I am a creator. I love to make handouts, curriculum, workbook, lists, articles, etc. etc. I find it extremely satisfying and fun. Some of my friends asked me if I had created anything for Christmas and I said, "Yes, I have a few things. I'll send them to you." As I started looking for the items I kept finding more and more. I added them to the email, but it soon became too big for two emails .... and ... I had more to add. "Whoa" I thought, "I had no idea I had created so many things concerning Christmas!"

I had an epiphany with my own Christmas creations - lol! 

So, as per their request and to my delight, I am creating this blog as a place I can put all my creations.

My hope is that you enjoy them, add to them, print them, use them to help you become closer to Christ. If it gets to be too much spread it out through the years.

Enjoy!

12 Days of Christmas

Christmas Stories

Christmas Poetry

Names of Jesus

Nativity Symbols

Prophesies of Christmas

Prophesies of Christmas workbook

Witnesses of Christmas

The 12 Days of Christmas

Epiphany Blog

Forgotten Symbols

Christmas Symbol - Bread

Christmas Symbol - Manger

Christmas Prophesies

Symbols of the Christmas Story

The Truth About the Witnesses of Christ's Birth

13 Christmas Witnesses

Pre-Christmas Prophesies

Types & Shadows of Christmas

Forgotten Christmas Symbols

Sinterklaas

Hanukkah

Epiphany

Christmas with the Prophets

Christmas Art Work

The post A Christmas Collection appeared first on Called to Learn.

Sinterklaas in History:

Did you know that it was Dutch Immigrants who brought the tradition of Santa Claus to the rest of the world? That’s right! It all started waaaay back in the 4th Century when a Bishop in Turkey named St. Nicholas became widely known for his good deed with poor children in Europe. His feast day became known as the Celebration of Sinterklaas and was held on December 6. St. Nicholas is also known as the patron saint of Amsterdam. Many different versions of the story of Saint Nicholas are told but there are some common characters in each one. First is Saint Nick’s companion Zwarte Piet. Some believe that Zwarte Piet was a black slave. This is not the case. Zwarte Piet is said to be a Turkish orphan that traveled as St. Nicholas’ helper. His darker Turkish features must have seemed black to the fairer 4th Century Dutch. The second common character is Schimmel, St. Nicholas’ fine white horse.

St. Nicholas is pictured in medieval and renaissance paintings as a tall, dignified man dressed in red vestments carrying a Bishop’s golden crook. Zwarte Piet is depicted in garish Turkish garb with bright red lips and a gold earring. The legend describes St. Nicholas and Zwarte Piet traveling from their home in Spain across Europe helping the poor and bring food to children. Through the ages, the story of St. Nicholas astride his white horse with this helper Zwarte Piet grew into a tradition to celebrate the feast day on December 6th. St. Nicholas travels to Holland on a steam ship from Spain. He would leave in mid November and arrive on December 5th. Just in time to place small gifts and treats like pepernoten, chocolate initials, marzipan figures and fruit.  In the past, St. Nicholas carried a Birch switch used to punish children who were naughty and Zwarte Piet was said to put bad children in his sack or would leave them a lump of coal in their shoes instead of treats. Today, St. Nicholas is portrayed as a more gentle figure and Zwarte Piet is a jokester.

Sinterklaas comes to North America:

The tradition of St. Nicholas came to North America with Netherlands Protestant Settlers in New Amsterdam, now New York. At that time, the gift giving at the celebration of St. Nicholas’ feast day was separate from the celebration of Christmas on December 25. It wasn’t until the publication of “twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clark Moore that Santa Claus as a “jolly old elf” with reindeer was born. The Santa Claus legend has helpers who are elves and also know “whose naughty and nice”.

Sinterklaas Today:

Today children in Holland still look forward to the arrival of St. Nicholas. Children are told that St. Nicholas is very busy and has many helpers who dress like him and Zwarte Piet so that no child is left out. Children place straw or carrots in their shoes for Schimmel and St. Nicholas replaces these with gifts and treats. Adults will also exchange gifts and usually attach a funny poem or verse. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is celebrated with family gatherings and meals rather than gifts. Although some Dutch people will exchange gifts at that time as well. Another part of the fun is how presents are hidden or disguised. Recipients often have to go on a treasure hunt all over the house, aided by hints, to look for them.

They must be prepared to dig their gifts out of the potato bin, to find them in a jello pudding, in a glove filled with wet sand, in some crazy dummy or doll. Working hard for your presents and working even harder to think up other peoples’ presents and get them ready is what the fun is all about.

In other countries where there are people of Dutch heritage, the tradition of Sinterklaas lives on. In our town, St. Nicholas comes to visit with Zwarte Piet and children sit on his knee and are asked if they have been good. Zwarte Piet always tries to put one of the children in his sack, but always lets them wiggle out again. Treats of pepernoten or ginger snaps, chocolate and candy are given to each child. In many homes that tradition of exchanging chocolate initials of the first letter of each persons name is continued. And we look forward to all the treats available during Sinterklaas time like almond rings (rich pastry wrapped around almond filling) and marzipan (almond confectionary molded into fun shapes). This year, why don’t you celebrate Sinterklaas with us. It is a fun family tradition for adults and kids alike.

A Special Sinterklaas Treat: 

Almond Speculaas:

Ingredients:
1 cup butter or margarine
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp baking soda
2 tsp milk
½ cup sliced almonds
Preparation:
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Mix flour, baking soda, and cinnamon seperately. Add to creamed butter and sugar until combined. Spread dough into foil lined 13×9 inch baking pan. Brush top with milk and sprinkle with almond. Press almonds into dough. Bake at 350 degree pre-heated oven for 15 – 18 minutes or until golden. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into squares. Makes about 36 squares.
If you are going to mold the cookies then ensure that the molds are chilled, oil and flour them lightly to start and then flour lightly after each use. Scraps and trimmings should be refrigerated and used all together at the end.

Sinterklaas Poetry and Surprises:
For more adult company, where each person has gone through the trauma of finding out that Sinterklaas never existed, the presents are just bought by friends and family. Although everybody knows this, the pretense is still kept that they were brought by Sinterklaas. Much trouble is taken to ensure that the giver remain anonymous. Presents should each be accompanied by a poem (gedicht) and are often packaged in a surprise wrapping (called a surprise, pronounced in the French way). Sinterklaas poems should be funny, they might allude to the person receiving the present or to the surprise or both. It is perfectly permissible to poke fun at someone’s habits or personality in a Sinterklaas poem, which explains the need for anonymity… For example, for someone who has terrible trouble getting up in the morning, a surprise might take the shape of a huge alarm clock made out of cardboard (the actual present hidden somewhere inside), with a poem explaining how this present might enable him to finally arrive at work on time. For people with a less subtle sense of humour surprises containing molasses and cotton wool or presents embedded in plaster are popular.
Sinterklaas poems are notoriously bad, since everyone has to write one and not everybody is a gifted poet, or even a mediocre one… Thus, “Sinterklaasgedicht” (Sinterklaas poem) has become a derogatory term for any bad poetry.

Example of Sinterklaas Gedichtijes (poetry): 

Caitlyn,

What do we get
for the one who does everything
so well?
Is it a cute little pet?

Or should it be a game.
That drives mom insane?

Well its said, you know
That the one who
learns like you
Will make the world glow!

So to help you through
this crazy world
With people curled
Here is something true!

Light up the wick
It will light
The whole room over
From the cold prick

Sinterklaas

Essetha
For the kitchen angle
With a twisted angel
We adore your cooking
And the yummy baking
 
May angles always be with you 
As you continue what you do
 
 
Know you are admired
For all the food we‚ve desired!
Sinterklaas

Natassja,
Rick, Ticky, packy
Isn’t this tacky?
To have to read a crazy poem
To those sitting on foam.
This gift isn’t a toy
But it is for you to enjoy
And then it’s to be kept.
And after you have slept
And use it often
So you don’t go to the coffin.
Sinterklaas

Allison,

So what is it you like?
To be in the lime light?

To just dribble a ball?
To blow kisses to all?

Yes, sure but that’s not all
For we have heard your call.

You have been so very kind
To the seeing and the blind

Get on the galiant horse
Continue on this course

Of spreading great good cheer
To all those that will hear.

Sinterklaas

Samantha,

To one that is so bright
Here is something quite right.

Use your skills
and many frills

Rub this in
And you may begin

To teach others
How to be brothers.

Sinterklaas

Kira,
You are full of spark
And have made your mark.
Use the force of light 
To make the world bright.
Remember all those times
Without many dimes
Just good ol’ fun
When all is done.
Sinterklaas

To Leslie,

A Mother of Many
A Friendly Fellow
A Simple Smile
A Wife of a Wonder
A Silly Storyteller
A Nifty Nurse
A Busy Bus driver
A Tender Teacher
A Lively Listener,

For one so busy
And in a tizzy,
You must be in need
And not just greed
Of something to bring
Peace when life stings

Sinterklaas

Karisa,

Having stress?
Don’t make a mess
Just squeeze if you please
This bit of a ball
Till that tension is small

I’ve tried and I’ve tried
and I just couldn’t get better
So this is what you get
in this silly little letter.
Zwarte Piete

Morgan,

For the kitchen angle
With a twisted angel 
 
May angles always be with you 
As you continue what you do
The cooking and stirring
And all while singing!
Sinterklaas

Abigail,

This gift I bring
It does not ring
It does not ting
Nor does it ping.

But it does burn
And it will turn
A queen into
A big black shoe.

You have been fine
Lay it on the line
This gift to make
Is for you to take
Home and create
And imaginate.

Some thing we know
Your Tremindo!

Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas Gedichtijes may be

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It is said that once the tree became part of the Christmas traditions the people wanted something on the tree to tell about Jesus. So they hung small white wafers on the branches. These wafers reminded the people of the unleavened bread eaten during the Lord’s Supper or Passover which is a symbol of Jesus’ body that was put to death for us. 

In later years, people made little cookies in different shapes like stars and angels and hung them on their tree. These cookies helped them think of how sweet God’s love is for us. 

It was prophesied that Bethlehem, a little town in Judah (now Israel), would have a ruler of Israel “come forth” out.

“But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)

Jesus, son of Mary, was born in the town, which, being interpreted, means place or house (beth) of bread (lehem).

Within the tabernacle and temple was a ‘place of bread’ – The Table of Shew Bread or Bread of the Face or Presence of Christ.

There were three covenants made Covenants made at the Table of Shew Bread concerning the bread:

1. The Covenant of Manna 
2. The Covenant of Unleavened Bread 
3. The Covenant of Passover

Manna was to be gathered in exact amounts no more and no less. The Principle learned from this is “Thou shalt not live by bread only, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Deut. 8:2-3; Matthew 4:3-4; Luke 4:3-4) and the covenant is, “I will live exactly by the Word of God.”

Unleavened Bread was placed on the Table of Shewbread and it is the bread eaten at the Passover, before the Israelites left Egypt. Leaven is a symbol for the spirit of influence (good or bad) just as yeast spreads its influence through the whole “lump” of dough. Influence can sway the people. In this case god wanted them to abandon the influence of Egypt (worldliness, idolatry, etc.) The Principle is “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean, put away the evil of your doings” (Isaiah 1:16) and the covenant is, “I will put away the spirit of the world.”

The Covenant of Passover had to do with the Passover Lamb which had to be cooked whole with fire and represented Christ  giving of his “whole” self to “feed”, “strengthen”, “nourish”, “empower” us through the atonement. In John 6:51-57 Jesus explains the Passover lamb: to eat thereof is to partake of eternal life (it signifies a relationship in which Christ dwells within the individual and he in Christ) THAT as the father is in Christ and Christ lives by the Father – even so shall he that partakes of the true Passover shall live by Christ.  Becoming one with Christ, being perfect.  The covenant is, “I will live only by the Spirit.”

When we partake of the bread at the sacrament altar we are renewing these covenants and asking for the Spirit of Christ to be with us. We are partaking of the fruits of the atonement:

With the Bread Christ overcame our Physical Death. When we partake of his flesh, we are partaking of  his life; his example; his teachings; his commandments; etc. We demonstrate our gratitude. 

With the Water Christ overcame our Spiritual Death. When we partake of his blood, we are partaking of the blood of atonement; to be cleansed, redeemed, sanctified, made holy, etc. We rejoice. 

Eating and drinking as symbols suggest nourishment, strength, power, refreshment, rejuvenation, energy, etc. We are preparing to receive eternal life.

The Messiah (as a Priest) is standing at the Table of Shew Bread (the sacrament table). When we approach the table (as deacons) we are in His Presence. He stands at the table offering the sacrament (atonement) then Christ (as a deacon) proffers his atonement to us.

The Sacrament is so much more than just thinking about Christ at the time of his death while the sacrament is being passed.

This forgotten symbol has so much more meaning than bread or wafers alone. Next time you take a piece of broken bread during Sacrament Meeting think about these covenants.

“Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger…” (John 6:35)

“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” (John 6:51)

Jesus is the Bread of Life!

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The word “swaddling” is found in three places in the Old Testament and each refers to a different “infant.”

First, Jeremiah refers to the “swaddled infants” – innocent newborn children in Judah – who were killed by order of the King of Babylon in Lamentations 2:22. Luke may have chose to use the word “swaddling” to help remind the Jews of how Herod copied the slaughter of children by the King of Babylon.

Next, Ezekiel (16:1-14) records the Lord speaking of the birth of the whole House of Israel. He tells them they were an unwanted newborn girl, left unwashed, unanointed, and unswaddled (or unclothed), left to die in an open field. Later, the Lord comes by and, in spite of all the blood, He caused the babe, Israel, to live. He swaddled her, nourished, and carried her all the way to Sinai where Israel (now the grownup bride) was again washed, anointed and clothed, this time in marriage garments, to make covenants with the bridegroom on the mountain temple.

Finally, to Job, the Lord compares the creation of earth to giving birth, the sea broke forth as if it issued out of the womb (Job 38:8-9). Then the Lord swaddled the newborn earth with clouds and soft darkness. Clouds are a common symbol in the Old Testament, “a cloud by day,” indicating the presence of God, protection, shelter, and life (rain). Later, after shaking off the wicked, He would press His name into the soft clay of the earth, sealing it His.

Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes for warmth and protection of life – symbolic of what Jesus would be for us – giving us warmth, protection and eternal life! 

Mary and Joseph had the wonderful opportunity to wash, anoint and clothe the very LORD of heaven and earth.

Every child is born in God’s image and through Christ’s tokens of blood, water, and spirit (see Moses 6:59) every parent can swaddle, cuddle and sing lullabies with the angels to their own children.

Birth and death, marriage and sealing, washing, anointing and clothing, real and restored innocence, warmth and protection are all the symbols found in the sign of the swaddling clothes.

But most of all, these bands signal the helpless state of the newborn infant, within the bounds of earthly mortality. Jesus, the Lord of the Universe, came as a helpless child and was swaddled like any other infant, an unimaginable condescension (see John 1:14; Philippians 2:7; 1 Nephi 11:16–20).

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