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<v Steve>Hi, this is Steve Webb, your OG Godcaster.

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<v Steve>You're about to hear the LifeSpring Advent Calendar, which was recorded in 2006.

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<v Steve>It's a daily show which will run right up to Christmas Day,

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<v Steve>so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode.

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<v Steve>Now, the story of Advent and Christmas is a timeless story, so it doesn't age.

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<v Steve>However, the links and the phone numbers mentioned on the podcast have all changed but one.

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<v Steve>WhyChristmas.com is still current and active,

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<v Steve>and it's the best Christmas information website on the Internet.

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<v Steve>LifeSpringPodcast.com now forwards you to LifeSpringMedia.com.

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<v Steve>And the phone number you'll hear on the show is changed to plus 1-951-732-8511.

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<v Steve>Hi, welcome to the LifeSpring Advent Calendar.

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<v Steve>I'm Steve Webb, your host, and this is Day 7.

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<v Steve>Let's open door number 7 and see what's behind it today.

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<v Steve>Ah, a Christingle and some Christmons.

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<v Steve>You know, there are many different symbols that are used by Christians to celebrate Christmas

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<v Steve>and two, one old and one new, are the Christingle and the Chrismon.

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<v Steve>Now since the Christingle originated in Europe,

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<v Steve>I'll let James Cooper tell us about that first,

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<v Steve>then I'll talk about the Chrismons.

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<v Steve>James?

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<v James>The word Christingle means Christ's light,

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<v James>and celebrates Jesus, the light of the world.

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<v James>No one's really sure when the first Christingles were made,

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<v James>but it might well have been in the Czech Republic,

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<v James>where the Moravian Church has held Christingle services for over 200 years.

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<v James>However it started, Christingles are now a popular part of Christmas celebrations,

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<v James>and every part of the Christingle has a special meaning.

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<v James>Well, the base of it is an orange, which is round like the world.

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<v James>The candle that's put in the top of the orange represents Jesus, the light of the world.

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<v James>The red ribbon that runs around the centre of the orange

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<v James>represents the blood of Jesus that he shed when he died for us.

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<v James>The four cocktail sticks point in the four directions and symbolise north, east, south and west,

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<v James>and they also represent the four seasons.

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<v James>And the fruits and nuts, or how I like them, sweets, put on the cocktail sticks,

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<v James>represent the fruits of the earth, nurtured by the sunshine and the rain.

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<v James>Crustingles are a great festive occasion, so if there's one near you this year, why not go along?

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<v Steve>Well, I'd love to, James, but a Google search for Crustingle services in my area turned up nothing.

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<v Steve>Too bad, because I would have loved to have seen one.

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<v Steve>Well, on to Christmons.

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<v Steve>Christmons are Christmas tree decorations that are made from Christian symbols,

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<v Steve>and they're a much newer addition to the Christmas celebrations.

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<v Steve>They were first made by Frances Kipps Spencer at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia,

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<v Steve>here in the United States.

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<v Steve>She also thought of the word Christmon, which is a combination of Christ and monogram,

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<v Steve>meaning symbol, of course.

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<v Steve>Christmons are often white or gold.

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<v Steve>White is the liturgical or church color for Christmas and symbolizes that Jesus was pure

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<v Steve>and perfect.

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<v Steve>Gold symbolizes the kingship of Jesus.

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<v Steve>Common Christmas symbols include crosses, stars, and a dove.

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<v Steve>Now you can see many more Christmas symbols and their meanings at whychristmas.com.

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<v Steve>Just go over there to the Christmas page in the Customs section.

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<v Steve>There will be a link in the show notes at lifespringpodcast.com.

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<v Steve>So why not decorate your tree this year with Christmas to remind yourself of the real meaning of Christmas?

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<v Music>I said, man, it's Christmas.

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<v Music>I said, it's Christmas, daddy-o.

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<v Music>I said, man, it's Christmas.

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<v Music>Merry Christmas, everybody.

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<v Steve>So there you go, a short look at two Christmas traditions that you can add to your family Christmas.

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<v Steve>Hey, James and I hope that you're really enjoying these shows.

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<v Steve>We're having a lot of fun.

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<v Steve>Please feel free to send us feedback or suggestions at steve.lifespring at gmail.com.

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<v Steve>And also, we're still accepting audio Merry Christmases in languages other than English.

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<v Steve>Record one and send it to my Gmail address or 206-350-CALL.

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<v Steve>That's my listener comment line.

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<v Steve>And my Skype ID is Lifespring underscore podcast.

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<v Steve>Any of those will work.

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<v Steve>And also, if you like the shows, please tell a friend about the Lifespring Advent Calendar.

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<v Steve>And as I said, show notes are at lifespringpodcast.com or advent.podshow.com.

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<v Steve>I'm Steve Webb, and I'll see you tomorrow for day number eight.

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<v Music>It's the best of all I know this Christmas brings

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<v Music>Long after Christmas, ties are gone

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<v Music>And treasures here no longer new

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<v Music>Yeah, this Christmas love just like a song brings out the reason

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<v Music>To be sung all year through

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<v Music>Let this one gift last forever

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<v Music>In the love that I get from you

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<v Music>It never gets over

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<v Music>This Christmas