It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

Well with the little bit of snow that we received over the weekend, it put me in the Christmas mood for sure. I got busy getting my cards out and will be starting my baking tomorrow. I had saved cards from the past years and came across a card that was titled "The Symbols of the Season". I'd like to share a few with you and more tomorrow. I found this very interesting.

Rosemary
This perennial herb has long been associate with the story of Christmas. The most popular legend relates that the flowers of the rosemary plant were originally white. During the Holy Family's flight to Egypt, Mary stopped to rest. She washed the Babe's clothes and spread them to dry on the nearby scrub. The plant's flowers became a heavenly blue, and a marvelous fragrance was bestowed upon the plant.

Legend also says that this plant will never grow taller than the height of Jesus, and if it outlives the 33 years of his life, the plant will grow outward, not upward.

Rosemary has been used for centuries to decorate altars at Christmas. It is regaining popularity as a prized holiday green and is widely used in wreaths and topiaries.

The Candy Cane
The candy cane, so beloved as a holiday treat, is symbolic of the first Christmas. It was created to resemble a shepherd's crook, for it was the shepherds who first heard the news of the Birth in the manger.

The stripes are also symbolic: the wide red stripe represents Christ's sacrifice, while the white stripes stand for purity.

This holiday as your savor its sweetness, be reminded of the sweet gift given to mankind centuries ago.

I know that all the commercialism will fill alot of our holiday. But I'm going to set with the grandkids and talk about the first Christmas. And what it means to each of us. Then we will go at midnight for the candlelight service. It's just beautiful and the meaning of it is a true blessing. So as we go along preparing for that day with family and friends, let's stop often and remember the, "REASON FOR THE SEASON!"
Will bring you more symbols tomorrow. Hugs, Brenda