Welcome to not a Christingle service, but rather something for children - and the child in the adult - on how to make your own Christingle and enjoy it!
The Christingle celebration originally comes from the Morvarians in 1774 the Christingle represented Jesus being the light of the world and the final prayer of that first service was "Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these children’s hearts, that theirs like Thine become". The custom went around the world with the church. Missionaries brought the Moravian Church to England in the late 1700s. In Moravian churches, the Christingle Service is usually held on the Sunday before Christmas or on Christmas Eve.
The orange is round like the world.
The candle stands tall and straight and gives light in the dark like the love of God.
The red ribbon goes all around the 'world' and is a symbol of the blood Jesus shed when he died for us. In other words the love of God is shown by the red ribbon.
The four sticks point in all directions and symbolise North, South, East and West - they also represent the four seasons.
The fruit and nuts (or sometimes sweets!) represent the fruits of the earth, nurtured by the sunshine and the rain.
In Britain today the Christingle has been adopted by the Children's Society and speaks of a
Christingle being a joyful celebration that can bring families and communities together to share the light of Jesus and spread a message of hope. It is a sign of hope and a joyous service celebrated anywhere between the beginning of Advent and Candlemas, but it perhaps most popular on Christmas Eve.
I hope you do make time to make your Christingle this beginning of Advent. Light it either each Sunday in Advent for a few minutes or daily for a few seconds. You can use a tea light if it is easier or indeed an led light for safety. Don't forget to enjoy the fruits/sweets/nuts and the orange too before it goes mouldy!
At Bethesda'r Fro one of our members, Sue, provides and makes everyone a Christingle every year. Sadly this year we are unable to be there. Mary