ＷＨＡＴ　ＩＳ　CANDY CANE？（キャンディケインってなに？）

先日アメリカ人の友人宅でのクリスマスパーティにおよばれ
したんです。そこではみんなにキャンディケインを配ってくれました。
今日はこのキャンディケインのお話です。

杖の形のアメをご存知ですか？
この赤と白の杖の形のアメのことをキャンディケインといいます。
これはイエスキリストが生まれた時にイエスを見ようと集まってきた
羊飼いたちがもっていたかぎ状の杖をモチーフに作られたものです。
この赤と白の色にはそれぞれ意味があり白は純潔、清廉をあらわし、
赤はキリストが流した地をあらわしていると言われています。
クリスマスでは色はとっても重要な意味があります。
赤と緑、赤はすでにお話したイエスキリストが流した血。
そして緑はクリスチャンに与えられる聖霊や永遠の命また一年中緑があふれるという意味を持ちます。

クリスマスの写真

クリスマスの街でとった写真です。とっても綺麗ですよ〜
是非見ていってください。

YOSHIKAさんにいただいたクリスマスのお話

It was the night before Christmas and all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.  The stockings were hung by
the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of Sugarplums
danced in their heads.

And Mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap, had just settled down for a long
winter's nap. When out on the lawn arose such a clatter, I sprang from my
bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up
the sash.  The moon on the breast on the new fallen snow, gave the luster of
midday to the objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh and 8
tiny reindeer.  With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a
moment it must be St.Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whislted and shouted
and called them by name.  Now, Dasher!  Now Dancer!  Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!  To the top of the porch!! To
the top of the wall! Now, dash away!! Dash away!  Dash away all!!

As dry leaves that before the hurricane fly, when they meet with an
obstacle, mount to the sky, so up to the housetop the coursers they flew,
with the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too.

And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, The prancing and pawing of
each little hoof--

As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas
came with a bound.

He was dressed in all fur, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were
all tarnished with ashes and soot.  A bundle of toys he had flung on his
back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes, How they twinkled!! And his dimples, how merry! His cheeks were
like roses, and his nose like a cherry!  His droll little mouth was drawn up
like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of his pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke, it
encircled his head like a wreath.  He had a broad face and little round
belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw
him, in spite of myself.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know I had
nothing to dread.  He spoke not a word, but went right to work, and filled
all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the chimney he
rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whisltle, and away they all flew
like the down of a thisle.  But I heard him exclaim,as he drove out of
sight,

Merry Christmas to all.  And to all a good night.

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