The 12 Symbols of Christmas and in a Song, Too!

Christmas is a special time of the year that is associated with many different things.  Many symbols help us celebrate and honor what Christmas is all about.  Twelve symbols of Christmas are angels, bells, candy canes, Christmas trees, creches, family, lights, poinsettias, presents, Santa Claus, snow, and stars.  

The “Twelve Days of Christmas” is a song about the twelve days between Christmas (December 25th) and Epiphany (January 6th).  Someone’s true love gave her some interesting gifts.  

Christmas alone is so full of symbolism that a song could have been written about the “twelve symbols of Christmas.”  There are many possible options to pick from with some clear favorites.  We will deal with these twelve:

[1] Angels 

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. “

Angels are an important symbol of Christmas.  They are put on top of Christmas trees. The angel Clarence saves the soul of Jimmy Stewart in It’s A Wonderful Life.  They help that baseball team win … wait, that’s another thing entirely.  Anyway, angels are important.  

Angels are messengers of God.  God is great and all, but many think God is so different and separate from the world that we need a go-between of sorts.  

Angels provide this role and pop up in the Nativity (birth) story of Jesus in the gospels.  They send messages to Joseph, Mary, and others too. Angels symbolize the world being told about the joys of Christmas and all of its meanings.   

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANGELS HERE

[2]  Bells

Fans of “It’s A Wonderful Wife” will remember that when a bell rings, it means an angel got its wings.  Bells are familiar parts of the Christmas season.  

“Sleigh bells ringing” is a familiar line from a favorite Christmas carol.  Bells rang in the old days to announce things, including an incoming horse-drawn sleigh.  It was a type of loudspeaker that could be heard far and wide.  Bells ultimately announce Christmas is coming and is here.  

[3] Candy Canes 

My mom likes to put candy canes on our Christmas tree.  They are a sweet goodie for children and the children in all of us.  They fit well on the branches of the trees and in stockings.  

Christmas candy canes are often white with red stripes.  This also has a more serious meaning. White is the symbol of purity (Jesus) while red is the symbol of red, including the blood of Jesus, who Christians believe ultimately sacrificed his life to save the world. 

[4]  Christmas Trees

The Christmas tree is an evergreen, a tree that remains green for more than one growing season.  Trees usually lose their leaves for part of the year.  Evergreens do not.  They were ideal for a winter holiday (at least in the Northern Hemphisre).  

Evergreens were familiar sights in medieval Germany, where the Christmas trees are believed to have become popular.  Christmas trees in the United States and Britian at first were often small, fitting on a table.  They later became quite elaborate.  Some are not even real trees.  

Christmas trees also symbolize Jesus Christ, who Christians believe brought eternal life. Ever-greens, get it?  

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHRISTMAS TREES HERE

[5]  Creche 

A “creche” is what a nursery where people drop off their children is called.  

The more familiar to Americans usage is a model that shows Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus in the manger. The famous gospels-based birth scene is often portrayed in Christmas pageants.  

Creches also have symbolizes the debate over the separation of church and state.  Many lawsuits have been brought involving creche-focused Christmas displays.  People argue as a religious symbol that a government should not sponsor creches. Others argue that it is an appropriate celebration of the Christmas season.   

Christmas means “Christ’s mass.”  As some wish to remind us, you cannot totally take “Christ” out of “Christmas.”  The creche quite literally celebrates the birth of Jesus.  

[6]  Family

Christmas in time became a big family holiday.  Christmas movies and specials focus on this fact with the whole family, of all ages, being involved in the decorations, presents, and Christmas meal.  Family, particularly but not only children, is an important symbol of Christmas.   

[7]  Lights

Lights are a very popular symbol of Christmas.  You know it is getting around the time of Christmas when there are a bunch of lights hung up outside of people’s houses.  

Martin Luther, the German Protestant reformer, might have been the first person to put lights on a Christmas tree. 

They did not have electricity back in Luther’s time, so he used candles.  That was a bit more dangerous on a flammable Christmas tree.  

Lights illuminate the darkness, which there is more of in wintertime.  Light also symbolizes knowledge.  Jesus is believed to have brought salvation to the world.  

[8]  Poinsettias 

There are various plants associated with Christmas, including holly and mistletoe.  

Poinsettias are named for Joel Roberts Poinsett, a botanist, physician, and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico.  

Native to Mexico, poinsettias were Aztec symbols of purity, and are popular Christmas flowers.  

The story goes that a little girl was too poor to afford an offering to the church for Christmas, so inspired by an angel, provided a poinsettia flower.  

Today the plant is known in Mexico and Guatemala as “La Flor de la Nochebuena” (Flower of the Holy Night, or Christmas Eve”).

[9]  Presents 

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Christmas was placed on December 25th largely because a winter celebration was long in place at that time of the year.  The harvest had passed and winter was upon us.  There was time for one big celebration before winter made things too dark and cold to be comfortable.

What is a celebration without presents?  Christmas presents also remind us of the gifts of the wise men or “Magi” (the word “magician” is related) that the gospel of Matthew tells us visited the infant Jesus.  The three gifts were precious items symbolizing Jesus was a special baby.  

NEED AN INEXPENSIVE GIFT TO YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER? 

[10] Santa Claus

Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop.  Many stories grew up about him, including his generosity to the poor.  His name was shortened to “Santa Claus.”  

Over the years, many cultures had a St. Nicholas-type figure that was associated with Christmas time, including gift giving.  The current image of “Santa Claus” developed in the 19th Century, thanks to a famous poem about the night before Christmas.  

The modern view of Santa Claus has various Dutch and Scandinavian influences, including in his outfit, the use of reindeer, and ultimately the idea he had a base in the North Pole.  

[11]  Snow

Christmas is a winter holiday.  People might celebrate it in parts of the world where December is actually the start of summer, including Australia. 

But, Christmas came to those lands later on.  Christmas started out as a holiday in Western Europe, where it was the start of winter. 

Snow is a basic symbol of wintertime.  It’s often snowing in those Christmas movies. The sleighs are dashing through the snow.  Snowmen are being built.  And, little snow globes are shaken.  

[12] Star 

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

If you do not put an angel on the top of a Christmas tree, you probably would use a star.  

The gospels tell us that the three wise men (Magi) saw a star in the sky that told them that Jesus was born.  Stars were used by ancient peoples as means of navigation. 

They pointed the way.  Stars also symbolized the divine and special events.  The star of David is a Jewish symbol.  

Special people also were believed to have their own star.  We now give out gold stars to people who do a good star job.  A person can also be the “star” of the show.   

Christmas Symbolism 

Christmas is full of symbolism. Apparently, someone was so inspired that they decided to use it to give a bunch of gifts to their true love. Many times it’s reflected in songs.

Here’s a song of the 12 symbols of Christmas. No partridge in a pear tree in this one.

Twelve Symbols of Christmas 

Personally, I prefer cash!

Conclusion 

I am not Linus (I’m Joe), so will not try to give you a speech about “what Christmas is all about.”  If you want that, check out the Peanuts Christmas special.  I do not think we need to “keep Christ in Christmas,” if that is not your jam, and there are many ways to do that anyways.   

Christmas is about a lot of things.  Symbols help us express the many meanings involved.  Twelve symbols do not cover all the bases there. But, it is a pretty good start.  Happy holidays!