard and depicted in color a party of grownups and children
 with glasses of wine raised in a toast over the words "A Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year to you." One thousand were printed, and one sent to
James Peters, his wife and family, by John
 Washbourn and wife of 22 Theberton Street in Islington, London, still survives.

The custom of sending Christmas cards caught on because at that time in England
one could mail greetings for only a penny each. From those early beginnings, the exchange
 of Christmas cards has grown to astonishing proportions. Americans
 typically exchange in excess of 2 billion cards each year.


Christmas Tree Lights:
 In 1917, when Albert Sadacca was 15, there was a terrible fire in New York City, it had
 been caused by a Christmas tree catching fire, for in those days Christmas trees were
 still lit by placing candles on the branches. Now it just so happened that Albert’s family,
who had come from Spain, had a novelty business selling wicker cages with imitation
birds in them that lit up.

Albert suggested to his parents that they begin making electric lights
 for Christmas trees. They had lots of bulbs on hand, and it would be
much safer than using candles. The Sadacca's thought Albert had a
good idea, but only one hundred strings of electric Christmas tree
lights sold in the first year. After Albert thought of painting the bulbs
red, green, and other colors instead of using plain glass, business
picked up sharply. Albert became the head of a multi-million dollar company.

Poinsettias:
 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.

The first American Christmas tree "lot" was set up in New York. In 1851 trees were
hauled from the Catskills and brought
 to the cities, where they were sold during the holiday season.

In 1880 Woolworths first sold manufactured Christmas Tree ornaments.