By Luke Luedy

Giant Eagle is packed, and you really don’t like it.

Red and green bombard you from every direction. Gaudy Christmas trees stick out like blemishes. And the same holiday songs you’ve heard on repeat for weeks blare over the intercom. You would rather hear nails on a chalkboard than another second of “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Frosty the Snowman,” or “Santa Baby.” You internally loathe Mariah Carey.

You’ve just come here for a loaf of Mancini’s bread and some milk, but now you’re faced with this. Holiday cheer certainly isn’t one of your items at the checkout aisle.

During the holiday season, it’s easy for one to become irritated with the constant barrage of Christmas symbols and icons. One could reasonably assume that they mean absolutely nothing. That they only exist for corporate giants to push products and get people to buy stuff.

However, this is not completely true.

Though in modern times its true meaning can become diluted, Christmas carries extreme ties to Christianity, signifying the birth of Jesus Christ.

Many common icons and symbols relating to Christmas hold their roots in the Christian faith. This article will explain some of them.

Santa Claus, however, will be excluded. This is due to the fact that his connection to Saint Nicholas, a Catholic saint, could constitute an entire article on its own.

Christmas Trees, the Things that Dogs and Cats Just Love to Bring Down

For starters, the Bible may give clue to the origins of Christmas trees.

Particularly, one could find the evidence for this in Peter 1 2:24. Christ “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness.” Since trees and the cross Romans crucified Christ on are made of wood, some translations of the Bible use the word “tree” instead of cross.

Thus, Christmas trees may hold a much more holy interpretation, as they are representations of Christ’s death.

Other legends surrounding the Christmas tree can be found in the lives of saints. Saint Boniface, regarded with spreading Christianity to regions of modern-day Germany in the eight century, is also believed to have a hand in Christmas trees.

Boniface travelled to remote villages within areas of Germany, where he converted pagan villagers to Christianity. One village, Geismar, held a large oak tree, known to residents as the Thunder Oak. Villagers of Geismar often held human sacrifices there.

According to Catholic Answers, a website specializing in the Catholic faith, Boniface and other missionaries arrived in the village at an opportune time. Villagers of Geismar were readying to sacrifice a child in front of the Thunder Oak.

The Christian group of missionaries then chopped down the tree and saved the child, leading to the villagers to convert to Christianity.

From there, many individuals, especially from Germanic regions, began adopting tree iconography into Christmas.

Even the decorations one adorns a tree with hold deeper meanings. The star that usually rests on the top of a Christmas tree is no exception. Some people view the decoration as a symbol for the Star of Bethlehem, a star that appears in the Bible which signifies Christ’s birth.

Gift Giving, the Harbinger of Those Socks and Dinner Plates You Definitely Wanted

The average American family, according to Exploding Topics, spends around $700 to $800 on gifts during the holiday season.

And for no small reason, as one could consider gift giving as one of the most prominent staples of Christmas.

This tradition, as with most surrounding the holiday, has its origins in Christianity.

Gift giving, like Christmas trees, have Biblical roots, albeit more pronounced. When Mary, the mother of Christ, gave birth in a stable in Bethlehem, a star appeared in the sky, above the manger. In the Book of Matthew, the Bible states that three magi, Persian priests or wise men, headed towards the star. They wished to see God in the flesh.

Along with them, these three wise men brought gifts for the newly born Christ. Matthew 2:11 states that these magi had “presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

While one could claim that its Biblical nature has been diluted by modern society, one can clearly see the origins of gift giving during Christmas.

Holly, the Plants with the Red Bulbs that Fall onto Your Carpet and Ruin Your Sweeper

Holly is inseparable from Christmas. It can be wrapped around a tree, decorated on a wreath, or laid on a fireplace mantle.

With its green leaves and red berries, the holly plant was ripe to become a common symbol of Christmas. And despite typically being associated with a winter holiday, holly plants actually grow in hotter areas of the American south, such as Texas and Florida.

Holly, while lacking in Biblical symbolism, carries far more religious symbolism than most Christmas icons.

According to Catholic News Agency, a website specializing in Catholic news, the holly plant carries great significance. Some Catholics view holly as representative of the Crown of Thorns that Christ wore during his crucifixion. The green leaves represent the actual thorns, and the red represent the blood that Jesus shed on the cross.

Interestingly, the German translation for the word for holly plant translates to “christdorn,” or “Christ’s thorn.”

Catholic News Agency additionally writes that some Catholics believe that holly was material used within the cross the Romans used to crucify Christ. Finally, the plant is commonly associated with fertility and eternal life, fitting for Jesus.

Christmas, Something that Never Changes

In the parking lot, you carry bread and milk in flimsy bags. Icy wind bites at your exposed skin. Wet snow slops beneath your boots.

You’re free from those distractions in the store, those overly flashy Christmas products.

But that feeling in the parking lot, braving the cold and trudging through snow, could be any day in winter.

What makes those days before Christmas special, what makes it notable, are those holiday icons we see every year. Of course, one could say that everything is good in moderation. And that maybe those big businesses could wait to start stocking shelves with Christmas items in December, not September.

But even though those common icons can certainly get under one’s skin, there’s a certain comfort to them.

That no matter what challenges the year brings, some things will always be the same. That everything, the Christmas trees, wreaths, the holly, mistletoes, even the lamentable songs played on the radio, will be here next year. Families will still exchange gifts with each other.

And Christ’s love will always last, no matter what happens.

Happy Holidays from the staff of the Redhawk Post!