Christmas

The Chicago-based Montgomery Ward Department Stores had been purchasing and distributing children’s coloring books as Christmas gifts for their customers for several years. In 1939, Montgomery Ward asked one of their own employees to create a book for them, thus saving money. So, 34-year old copywriter Robert L. May wrote the story of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and 2.4 million copies were handed out that year. Despite the wartime paper shortage, over 6 million copies had been distributed by 1946.

To create the story of the misfit reindeer, May drew, in part, from the story of “The Ugly Duckling” and, also, from his own experiences as an often taunted, small, frail youth. He tested his story, written in a series of rhyming couplets, on his 4-year old daughter Barbara. She loved it! Though Rollo and Reginald were considered as names for the reindeer, May settled on Rudolph.

Sadly, Robert May’s wife died around the time he was creating Rudolph, leaving May deeply in debt due to medical bills. However, he was able to persuade Sewell Avery, Montgomery Ward’s corporate president, to turn the copyright over to him in January 1947, thus ensuring May’s financial security.

May’s story Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was printed commercially in 1947 and in 1948 a nine-minute cartoon of the story was shown in theaters. When May’s brother-in-law, songwriter Johnny Marks, wrote the lyrics and melody for the song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, the Rudolph phenomenon was born. Turned down by many musical artists afraid to contend with the legend of Santa Claus, the song was recorded by Gene Autry in 1949 at the urging of Autry’s wife. The song sold two million copies that year, going on to become one of the best-selling songs of all time, second only to Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”. The 1964 television special about Rudolph, narrated by Burl Ives, remains a holiday favorite to this day and Rudolph himself has become a much-loved Christmas icon.

So how do we transform this to make it a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ?

When you think of ‘Rudolph’, remember that Rudolph, although he was mistreated by his fellow reindeer, was drafted by Santa because they could not see clearly the path that they needed to go. Rudolph safely guided the sleigh. Think about these verses: Psalm 31:3 For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me. Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Psalm 48:14 For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death. Jesus, although mistreated by a world of people who can not find their way, has been sent by the Father to safely guide each of us through life.

On the fifth day of Christmas…

A native Mexican plant, the poinsettia, was named after Joel R. Poinsett, U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who brought the plant to America in 1828. Poinsettias were likely used by Mexican Franciscans in their 17th century Christmas celebrations. One legend has it that a young Mexican boy, on his way to visit the village Nativity scene, realized he had no gift for the Christ child. He gathered pretty green branches from along the road and brought them to the church. Though the other children mocked him, when the leaves were laid at the manger, a beautiful star-shaped, red flower appeared on each branch.

The bright red petals, often mistaken for flowers, are actually the upper leaves of the plant that transform from green to red as the days get shorter. The plants need darkness from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. starting Oct. 1 and continuing until color shows around early to mid-December. They turn red just in time for the Christmas season as even nature celebrates the birth of Christ!!

So how do we transform this to make it a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ?

When you look at your poinsettia, think about Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Let the poinsettia’s transformation of green leaves to scarlett remind you of our transformation from sinner to child of God because of the coming of the Christ Child. Let the red color remind you of His blood He shed for us.

In16th-century Germany fir trees were decorated, both indoors and out, with apples, roses, gilded candies, and colored paper. In a popular religous play in the Middle Ages about Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden, a fir tree was decorated with apples and used to symbolize the Garden of Eden, the Paradise Tree. The play ended with the prophecy of a saviour coming, and so was often performed during the Advent season.

It is held that Protestant reformer Martin Luther first adorned trees with light. One December evening, the beauty of the stars shining through the branches of a fir tree inspired him to recreate the effect by placing candles on the branches of a small fir tree inside his home.

The Christmas Tree was brought to England by Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert from his native Germany. The famous Illustrated News etching in 1848, featuring the Royal Family gathered around a Christmas tree in Windsor Castle, popularized the tree throughout Victorian England. The Christmas tree was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Germans and became popular by the late 19th century.

So how do we transform this to make it a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ?

When putting up your tree, remember the Tree in the Garden of Eden and the sin that took place there. This brought about the need for a Savior to be born. The fact that the fir tree is an evergreen can remind us of our Savior’s everlasting love for us.

When you decorate the tree with lights, think about John 9:5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” But also think about our role after we have been saved: Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden”.

When you look at your decorated tree, remember God did His best work on a tree when He gave His Son to die on a Cross for all of us!

A great children’s book to read is The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale
by Angela Elwell Hunt.

In Northern Europe, it was believed that ghosts and demons could be heard howling in the winter winds. Boughs of holly were thought to have magical powers since they remained green through the harsh winter; they were often placed over the doors of homes to drive evil away. Greenery was also brought indoors to freshen the air and brighten the mood during the long, dreary winter.

So how do we transform this to make it a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ?