What’s with all the oranges?
With some, it’s just a sidelong glance, but others give me an outright stare as I load my trolley with bag after bag of oranges (sometimes in multiple supermarkets). Occasionally a brave soul will speak out - “What’s with all the oranges?” - and I can explain I’m resourcing one of my favourite services of the year. This Sunday we meet for Christingle - a symbolic and visual celebration that aims to bring families and communities together to share the light of Jesus and spread a message of hope.
The tradition of Christingle began back in 1747 when a Moravian Bishop – John de Watteville – gave the children in his church a lighted candle tied with a red ribbon as a symbol of the happiness that comes from Jesus. He ended the service with a prayer: “Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these children’s hearts that theirs like Thine become”.
Today, the Christingle celebration is associated with the Children’s Society, thanks to John Pensom (also known as Mr Christingle) - the man who brought it to the UK in 1968. In Moravian churches, Christingle is usually celebrated on the Sunday before Christmas or on Christmas Eve. In the UK, this celebration can be held any time between Advent and Candlemas (November to February), although December is the most popular time, especially as we remember Jesus as the light who came into the world at Christmas.
It’s perhaps become a very familiar tradition, and it’s easy to lose sight of the meaning beyond the excitement of sweets, fruit and naked flames in a church setting, but let’s take a moment to pause and ponder and then wonder at God’s intervention in our world through the birth of a helpless mewling baby. Our memories may be prompted by the symbolic nature of each of the constituents of the Christingle (the sweets and orange weren’t part of the original, but feature heavily now!)
The orange represents the world that God has made.
The red ribbon represents Jesus’ blood and his love, which goes around the world.
The cocktail sticks represent the seasons, and the dried fruit or sweets the good things God has created for us to enjoy.
The lit candle represents Jesus as the light of the world, bringing hope into the darkness.
The Children's Society fights for the hope and happiness of young people when it is threatened by abuse, exploitation and neglect. They take inspiration from the courage and hope we see in young people every day, which fuels their belief that a good childhood is something every young person deserves. They also campaign tirelessly for the big social changes that will transform the well-being of young people, and strive to improve the lives of those who need hope most. If you’d like to make a financial contribution to support this work, please use one of the Children’s Society collection boxes or envelopes and return it to the church office – every penny makes a difference.
So, as we celebrate Christingle, let’s remember God’s world and His love for all those in it. Let’s thank Him for the seasons and all the good gifts of His creation. But most importantly, let’s share the light of Jesus and the hope that he brings to all those we meet in the coming days.
Deborah Packham