Christmas Symbols

By Serra Catholic 4^th Grade Students

Nativity Scene by John T.

	Saint Francis of Assi is thought to be the first to make a Nativity scene. It was on Christmas Eve 1223. He made statues of Jesus in a manger with Joseph and Mary. Then Saint Francis worshiped it. People saw the lights around the cave and came to see it with there family and cattle and then they worshiped it.
My family uses this symbol to show we are Christians. We also use it to remind us that we are Christians and what this holiday is really about. It’s about Jesus’ birth. The Nativity scene is fun to set up and is a good decoration. We have a nativity ornament that lights up. I have a small one in my room.

Christmas Carols by Keely H.

	Christmas Carols help us to get ready for Christmas Day. Francis of Assisi 1181-1226 had came up of these traditions. Apparently, Francis’s friars ( and perhaps Francis himself) were the first to write simple, happy, Gospel based songs. Francis also is the first person on record to create a Christmas nativity scene.
Christmas Caroling for my family is a time to get ready for the Lord, a time for joy and love. It is a time for singing to the Lord baby Jesus. It is even a time to be with your family. Even my mom is doing Christmas Caroling because she is showing how to love Jesus Christ.

Santa Claus by Cameron B.

	St. Nick started in what is today the Middle East nation of Turkey. Not much is known about the life of St. Nick but the legends about him have created our Santa Claus. Santa Claus lives at the North Pole. He starts at Christmas Eve and brings presents to all the good little girls and boys.
My family uses the symbol Santa Claus by baking cookies with my mom and leaving cookies and milk out for Santa Claus. We also leave special food out for the reign deer. He comes on Christmas Eve and he puts presents in our stockings and under the tree to all the good little boys and girls.

Christmas Stocking by Damon C.

	One day a man named Saint Nicholas wanted to help a man’s daughters get married. So he went to their chimney and dropped some money into the girl’s stockings which they had put up in front of the fire place to dry. When the girls woke up, they were happy to see the money. People in the village began to do the same.
My family hangs up stockings for Santa Claus to come and put things in like tiny toys, fruit, and tooth brushes. On Christmas Eve when I go to my relatives’ houses we hang up our stockings over the fireplace in the family room. I look at all the goodies on Christmas day

Poinsettia by Bridget F.

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It once was the custom in Mexico for the villagers to leave a gift for the Baby Jesus in their church on Christmas Eve. In one small village, a little boy who had no gift to bring prayed to God for a way to show his love for the Infant King. God looked down on the boy and answered his prayer by making a flower bloom where he knelt.  It was so beautiful and became known as “Flower of the Holy Night”.

My family decorates the table with poinsettias. We have a lot of poinsettias in our house. I love poinsettias. I think they are pretty.

Mistletoe by Derek S.

	Mistletoe was made a Christmas symbol because it symbolizes love and eternal life. Mistletoe is Oklahoma’s state flower. The Druids thought it was sacred and made sure that it never touched the ground. It was not used as a Christmas symbol for a little while because of it’s Pagan uses.
We always hang mistletoe by our doorway. Every time someone steps on another person’s foot, they have to kiss. We always pluck a berry from it after each kiss.

Candy Cane by Marnie S.

	The candy cane is shaped like a J so we remember the name of Jesus. The white stripes symbolize the birth of Jesus. The small red stripes symbolize Jesus suffering on his way to the cross.
Me and my family eat candy canes every year. It reminds me of Jesus instead of presents at Christmas time. It also gets me into the Christmas spirit!

Star by Wesley V.

	The Star became a Christmas tradition because it symbolizes Jesus’ birth. The Star is God’s symbol to tell everyone that His son was born.
To me the Star means when Jesus was born and how he died for us. My family watches the stars on Christmas and I think about when he was born and when he helped everyone in the world. On Christmas night I always thank God about everything in this world.

Rudolph by Christopher N.

	Rudolph is a story that was made by a father who was inspired by his daughter to make it. He gave it to her as a Christmas present. She cried when she opened it. The two words that made her father happy were “thank you.” She was so happy that she begged her father to read it over and over again.
My family uses this symbol by watching the video and putting up our Rudolph decorations. That’s why I chose this symbol for my project.

Christmas Presents by Rachel F.

	The tradition began with St. Nicholas. He gave presents to all the children. He would drop the presents down the chimney. Yet he did this in secret. When he got caught, he begged to be kept secret, but in about 2 days, the town knew who the gifts were from. Over the years St. Nicholas was replaced by Santa Claus. But Catholics know that St. Nick started the gift giving tradition.
My family exchanges gifts with each other gifts. We wait until Christmas morning to open them. We wake up early and give our gifts to the person they are addressed to. We also get gifts from Santa. We put all our gifts under a tree that is decorated with lights and ornaments. We are very happy to gets gifts from others.