Light on a Christian Holy Day: Luke 2.1-20

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2.7

There are many traditions that we celebrate for Christmas and Advent that are particularly Christian in nature. Sometimes, however, we tend to let them get away from us. In the desire to celebrate Christmas, secular people adopt, and then adapt, our holy traditions. Today, let's work toward reclaiming what is a part of our heritage.

• The Nativity Scene. In America, Christians have become so consumed with our right to display the nativity in public, that we have neglected the significance of the event it depicts. Celebrate the witness of the grace of Christ and the giving nature of God with every display and meditation on the manger scene.
• The Candy Cane. The traditional Christmas candy cane is a testimony of Jesus. It is white to remind us of the holiness of God. It is hard to remind us that Jesus is our solid rock. It is shaped like a cane so that we will remember that we are sheep and Jesus is our shepherd. It is red so that we can think about the blood that Jesus shed for us. And finally, it has three stripes that represent the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• The Poinsettia. This flower from Mexico is a part of the Christmas season because it was originally offered as a gift to the manger child. Miraculously, some twigs and weeds were turned into a beautiful flower when given to the Christ child.
• Christmas Carols. Although many of the songs that you hear on the radio during the Christmas season are not 'carols,' they do call our attention to the tradition of singing about the birth of Jesus. Secularists long to join in with our joyous singing so they have developed other songs.
• Giving gifts. This is based on the idea of God giving the world his Son (John 3.16) and the gifts that the Magi brought to the new baby.