Wilson's School

Christmas celebrations abound

How do we celebrate Christmas?

Christmas at Wilson’s is always a festive time, with our annual Christmas Carol Service at Croydon Minster, decorations in many corners of the school (including the tree in the foyer decorated by some of our Year 7 students), and our cheerful Christmas assembly on the final day of term, to name just a few of our jolly school traditions!

Over the past week, staff and students have also taken extra care to focus on the significance of Christmas to those of the Christian faith, considering the origins of 12 traditions. For instance, informing students that the nativity scenes, such as the one displayed in the John Jenkins Hall, began with St. Francis of Assisi (1223) and his aim to help people visually experience the humility of Christ’s birth, deriving from scripture:  

  • Luke 2:7 – “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger.”
  • Matthew 2:11 – “And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.”

What does Christmas mean to our community?

For a number of staff and students alike, Christmas is as a sacred time of reflection. Here is just a small selection of examples from the members of our Christian Union:

“I believe Christmas is a time of compassion and love, where people show fellowship with one another, akin to the way God gave his only son to humanity, in order to atone for our sins, emphasising his unparalleled love and compassion for man, which should be reflected throughout our actions, not only in the upcoming days to Christmas, but throughout the year. I particularly reflect on Isaiah 9: 6 – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”” – Nathan H (Year 12)

“From a biblical perspective, Jesus' Birth (commemorated during the Christmas season) represents the fulfilment of Messianic Prophecy (most heavily featured in the book of Isaiah written hundreds of years earlier), that a saviour would come through the lineage of David, bringing redemption, hope and reconciliation to God. The immaculate birth of Jesus Christ in human form is pivotal in bringing deliverance to Mankind through one human, the same way sin and hardship had entered the world through Original Sin.” – Nana A (Year 12)

“Christmas to me signifies a gift of salvation and hope to humanity, where the birth of Jesus was God's love taking flesh and allows humanity the experience of salvation and a relationship with God.” – Ben M (Year 12)

“To me Christmas represents a new period. A reminder of the gift God gave us. It reaffirms my faith and helps me start the year to come with hope and inspiration of how to live my life and why I live it the way I do.” – Nana O (Year 12)

“For me as a Christian, Christmas represents a reassuring source of hope and happiness for everyone, especially in a world which can sometimes seem full of hate.” – Issac B (Year 12)

“I love the season of Advent and the anticipation this brings.  The four weeks of Advent signifying: hope (prophecy), peace (Bethlehem), joy (shepherds), and love (angels)" are really special, especially with the lighting of candles in church for each of these. Above all though, it's the hope that Jesus' birth brings that particularly resonates with me and helps us think more about each other." – Mr Hudson

“At Christmas, Christians remember that God loves the world so much that he entered into it himself as a human. When speaking to the shepherds, the angels called this “good news of great joy for all people.” – Mr Lawton

Whether you celebrate Christmas for religious reasons, as a cultural tradition, or simply as a time to relax with loved ones, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and every happiness and prosperity in the New Year!