Angels at Christmas – Why are they so important?

It’s funny how people relate to angels – even people who claim not to will say that they are imaginary beings of light, love and power who bring messages to certain humans at time of need or when some great task is asked of them.  Some will say that angels are symbolic of inner visions and voices but few people, anywhere in the world have no concept of angels at all. Angel statues are a popular idea as Christian gifts at Christmas.

Religious References to Angels

There are not actually that many references to angels in the bible yet the same names crop up again in other Abrahamic scriptures and traditions, notably Judaic and Islamic, though of course the spellings change.  Each seems to have certain qualities, roles or specialisations and to have a specific place in the angelic hierarchy.

Angels in the Bible

Most Christians’ will know that it was the archangel Gabriel who spoke to Zechariah in the temple to announce that he and his wife Elizabeth we soon to have a son who they would call John and that in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy Gabriel appeared to her maiden cousin Mary to announce that she, too, would give birth to a son whom she was to call Jesus.

As the shepherds were trying to keep warm on the winter’s night in the hills around Bethlehem, when one angel spoke to them of the Son of David being born, a host of innumerable angels appeared to them singing and praising God.

In the bible angels as characterised as like men, whether that really meant male to the writers is difficult to say but since medieval times angels are almost always depicted as female other than named Archangels, as with Michael and Gabriel.  And that brings us back to the way people feel about angels, how they represent for so many, whether Christian or not, the promise of safety, comfort and guidance.

Christmas Angels

As the nights draw even further in after the clocks change from summer time to standard time, we become more aware of the long, cold and dark winter months before us and thoughts turn to Christmas as a time of happiness, togetherness, sharing and compassion, a time when we feel inner comfort, warmth, peace and co-operation, a haven from the challenges of life.

It’s not surprising then that, at Christmas we all think of Christmas angels and find ways of representing their presence in our homes with angel cards, angel decorations, pictures and figurines of all sorts, sizes and descriptions.  Whether your taste is for abstract, tinselly, cute, serious, humourous or beautiful there are Christmas angels available for everyone and they make wonderful presents.  As gifts, their value goes way beyond their appearance or monetary value alone, its in how they can communicate the kind thoughts, the sincere good wishes, the sense of caring watchfulness which brings friends, families and communities together over the festival of Christmas and throughout the coming year.

Will you be having angels at Christmas this year?

…. Kathleen