One of my favorite childhood memories of Christmas is the church candy bags given out at the small church where I grew up. Every year on the Sunday closest to Christmas, children and adults alike were handed a brown paper bag as they left church. I loved the crinkle of the bag as I opened it, eager to see what treats were inside. There would always be an apple and an orange, raw walnuts, pecans, almonds, and always a few funny-looking Brazil nuts. I usually gave the fruit and nuts to my grandma. I was interested in the real prizes: hard Christmas candies and a candy bar, seemingly either a Mounds or an Almond Joy.
The origin of this tradition is not clear, but some historians trace it back to the 18th century, when German immigrants brought the custom of giving fruits and nuts to their children on Christmas Eve. They would wrap them in paper or cloth and hang them on the tree or place them under the pillow.
Others suggest that the candy bags were inspired by the legend of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, who was known for his generosity and kindness. According to one story, Saint Nicholas secretly threw three bags of gold coins into the house of a poor man who had three daughters. The bags landed in the stockings that the girls had hung by the fireplace to dry. The next morning, the girls found the gold and were overjoyed. This story gave rise to the tradition of hanging stockings and filling them with gifts on Christmas Eve.
The candy bags make me think of the song O Holy Night. The lyrics say, A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. That’s how I felt when I opened my candy bag: a thrill of hope and joy. I knew that Christmas was not just about candy and presents, but about the birth of Jesus, who came to save us from our sins and give us eternal life. He was the greatest gift of all, and the reason we celebrated.
We see a similar thrill when we deliver more than 750 blizzard boxes to seniors receiving Meals on Wheels. Instead of candy and nuts, they are full of non-perishable food items seniors can use in case of a winter storm or emergency that prevents the regular delivery of hot meals. They are meant to provide nutrition and comfort to seniors who might otherwise go hungry or feel isolated. It’s just one of the many ways the St. Luke’s family of faith shares God’s love and brings hope to the world.
Chris Lambert, Director Meals on Wheels Oklahoma City
