As part of our RE unit, we have been exploring the big question: “Why is light an important symbol?” To help us think about this, we made our own Christingles.

A Christingle is a special symbol used by Christians at Christmas time. It helps people remember that Jesus is the light of the world. Each part of the Christingle has a special meaning:

• The orange represents the world.
• The red ribbon (or tape) around the orange reminds us of God’s love for everyone.
• The four cocktail sticks with sweets or dried fruit stand for the four seasons and all the good things that the Earth gives us.
• The candle on top represents Jesus bringing light into the world.

We really enjoyed making our Christingles and thinking about what each part means. At home the children could lit their candles and talk about how light can make us feel safe, warm, and hopeful.