Christingle 6.12.24
Our wonderful Mrs Watson-Sparrow, who volunteers with our class on Friday afternoons, very kindly made Christingle oranges with us.
We learnt that a Christingle orange is a symbolic object used in Christian services to celebrate the birth of Christ and the Christmas story. The orange is a central part of a Christingle, and it represents the world:
- The orange: Represents the world
- The red ribbon: Represents the love and blood of Christ
- The candle: Represents Jesus’s light in the world, bringing hope to people living in darkness
- The sweets and dried fruit: Represent all of God’s creations
- The four sticks: Represent the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
The tradition of Christingles originated in Germany in 1747 and in the UK, Christingles have been used since the 1960s to share the Christmas message and raise funds for charity. Our resources came courtesy of the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army is a Christian church and charity that works to help people in need and fight social injustice.
- Practical help: The Salvation Army offers practical support to people in need, including budget and debt advice, unemployment support, and help with homelessness.
- Community work: The Salvation Army works to bring communities together through cafes, community choirs, and other activities.
- Anti-trafficking: The Salvation Army works to help victims of modern slavery and human trafficking.
- Clean water: The Salvation Army works to improve access to clean water and sanitation.
- Employment: The Salvation Army provides training and support to help jobseekers find employment.
- Social policy: The Salvation Army influences social policy.
The Salvation Army’s services are available to all who need them.
Thank you Mrs Watson-Sparrow for sharing these resources with us and teaching us about Christingle!
