Angels at Christmas

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:8-15 (New International Version)

In modern culture, we say that there are angels among us, lucky individuals might have a guardian angel, someone is an angel who commits an act of kindness, our loved ones in heaven have become angels and that there are fallen angels. Over the centuries, angels have been given wings and halos, along with supernatural abilities (or course they are supernatural beings, so that only makes sense).  

Angels make appearances throughout the Bible, from Genesis through Revaluations. The term “angel” originates from the Greek word for messenger, and angels most offer did bring messages to people of the Bible. They could also be fierce warriors as in the angel Michael, who rages war against evil.

How did angels become associated with Christmas? From verses such as the one above, it is easy to understand how. Some time after the first fir trees started being decorated for Christmas (see my previous post), people began putting angels on the top of their trees. And that tinsel my mom insisted on putting on our tree? It was originally used to symbolize angel hair.

And just like in that Christmas tree post, there is so much more to say about angels that I don't have time for. 

Not my favorite angel, but the only one I already had a picture of.