Teachable Moments

• "Who in the world came up with the idea of putting lights on a tree?"
     (Share the story of Martin Luther's evening walk through the forest.)
• "Do you think it might have been dangerous to put candles on a tree?"
  (Talk about how to be safe during the holidays by keeping the tree watered and not playing with candles or electric lights.)
• "When you look at the stars in the sky, what do you think about?"
  (End the conversation by teaching your child that we can learn a lot about God, the Creator of the world, by looking at His creation.)

Ornaments on the Tree

In medieval Europe, plays were performed throughout the year based on the lives of Bible characters.  December 24 was declared Adam and Eve's Day and the setting of this day's drama was the Garden of Eden.  Remember what happened?  The serpent tempted Eve to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit.  And she did.  The play ended with God sending Adam and Eve out of paradise as a consequence of their sin.

There was only one minor problem in staging this drama:  finding a fruit tree in winter!  Some Renaissance stage director must have discovered that with a little smoke and mirrors, he could turn a pine tree strung with apples into the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  This "costumed" tree delighted the audience and became the star of the show.

The decorated evergreen delighted audiences, even upstaging the actors.  Years after the medieval plays were no longer performed, German families continued to decorate their own evergreens with shiny red apples on December 24 and to call them "paradise trees."

Through the years, the decorations became more and more elaborate.  Mothers hid gingerbread cookies in the branches.  Nuts dipped in sugar were nestled among the pine needles.  Fruits and vegetables formed from marzipan candy hung from the boughs.  The family Christmas tree became so sugar-coated, it was often appropriately referred to as the "sugar tree."

But no matter how sweet the treats, the most important ornaments were tiny round wafers of bread hidden among the other decorations.  These thin biscuits represented the body of Christ that was broken on the cross for our sins.  And so hidden among the forbidden fruit, through which death entered the world, were signs of Jesus Christ, the One who gives us eternal life.

As we decorate our Christmas tree we should be reminded of Romans 5:19 – "Because one person [Adam] disobeyed God, many people became sinners.  But because one other person [Jesus] obeyed God, many people will be made right in God's sight."

No-Bake Spiced Dough Ornaments

This is a fun and safe craft to make with your child.  Kids love getting their hands all messy.  Just remind them that they can't lick their fingers.  (Unless, of course, your tot has been talking nonstop and you think the glue might bring a little peace and quiet.)