A Closer Look at Christmas

By Ava F.

Christmas is my favorite time of year! Everyday seems to become more exciting in the midst of the holiday season. This year, a particular part of the nativity story interested me: the gifts that were given to Jesus, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. It’s fascinating to think about the significance these items would have had in the past since they each have so much significance in Middle Eastern culture today. So, as we think about what gifts we might give and receive this year, let’s take a closer look at the gifts Jesus was given as well.  


Gold 

I think we are all familiar with what gold is and its value today, but what about its significance in the past? In the past, gold was considered to be very valuable, and the possession of it was a primary way of measuring wealth. Gold was also specifically associated with royalty and nobility (James). For example, Queen Sheba gifts Solomon a large amount of gold in 1 Kings 10 (English Standard Version). The wise men gifted gold to Jesus proving that they saw Him as their king. 

Frankincense

Frankincense is a dried gum resin that comes from frankincense trees which are only native to a few regions. It is harvested by scraping a small opening in the bark and allowing the resin to come out and dry on the bark to be scraped off after a few weeks (Hirst). It is known for its aromatic properties, specifically the smoke it gives off when burned. 

Frankincense was burned ceremonially in temples, and there is a theory that the gift of frankincense was to acknowledge Jesus’s spiritual significance. It was highly valued and considered sacred for its personal, religious, and medicinal use (James). It was a precious gift! 

Today, people continue to use this resin as incense and in many cultures as a daily air freshener. Some people ingest it by chewing on the resin or adding it to water, and it continues to be valued for its medicinal properties. It’s amazing to see how a substance could be valued so far in the past and continue to hold that integral value and traditional use in cultures today.


Myrrh

Myrrh, like frankincense, is a resin that comes from myrrh trees which are native to the harsh regions surrounding the Red Sea. It was also considered to be sacred, and people used it in their holy anointing oils, as a component of incense, and often in medicine. Most notably, myrrh was connected to death and burial from its usage by Egyptians for embalming (Glenn). 

It was a key ingredient in mixtures made according to Jewish burial customs and was used to prepare Jesus’s own body for burial (John 19.39-40). The gift of myrrh is said to have indicated the way Jesus would die to save His people in the future (James).

Both frankincense and myrrh are used in modern perfumes, cosmetics, and for their health benefits, continuing the traditional use of these resins. Although they are not as widely prized today as they were before, they continue to have traditional value and use. What’s fascinating about these three gifts is that they connect the past and the present. The way that these three items are still prominent aspects of cultures today while relating to the Christmas story is something cool to think about. 

If you haven’t experienced the aroma of frankincense or myrrh, I encourage you to try and find some! I would like to set some out this year with the idea of having another reminder of Jesus’s birth that we are celebrating. Then, of course, I’ll finish my gingerbread house, decorate some sugar cookies, and watch Elf. Merry Christmas!

Ava F. is a senior who has attended NSA for three years and this is her first year on the Navigator. She lives in the Middle East with her parents and younger brother. She loves learning about other cultures and hopes to pursue a career that will allow her to travel or live abroad. In her free time she enjoys horseback riding, boxing, learning Arabic, reading, and painting.

Popular, ✝️Spiritual Life, 🗓️SeasonalEIC NSA2021-2022, December 2021 Issue