Frankincense is resins, dried tree sap, that come from trees of the genus Boswellia (frankincense) and Commiphora (myrhh) common to Somalia. The way that people collect the sap is similar to the way people collect rubber tree sap or pine tree sap. Cutting the tree's bark causes the sap to ooze out of the cut. The sap used to create both frankincense and myrrh comes slowly and is allowed to dry on the tree. The hardened sap is collected and used as frankincense. Frankincense was one of the gifts of the Magi. [Mt 2:11] Tradition says that it was presented to the Christ Child by Balthasar, the black king from Ethiopia or Saba, thus fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy that gold and frankincense would be brought from the Gentiles to honor the heavenly king. [Is 60:6] Frankincense was the purest incense. When burned it produced a white smoke which symbolized the prayers and praises of the faithful ascending to heaven. Because the ancients often burned frankincense during religious rituals, this gift symbolizes sacrifice, Christ's divinity, His sweet savor, and His priestly role. It is also a symbol of the Divine name of God.


Myrrh

A yellowish brown to reddish brown aromatic gum resin with a bitter slightly pungent taste obtained from a tree (especially Commiphora abyssinica of the family Burseraceae) of eastern Africa and Arabia. Myrrh was one of the gifts of the Magi or wise men. [Mt 2:11] Legend says Caspar brought the gift of myrrh from Europe or Tarsus and placed it before the Christ Child. Because of myrrh's various medicinal uses this gift represents Christ's human nature, the Suffering Savior, the Great Physician, and the Passion. Myrrh was an extremely valuable commodity during biblical times and was imported from India and Arabia. 

Dreams
Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, had some important dreams regarding the Christ Child. In his first dream, the archangel Gabriel came to Joseph assuring him that Mary had indeed conceived of the Holy Spirit and encouraged him to take Mary as his wife rather than quietly divorcing her. The angel said to name the Child Jesus for He was destined to save people from their sins. [Mt 1:19-21] After the visit of the Magi, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him to take his family and flee into Egypt because Herod sought the Child to kill him. [Mt 2:13-15]. Herod died and an angel again appeared in one of Joseph's dreams. This time the angel told Joseph to bring Jesus and Mary back to Israel. [Mt 2:19-21] On the way home, Joseph received another dream warning from God. He was told to make a home for the Child in Nazareth in the region of Galilee. [Mt 2:22-23]



Snow

Snow is symbol of purity. In ancient times many people believed the sky was a solid dome which supported the heavenly bodies. It was thought to have windows and doors through which angels, gods, holy men, snow, and rain might ascend or descend as needed. The apocryphal Testament of Levi declares that there are seven heavens and that snow is kept in the second heaven along with fire, ice, and all the spirits of retribution. He believes that God has these elements and spirits stored in the second heaven for use on the day He punishes wicked. [The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, 3 - The Testament of Levi Concerning the  Priesthood - Ante-Nicene Early Church Fathers v. 8]. 

Candy Cane

The Candy Cane, used during the holidays, stands as an important Christmas symbol. The color white symbolizes the purity and sinless nature of Jesus. Next, three small stripes to symbolize pain inflicted upon Jesus before his death on the cross and a bold stripe to represent the blood he shed for mankind. Two other symbols are distinctive on the Candy Cane. When looked at, it looks like a Shepard's staff because Jesus is the Shepard of man. Then if we turn it upside down, we will notice the shape of the letter J symbolizing the first letter in Jesus' name. These five symbols were incorporated into this piece of peppermint stick so that we would remember what we really celebrate the Christmas season. During the 1670's a German choirmaster had the sugar sticks bent into a shepherd's staff and
passed out to children attending the Christmas services. This holiday custom spread throughout Europe and fancy canes, decorated with roses, were used as Christmas decorations in many homes.

IVY

The ivy symbolizes eternal life and resurrection. Medieval Christians, noticing that ivy thrived on dead trees used it to symbolize the immortal soul which lived even though the body (represented by the dead tree) decayed. In spite of its use as a symbol of immortality, ivy's association with the grave caused it to be strongly emblematic of mortality. According to Crippen, at Christmas time, ivy, which represents mortality, should be used only on the outside of buildings because this holiday celebrates Jesus, the giver of everlasting life and destroyer of death. Crowns of ivy were believed to prevent intoxication and thought to aid inspirational thinking. Therefore, the Greeks crowned their poets with wreaths of this plant. Although generally considered poisonous, the ivy's black berries were used to treat plague.

MISTLETOE

The mistletoe has long been considered a magical plant. Mistletoe is an aerial parasite that has no roots of its own and lives off the tree that it attaches itself to. Without that tree it would die. It was used in various potions as a universal remedy and fertility drug. It gave strength to the athlete, the hunter, and the swordsman. Norsemen often gave the name "Mistelsteinn" to their swords because of the mistletoe's magical and strengthening effects. This plant is Oklahoma's state flower. In the eighteenth-century English describes mistletoe with a certain magical appeal called a kissing ball. At Christmas time a young lady standing under a ball of mistletoe, brightly trimmed with evergreens, ribbons, and ornaments, cannot refuse to be kissed. Such a kiss could mean deep romance or lasting friendship and goodwill.

STARS

Before entering the Promised Land, Moses warned the Israelites to, "take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage." [Deu 4:19]

Islamic tradition claims that when Abraham was born, he was hidden in a cave because Nimrod sought to slay the newborn patriarch, just as Herod sought to kill the infant king, Jesus. After fifteen years, Abraham emerged from his cave and, seeing the evening star, believed it was God. He almost worshiped it, but the star's light grew faint and disappeared from sight. He realized his error and declared he would not worship any transient god. When the moon, and then the sun arose, Abraham mistook them for God and very nearly worshiped these bodies. However, they also faded and fell. Finally, he realized that his LORD was the invisible and never-changing God who had created the heavenly lights. Later, God swore to Abraham, "I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven..." [Gen 22:17, 15:5; Exo 32:13; Heb 11:12; Deu 1:10, 10:22, 28:62; Neh 9:23] Abraham's belief in this promise was credited to him as righteousness. [Gen 15:6] This same promise was passed down to his son, Isaac. [Gen 26:4]

CANDLES
Candles are symbol of individual's life force, or the light he or she offers to the world. They represent spirituality, devotion, faith, longing, and the life devoted to a single, generally spiritual passion or aspiration. They symbolize the passing years of a human life as it slowly burns or melts away. Because of their phallic shape, candles were commonly used in marriage and fertility rites. In these rites they may represent the innocence of virgins.


HOLLY
Christian legend says one winter night, the holly miraculously grew leaves out of season in order to hide the Holy Family from Herod's soldiers. Since then, it has been an evergreen as a token of Christ's gratitude. Holly is one of the trees said to be the tree of Christ's cross.  It is as a Passion symbol that holly is found in pictures of various saints. It's presence indicates that the saint is either reflecting upon Christ's Passion or foretelling it.

BELLS

Bells represent Joy and Sorrow.  They are a symbol of creativity and harmony; the creating Word, and the music of the spheres. [Gen 1; John 1:1-4] High in the towers, suspended between heaven and earth, bells and especially their clappers, represent communication and suspension between heaven and earth, or humans and God. Even today, on Christmas Eve, these bells may be heard ringing at midnight. In other European towns, the ringing of bells from churches that were swallowed up by earthquakes during worship services may be heard by putting one's ear to the ground on Christmas Eve.

THE COLOR RED

Color Red symbolizes the color for blood. The world associates red with war, cruelty, and slaughter. The Church sees red as a meet color for her martyrs. It reminds us of the wounds of Christ and the stripes by which we are healed. [Is 53:5; 1 Pet 2:24] Red is for us a remembrance of the overflowing fount of divine love and forgiveness. Red is the color of riches, power, and royalty. [2 Sam 1:24; Lam 4:5; Rev 18:12, 16] Christ, the divine king, came at Christmas time. But red is also the color of lust for undeserved power; selfish greed; and unbridled passion. At Christmas time, the color red reminds us that Herod slaughtered the innocents. [Mt 2:16-18] During His Passion, Roman soldiers stripped Jesus of His simple clothes and placed a scarlet robe upon His shoulders so that they might mock this one whom wisemen had sought as the "King of the Jews." [Mt 27:28].

THE COLOR GREEN

Color Green is the symbol of hope , nature, growth, the fields and spring. At Christmas time, as during ancient winter festivals, green indicates our hope that spring will return and reign victorious over winter.  It is the color of women and the planet earth in their roles of bringing forth children and plants. On His way to the cross, Jesus warns the women of Jerusalem, "Do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. . . For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?" [Luke 23:28-31]

THE THREE WISE MEN

The story of the Wise Men who came from the east is told in the Gospel of St. Matthew (2:1-12). They followed a star which led them to Bethlehem. There, they saw the Christ Child, worshipped Him, and gave Him precious gifts. The second chapter of St. Matthew also tells of Herod the Great's plot to kill the infant Jesus and of the Holy Family's flight into Egypt. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus is it written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.  And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child, and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.