Annual Christingle Service with the Duchy School. A Christingle is a symbolic object used to celebrate Jesus as the Light of the World. Today it usually consists of an orange, decorated with red ribbon and sweets with a candle on the top. The orange represents the world, the sweets all of God’s creation and the red ribbon around the orange the blood of Jesus who was crucified to save us. The candle on the top represents Jesus. During the service all the candles on the Christingles are lit symbolising Jesus bringing light and hope to people living in darkness.
Christingles were first used in the Moravian Church in Germany in the 18th century; the name comes the German 'Christkindl' meaning Little Christ Child. And in the past when oranges were difficult to get, swedes were used instead.