Christingle Orange at St Peter's Hale, #ChristmasbeginswithChrist

Tim holds a Christingle orange at St. Peter's Hale Christingle service. These services are held twice every Christmas Eve and are always packed out, with no room in the church, let alone a room at the inn.

Christingle means ‘Christ’s Light’ and the custom of giving out lighted candles in Christingle services originates from the Moravian Church in Germany in 1747, but they weren’t introduced to the Anglican Church in England until 1968.

The orange represents the world whilst the candle is to remind believers of Jesus as the light of the world. A red ribbon goes all round the world and represents the blood of Christ. The four cocktail sticks could have either of two meanings: the four seasons or the four "corners" of the world. The jelly baby sweets are the races of people and the raisins a reminder of God’s gifts to the world including kindness and love.

You may enjoy Manchester Harmony Gospel Choir's 2012 Christmas Medley. 

Merry Christmas one and all!