Sunday, November 29, 2015

Moravian Christmas Traditions and A Christmas Promise Book Give-Away


Our Christmas Traditions That Came from a Band of Moravian Missionaries & Book Give-Away 

by Tamera Lynn Kraft

Schoenbrunn Village School
In the wilderness of Ohio in 1773, there were a band of missionaries and Lenape Indians celebrating Christmas at Schoenbrunn Village, the first settlement in Ohio. They’d come to this wilderness and started the village a year earlier to preach the Gospel to the Lenape, also known as the Deleware. 

In my novella, A Christmas Promise, I write about Moravian missionaries in Schoenbrunn Village, circa 1773 and how they celebrated Christmas. The Moravians brought many Christmas traditions to America that we use to celebrate Christ’s birth today. Here are a few of them. 

The Christmas Tree: Moravians brought the idea of decorating Christmas trees in their homes in the early 1700s, long before it became a popular tradition in the United States. They didn't cut down a tree. Instead they built a wood
platform in used pine branches to build a sort of artificial tree. They would hang white candles and verses written on small pieces of paper on the tree

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services: Most churches have Christmas Eve services where they sing Christmas carols and light candles to show Jesus came to be the light of the world. The Moravian Church has been doing that for centuries. They call their services lovefeasts. During these lovefeasts they have a part of the service where they serve sweetbuns and coffee – juice for the kids – and share Christ’s love with each other. For candles, Moravians use bleached beeswax with a red ribbon tied around them. The white symbolizes the purity of Christ and red symbolizes that His blood was shed for us.

The Moravian Star: In the 1840s at a Moravian school, students made 24 point stars out of triangles for their geometry lessons. Soon those Moravian stars started making their way on the tops of Christmas trees. The star as a Christmas tree topper is still popular today.

The Putz: The putz is a Christmas nativity scene surrounded by villages or other Biblical scenes. Moravian children in the 1700s would make a putz to put under their Christmas tree. Today, nativity scenes and Christmas villages are popular decorations.

Book Give-Away Contest: Enter a comment below telling what your favorite Christmas tradition is. The winner of the drawing will receive an e-book copy of A Christmas Promise. Drawing will take place Friday, December 1st.

A Christmas Promise
By Tamera Lynn Kraft 
A Moravian Holiday Story, Circa 1773 
During colonial times, John and Anna settle in an Ohio village to become Moravian missionaries to the Lenape. When John is called away to help at another settlement two days before Christmas, he promises he’ll be back by Christmas Day. 
When he doesn’t show up, Anna works hard to not fear the worst while she provides her children with a traditional Moravian Christmas. 
Through it all, she discovers a Christmas promise that will give her the peace she craves. 
“Revel in the spirit of a Colonial Christmas with this achingly tender love story that will warm both your heart and your faith. With rich historical detail and characters who live and breathe on the page, Tamera Lynn Kraft has penned a haunting tale of Moravian missionaries who selflessly bring the promise of Christ to the Lenape Indians. A beautiful way to set your season aglow, A Christmas Promise is truly a promise kept for a heartwarming holiday tale.” – Julie Lessman
Available in e-book at these online stores:


Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures and writes Christian historical fiction set in America because there are so many adventures in American history. She is married to the love of her life, has two grown children, and lives in Akron, Ohio. Soldier’s Heart and A Christmas Promise are two of her historical novellas that have been published. She has received 2nd place in the NOCW contest, 3rd place TARA writer’s contest, and is a finalist in the Frasier Writing Contest.
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24 comments:

  1. UnknownNovember 29, 2015 at 7:16 AM

    I grew up in a heavily Moravian area of Pennsylvania and am PA German myself. Our family was Reformed, but we loved Christmas, too. I love the creche we brought from Israel a long time ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tamera Lynn KraftNovember 29, 2015 at 5:13 PM

      Considering the Creche came for Israel where Christ was born, it must be very special to you.

      Delete
    2. UnknownNovember 30, 2015 at 8:01 AM

      It is. I remember when we bought it at a shop in Nazareth.

      Delete
  2. Connie Porter SaundersNovember 29, 2015 at 8:41 AM

    I have a small lighted nativity scene that I place at the bottom of our Christmas tree and this year, our 21 month old granddaughter will be introduced to the story of Jesus's birth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tamera Lynn KraftNovember 29, 2015 at 5:13 PM

      That sounds like a wonderful way to teach your granddaughter, Connie.

      Delete
  3. MelodyNovember 29, 2015 at 10:26 AM

    Being a missionary to Central America, it was difficult to adjust. But being one all those years ago, what determined folks they would had to be.

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    Replies
    1. Tamera Lynn KraftNovember 29, 2015 at 5:14 PM

      I agree, Melody. Thank you for your service to Christ and to Central America.

      Delete
  4. MelodyNovember 29, 2015 at 10:27 AM

    Being a missionary to Central America, it was difficult to adjust. But being one all those years ago, what determined folks they would had to be.

    ReplyDelete
  5. HeatherNovember 29, 2015 at 1:44 PM

    My favorite Christmas tradition, that my family has done since I was a child, and I have continued with my family, is the reading of the Christmas story from the Bible by the eldest male present. This is done before the presents and al the hoopla.

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    Replies
    1. Tamera Lynn KraftNovember 29, 2015 at 5:15 PM

      Sounds like a wonderful way to start Christmas, Heather.

      Delete
  6. Melanie BackusNovember 29, 2015 at 4:59 PM

    I love Tamera's stories. Traditions are wonderful and one we certainly enjoy is going to see what Santa brought our grands and enjoying a wonderful breakfast on Christmas morning.

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    Replies
    1. Tamera Lynn KraftNovember 29, 2015 at 5:16 PM

      Melanie, thank you so much. Have a wonderful Christmas with those grandbabies.

      Delete
  7. BettiNovember 29, 2015 at 7:31 PM

    I think my favorite tradition is the Christmas tree. I just love sitting and enjoying the lights. The story sounds wonderful - I would love to win :)
    bettimace at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownNovember 30, 2015 at 2:21 AM

    Since I have 12 children they can't buy gifts for all their siblings. On Thanksgiving I put everyone's name in a bowl and they pick one of their siblings a Christmas gift . Everyone has the same price cap. It's always fun watching them open their gifts from each other on Christmas eve.

    Cnnamongirl at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. RosesNovember 30, 2015 at 2:30 AM

    My family has many traditions, but my absolute favorite is gathering in the living room with my family on Christmas Eve to watch A Smoky Mountain Christmas, starring Dolly Parton.

    harnessrose(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. kim hansenNovember 30, 2015 at 11:01 AM

    No christmas traditions. kamundsen44ATyahooDOTcom.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lisi MaddieDecember 1, 2015 at 3:09 PM

    Have in the article described Moravians something in common with Moravia, the part of Czech Republic? I have never heard about these missionaries.
    Personally, I like watching fairy tales on TV and eating Christmas sweets. It is a Christmas must.

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    Replies
    1. Lisi MaddieDecember 1, 2015 at 3:15 PM

      BTW wonderful name of village. In fact Schoenbrunn isn't far away from Moravia :-)

      Delete
    2. Tamera Lynn KraftDecember 3, 2015 at 9:21 AM

      Actually, Lisi. This is the Schoenbrunn in Ohio. Vegging out on TV and sweets is always great.

      Delete
  12. Tamera Lynn KraftDecember 3, 2015 at 9:22 AM

    Congratulations, Betti. You have won A Christmas Promise.

    ReplyDelete

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