Our ADVENTure!

our little reindeer Evangelist :)

So far, we've been having a blast celebrating advent and learning how our traditions tie in with the true meaning of Christmas. We've learned the origin of the Christmas tree, candy canes, and how putting ornaments on the tree began. Did you know the original candy cane started out as a white stick of sugar given to babies when they got fussy? Then, a choirmaster decided to put it into a shape of a cane and pass it out before church to all of the little ones in case they got too vocal during the Christmas Pageant. Years later, a candy maker decided to make the treat represent the true meaning of Christmas. The white stripes would represent the purity of Christ and the Virgin birth. He added larger red stripes that would represent the blood of Jesus shed for our sins. The smaller red stripes would represent the promise that by His stripes, we are healed (Isaiah 53:5) . The cane shape brought to mind the Shepherds of Judea and that He is The Good Shepherd. The peppermint flavor was reminiscent of the hyssop plant which was used in the Old Testament in sacrifices, and would represent that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for our sins. The hardness of the candy cane proclaims that Jesus is the Rock of Our Salvation. Also, when turned upside down the candy cane forms the letter J - for Jesus, of course! The book we are reading had the great idea of making reindeer out of candy canes and attaching a copy of the story to it and giving it to friends at Christmastime. That's what we did! What a creative way to share the gospel! I'll never look at a candy cane the same again!!

*source The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Welchel