Steve: Hi, this is Steve Webb, your OG Godcaster.
Steve: You're about to hear the LifeSpring Advent Calendar, which was recorded in 2006.
Steve: It's a daily show which will run right up to Christmas Day,
Steve: so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
Steve: Now, the story of Advent and Christmas is a timeless story, so it doesn't age.
Steve: However, the links and the phone numbers mentioned on the podcast have all changed but one.
Steve: WhyChristmas.com is still current and active,
Steve: and it's the best Christmas information website on the Internet.
Steve: LifeSpringPodcast.com now forwards you to LifeSpringMedia.com.
Steve: And the phone number you'll hear on the show is changed to plus 1-951-732-8511.
Steve: Hi, welcome to the LifeSpring Advent Calendar.
Steve: I'm Steve Webb, your host, and this is Day 7.
Steve: Let's open door number 7 and see what's behind it today.
Steve: Ah, a Christingle and some Christmons.
Steve: You know, there are many different symbols that are used by Christians to celebrate Christmas
Steve: and two, one old and one new, are the Christingle and the Chrismon.
Steve: Now since the Christingle originated in Europe,
Steve: I'll let James Cooper tell us about that first,
Steve: then I'll talk about the Chrismons.
Steve: James?
James: The word Christingle means Christ's light,
James: and celebrates Jesus, the light of the world.
James: No one's really sure when the first Christingles were made,
James: but it might well have been in the Czech Republic,
James: where the Moravian Church has held Christingle services for over 200 years.
James: However it started, Christingles are now a popular part of Christmas celebrations,
James: and every part of the Christingle has a special meaning.
James: Well, the base of it is an orange, which is round like the world.
James: The candle that's put in the top of the orange represents Jesus, the light of the world.
James: The red ribbon that runs around the centre of the orange
James: represents the blood of Jesus that he shed when he died for us.
James: The four cocktail sticks point in the four directions and symbolise north, east, south and west,
James: and they also represent the four seasons.
James: And the fruits and nuts, or how I like them, sweets, put on the cocktail sticks,
James: represent the fruits of the earth, nurtured by the sunshine and the rain.
James: Crustingles are a great festive occasion, so if there's one near you this year, why not go along?
Steve: Well, I'd love to, James, but a Google search for Crustingle services in my area turned up nothing.
Steve: Too bad, because I would have loved to have seen one.
Steve: Well, on to Christmons.
Steve: Christmons are Christmas tree decorations that are made from Christian symbols,
Steve: and they're a much newer addition to the Christmas celebrations.
Steve: They were first made by Frances Kipps Spencer at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia,
Steve: here in the United States.
Steve: She also thought of the word Christmon, which is a combination of Christ and monogram,
Steve: meaning symbol, of course.
Steve: Christmons are often white or gold.
Steve: White is the liturgical or church color for Christmas and symbolizes that Jesus was pure
Steve: and perfect.
Steve: Gold symbolizes the kingship of Jesus.
Steve: Common Christmas symbols include crosses, stars, and a dove.
Steve: Now you can see many more Christmas symbols and their meanings at whychristmas.com.
Steve: Just go over there to the Christmas page in the Customs section.
Steve: There will be a link in the show notes at lifespringpodcast.com.
Steve: So why not decorate your tree this year with Christmas to remind yourself of the real meaning of Christmas?
Music: I said, man, it's Christmas.
Music: I said, it's Christmas, daddy-o.
Music: I said, man, it's Christmas.
Music: Merry Christmas, everybody.
Steve: So there you go, a short look at two Christmas traditions that you can add to your family Christmas.
Steve: Hey, James and I hope that you're really enjoying these shows.
Steve: We're having a lot of fun.
Steve: Please feel free to send us feedback or suggestions at steve.lifespring at gmail.com.
Steve: And also, we're still accepting audio Merry Christmases in languages other than English.
Steve: Record one and send it to my Gmail address or 206-350-CALL.
Steve: That's my listener comment line.
Steve: And my Skype ID is Lifespring underscore podcast.
Steve: Any of those will work.
Steve: And also, if you like the shows, please tell a friend about the Lifespring Advent Calendar.
Steve: And as I said, show notes are at lifespringpodcast.com or advent.podshow.com.
Steve: I'm Steve Webb, and I'll see you tomorrow for day number eight.
Music: It's the best of all I know this Christmas brings
Music: Long after Christmas, ties are gone
Music: And treasures here no longer new
Music: Yeah, this Christmas love just like a song brings out the reason
Music: To be sung all year through
Music: Let this one gift last forever
Music: In the love that I get from you
Music: It never gets over
Music: This Christmas