from Christian Today
Most people in Britain believe that Christmas has become too commercial and would like a return to tradition, a new survey has found.
The survey was commissioned by The Children’s Society and based on responses from 2,000 adults living in Britain.
Around two thirds agreed with the view that Christmas has become too commercial and 57 per cent missed the traditions of their childhood.
Half of those surveyed said they would enjoy, or take part in, traditions such as Christingle services.
The Christingle is an orange with a candle, red ribbon and four sticks with sweets on them. While an apparently simple object, the Christingle is in fact full of Christian symbolism.
The orange represents the world, the ribbon Christ’s blood and sacrifice. The candle symbolises Christ as light of the world and hope, and the four sticks represent the four corners of the earth. Finally the sweets are symbols of God’s gifts to man in creation.
Christingle itself means “Christ’s light”.