Christmas club part 1...............

In our family there are many traditions, many of which are religious because we are all committed Christians. I was brought up in churches where many of the celebrations were practised every year and had long and inportant meanings. One of these is Christingle. When I was a teenager, we would all meet at the the rector and his wife's house to make the actual christingle which consists of an orange, red ribbon, a candle sausage sticks and dried fruit and nuts. We would sit in a group making holes at the top of the orange which we lined with silver foil to stop the orange leaking and the candle falling over. Cutting red ribbon which went around the circumference of the orange and staking fruits onto the cocktail sticks which went into the top of the orange around the candle.
The Christingle itself refers to the symbolic object made up of the  4 components:

1. an orange - representing the world
2. a red ribbon (or tape) - indicating the blood/ love of Christ
3. a lighted candle - symbolising Jesus, the Light of the World
4. four cocktail sticks bearing dried fruit or sweets - signifying the four seasons and the fruits of the earth and God's good gifts

The Christingle are taken to special service during Advent and the church is darkened during which time each child/family receives the individual Christingle which is lit. I the dark, the children of the world are remebered and the importance of Jesus life. It was always a truly magical service to be a part of and to have helped make the Christingle themselves was a proud job for me. It also involved most of family as my mum and lil sister helped as well so it was a way to celebrate the coming of Christmas together.
Perhaps, you may see a service advertised, if you do, take a chance and celebrate.