Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can understand what a Christingle is and its meaning for different Christians.

      Key learning points

      1. Christingles are used by some Christians in church services leading up to Christmas.
      2. The Christingle can be used to symbolise Jesus as the light of the world.
      3. Different parts of the Christingle have symbolic meanings.
      4. Christingle services are held by a wide variety of Christian churches today and are very popular.

      Keywords

      • Christingle - an orange, decorated with candles and sweets, used in church to celebrate Jesus

      • Illuminate - to light so that it makes things easy to see

      • Incarnation - Christian belief that God became human in the person of Jesus

      Common misconception

      The Christingle is a model with sweets and fruit eaten by Christians.

      The Christingle has different parts which help Christians remember God’s love for the world.

      Teacher tip

      You might want to get the pupils to make their own Christingle using satsumas, birthday candles, red ribbon or tape, cocktail sticks (with the sharp end removed) and some fruits or sweets.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

      Loading...

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      5 Questions

      Q1.
      Why do artists draw or paint the nativity story?

      to make a birthday card
      to decorate their house
      Correct answer: to tell people about Jesus

      Q2.
      What is a halo in pictures of Jesus and Mary?

      a crown
      a big hat
      Correct answer: a glowing circle above the head
      a balloon

      Q3.
      What might be different in a nativity from another country?

      the story
      Correct answer: the people and animals
      the Christmas tree
      the weather

      Q4.
      Why do pictures of Jesus and Mary sometimes look different?

      Artists like to make them cartoons.
      Correct answer: People don’t know what they looked like.
      They had lots of clothes.

      Q5.
      We don’t know what Jesus looked like, but he was born in the East.

      Correct Answer: Middle, middle

      5 Questions

      Q1.
      Christingles are used before ...

      Correct Answer: Christmas, christmas

      Q2.
      The candle shows Jesus is the of the world.

      Correct Answer: light, Light

      Q3.
      What do the sweets show?

      Correct answer: God’s good gifts
      decorations
      fireworks

      Q4.
      The red ribbon shows Jesus’ ...

      Correct Answer: love, Love

      Q5.
      Who has Christingle services?

      just one church
      Correct answer: lots of churches
      only schools

      To help you plan your 1 religious education lesson on: Christingle and its meaning, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...