English

A Christingle

Noun

Christingle ‎(plural Christingles)

1. (Christianity) A small Christmas gift for children symbolizing Jesus Christ as the light of the world. A typical modern Christingle is made of an orange with sweets skewered into it, a candle inserted into the top and a red ribbon wrapped round it.
   • 2015 November 25, Rachel Stevenson, “268 Years of Christingle”, in The Children's Society, archived from the original on 5 September 2015:

     The Christingle service has its origins in the Moravian Church and dates back to 20th December 1747 in Mairenborn, Germany. The language used to describe a Christingle has changed over time but fundamentally a Christingle is a candle set into an orange, respectively representing the world and Jesus. A red ribbon is tied around the orange, representing the blood of Christ. Fruit and sweets on four cocktail sticks are also set in the orange, representing the four seasons and God's love in providing the fruits of the earth. […] This service was performed in local churches all over Moravia when families would gather together at Christmas time. In the first service, the children were encouraged to take their Christingle home to re-light and place in their cottage to show the light of Christ to passers by.

2. (Christianity) A church service for children incorporating Christingles, usually held during Advent.

Usage notes

The Christingle was originally a custom of the Moravian Church in Germany. In the 20th century, it was popularized in the United Kingdom by The Children's Society of the Church of England.

References

1. ↑ “Christingle, n.”, in OED Online, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.