Chrismon

Chrismons are Christmas decorations with Christian symbols on them. They help Christians to remember that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus's birthday. They are often used on Christmas Trees in Churches and Christians homes.

They were first made by Frances Kipps Spencer at the Ascension Lutheran Church in Danville, Virginia, USA. She also thought of the word, Chrismon, which is a combination of Christ and monogram (meaning symbol). The idea quickly spread to other churches. It is traditional that Christian groups can make their own Chrismons with their favourite symbols on.

Each year a 20ft (6 metre) Christmas Tree is decorated in the Ascension Lutheran Church, as Mrs Spencer intended, and visitors come and the hear the story of Jesus explained through her original Chrismons and a few gifts from around the world.

Chrismons are traditionally coloured white and gold. White is the liturgical (or Church) colour for Christmas and symbolises that Jesus was pure and perfect. Gold symbolises His Majesty and Glory. Chrismons can be made from nearly anything, but paper and embroidered ones are the most widely used.

For more information and Chrismon patterns, visit WhyChristmas.

 

Directions to assemble you Chrismon kit:

Kit includes: A short white piece of foam board, a long white piece of foam board, a double sided tape dot, string 

Other materials you may want: gold beads, gold ribbons, gold sequins

  1. Make sure you have an area cleared to assemble your Chrismon and have all of the pieces from your Chrismon kit.
  2. Place your short piece of foam board horizontal on top of the long piece of foam board to form a cross.  Move the piece up and down until you find where you would like it.
  3. Using the piece of double sided tape provided, attach the two pieces together.
  4. Attach the string so you can hang your Chrismon.
  5. (Optional) You can decorate your Chrismon with gold ribbon, beads or sequins.