Games and activities guide We have compiled a selection of Christingle games and activities for children and young people in this useful guide. Contents Active Games Christingle swap game Seasonal run around Fruit noughts and crosses Oranges and lemons Christingle chairs Balloon game Light and dark Puzzles and Quizzes Christingle quiz Pairs card game Crossword puzzle Word search Running away Quiz Quiet Activities Plant the pips Sleeping seeds

Active Games Christingle Swap Game Ask everyone to sit on a chair; arranged in a circle facing inwards. Assign each child a symbol of the Christingle – orange, fruit, candle, ribbon. One player is chosen to stand in the middle of the circle. This player calls out a symbol of the Christingle, and everyone with that symbol has to move places. The player in the middle must try to get into someone’s place while the other players are moving. The player left without a chair is ‘on’ next and becomes the one to stand in the middle of the circle. Seasonal Run Around Designate each side of the room with north, south, east or west. Children should run around when you call out the following: North, South, East or West – run to the relevant side of the room Spring – bounce around Summer – mime a summer activity – i.e., cricket, tennis Autumn – pretend to be blown about by the autumn winds Winter – bob down and curl up into a ball Sun’s up – jump up as high as possible in a star jump Raining – imitate rain falling with their fingers Snowing – imitate shivering Windy – mime trying to walk against the wind Sow the sees – pretend to scatter seeds on the ground Lying fallow – lie down on the floor Harvest time – pretend to pick fruit This game can be played as an elimination game until there is a winner.

Fruit Noughts and Crosses You will need: Pictures of (or real) oranges Pictures of (or real) apples Nine chairs arranged in three rows of three Divide the children into two teams and give one team the oranges and the other team the apples. Ask a quick quiz question to decide which team goes first. For example, what do the four loaded cocktail sticks on the Christingle stand for? The teams then play noughts and crosses, but with a child from each team taking it in turns to sit on the chairs with their fruit. The first team to get three of their fruits in a row wins. Oranges and Lemons You will need: An orange or yellow coloured ball for each child (you could use fruit) Suitable music Orange and yellow circle stickers Children line up facing each other with an orange or yellow ball. On the start of the music they throw their balls to each other. When the music stops, the children holding balls are the winners. Each winner could receive an orange or yellow sticker (stick them on an arm for example) and see who has the most stickers at the end of the game. Christingle Chairs Arrange a circle of chairs, one for each child, facing outwards.

Name the children alternately orange, candle, fruit, and sweets. When you call out one of the items, children with that name get up and run around the circle in a clockwise direction. When you call out “red ribbon” they change direction. If you call out “spring” they run fast around the ring, “summer” they slow down, “autumn” they walk, “winter” they go very slowly. When you call out “Christingle” they return to their seat, still going in the same direction. The last child to sit down turns the chair to face inwards. Continue until only one child is left in the game. Balloon Game You will need: Two teams A balloon At the signal to start, the team must throw the balloon in the air and keep it there, by blowing hard! No hands are allowed to touch it. It may help to make the children keep their hands behind their backs. The winning team is the one whose balloon stays airborne the longest. You could play several rounds and the winner could be the best of five. At the end of the game make the point that it takes a great deal of effort to keep the balloon in the air. Then make the point that it’s like that for the work of The Children’s Society. It takes a lot of effort to raise money to support the work that they do. For more information on the work of The Children’s Society see www.childrenssociety.org. Light and Dark Place a dividing line the length of the room using a thin rope or chalk (not on the carpet!). One side of the line is “light” and the other side is “dark”. Children stand on the “light” side and when you call “dark” they jump over the line to the other side. When you call “light” they jump back.

Continue in this way for a few more times and then repeat the same side (e.g. light, dark, light, dark, light, dark, dark). Any child who jumps when they shouldn’t have jumped is out. Continue until there is only one child left in.

Puzzles and Quizzes Christingle Quiz Suitable for ages 7-11 The information sheet and accompanying quiz can be used to teach children about the history and meaning of Christingle. Ask the children to read the Christingle information sheet and memorise as much information as they can. Then collect the sheets and read out the questions. Perhaps divide them into teams to answer the questions. Christingle Quiz Information Sheet In Germany in 1747, Bishop Johannes de Watteville from the Moravian Church thought about how he could explain the love of Jesus to everyone, and what Christmas really meant to the children in the church. He decided to make a simple symbol to express the message of Christmas in a fresh and lively way. Pastor Johannes de Watteville gave each child a lighted candle wrapped in a red ribbon, with a prayer that said "Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these dear children's hearts". This was the first Christingle service. The symbolism of the Christingle gradually developed and today the Christingle consists of an orange representing the world, with the candle inserted in the centre and lit to represent Christ the light of the world. The candle used to be held on a goose quill, part of which was split into fronds, on which were impaled nuts, fruits, raisins and sweets. These stood for the Gifts which God has given to us. Since goose quills are not so readily available, today we use cocktail sticks on which to impale the fruit or sweets. The red tape or ribbon, which is now wrapped around the centre of the orange, reminds us of Christ's Blood he shed for us.

Tin foil is usually used as a base for the candle. Not only does this hold the hot wax but it is thought to reflect the light of Christ. The word ‘Christingle’ in English translates to ‘Christ’ and ‘Light’. In 1968 The Children’s Society took the idea of Christingle from The Moravian Church and introduced it to the Church of England. It has now become a popular, much-loved family event. Christingle services can be held anytime during these 4 liturgical periods; Advent, Christmas, Epiphany or Candlemas. The most common time to hold the service is the Sunday before Christmas. At the climax of the Christingle service, each child receives a lighted Christingle and in the magical moment of the darkened Church, the visual symbol tells the truth of the Christmas story, - that in the darkness of the world there has shined a great light. In the darkness, with the lighted Christingle the Children traditionally sang the traditional Moravian carol: morning star, o cheering sight. Money is raised from Christingle celebrations mainly through collections during the service. On average £1.2m is raised each year, with the money going to support the work of The Children’s Society. The Children’s Society has numerous projects throughout England which support disadvantaged children in that area. This includes children who have run away from home or social care, children with disabilities, young carers and destitute children. The Children’s Society also carries out a lot of campaigning work to improve the rights of children within the UK.

Quiz Questions In which country was the first Christingle service held? A: Germany What did Bishop Johannes de Watteville give out to children during the very first Christingle service? A: A lighted candle wrapped in a red ribbon What are the 4 parts of today’s Christingle and what do they represent? A: Orange – the world Lit Candle- Light of Christ Red ribbon / tape – Blood of Christ 4 Cocktail sticks with sweets / dried fruit – God’s Gifts, the sticks are also said to represent the 4 seasons What was traditionally used instead of cocktail sticks? a) Goose quills b) Pine needles c) Knitting needles d) Match sticks

A: Goose quills What reasoning is sometimes attributed to the tinfoil at the base of the candle? A: Reflects the light of Christ as well as holding hot wax What 2 words does the word ‘Christingle’ translate to in English? A: ‘Christ’ and ‘Light’ What year did The Children’s Society introduce ‘Christingle’ to the Church of England? A: 1968

Name 2 of the 4 liturgical periods (celebration ‘seasons’ within the church) in which Christingle celebrations are held? A: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Candlemas What song was traditionally sung in the darkness when the Christingle candles are lit? A: Morning star, o cheering sight Who does The Children’s Society support with the money raised from Christingle celebrations? a) Young Runaways b) Disabled Children c) You d) Young Carers e) All of the above A: (e) The Children’s Society has numerous projects throughout England which support disadvantaged children in that area. This includes children who have run away from home or social care, children with disabilities, young carers and destitute children. The Children’s Society also carries out a lot of campaigning work to improve the rights of children such as you. Final bonus question! I have a skin, but no blood within Christ love is shared, with my ribbon red. My tasty treats are sweet to eat. And I shine a light into darkest night. What am I? A: Christingle

Pairs Card game You will need: A selection of large pictures of fruit and nuts laminated and cut out. You will need 2 copies of each picture. Lay the cards out in a random order on the floor. Divide the children into 2 or 3 teams. Each team takes it in turn to turn over 2 of the cards with the aim of finding matching pieces of fruit or nuts. If the 2 they choose to turn over match their team get to keep the cards but if not they have to turn them back over. When all the cards have been matched, the team with the most pairs wins.

Crossword Puzzle Across 1. What does Christingle mean? 2. This represents the blood of Christ. 3. What do the sticks stand for? 4. The sweets are the _ _ _ _ _ _ of the earth. 5. What fruit that is also a colour, is usually used as the world? 6. What item is used to represent Jesus, the Light of the World? Down 1. A service made popular by The Children's Society since 1968.

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Christingle Word Search candlemas fruits celebrate fun christ glow christingle into christmas Jesus darkness light epiphany love family orange festival ribbon flame shining foil sticks friend sweets world

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Running Away Quiz Suitable for KS3 1. How many young people under 16 run away each year for the first time, in Britain? a) 20,000 b) 60,000 c) 77,000 2. How many young people under the age of 11 run away each year? a) 5,000 b) 15,000 c) 20,000 3. A person that runs away as a child is less likely to have problems as an adult? True or False 4. What is the main reason that young people run away? a) To go and join the circus b) Because of family problems c) Because they are in trouble with the police 5. When a young person runs away, where are they most likely to spend the night? a) On the streets b) With a friend or relative c) In a hotel 6. At what age are young people most likely to run away? a) 9 - 11 years old b) 11 - 13 years old c) 13 - 15 years old 7. Over the age of 12, who runs away more? Boys or Girls 8. Who stays away longer? Boys or Girls

9. How many of the young people that run away end up sleeping rough or in unsafe places? a) All of them b) Half of them c) Quarter of them 10. If you run away you are more likely to get involved with drugs and crime? True or False 11. The Runaway Helpline number is 0808 800 7070, what does the does it do? a) They can let a family member or carer know that you are safe b) Provide a chat room on the internet c) They can put you up in a bed-sit Answers Question 1 Answer: C Numbers are based on young people that stay away for at least one night. It also includes young people who are forced to leave home. Question 2 Answer: C These young people are more likely to run away repeatedly as they get older. Question 3 Answer: False The chances of homelessness, mental health problems and problems with drugs, alcohol and other substances increase for people who have repeatedly run away. Question 4 Answer: B This could be because of arguments at home, violence, issues with parents / carers or being forced to leave.

Question 5 Answer: B Most runaways stay locally and are only away for a few nights. Some stay away for longer and can loose contact with home or care, often resorting to crime to survive. Question 6 Answer: C The likelihood of running away increases with age Question 7 Answer: Girls Question 8 Answer: Boys Question 9 Answer: C A quarter of them. For some young people, running away can be a liberating and positive experience. Many young people said it had given them time to think, provided a respite and helped them to sort out their problems. However, running away can be a risky and frightening experience for many young people. Question 10 Answer: True Question 11 Answer: A The helpline offers confidential advice and help to anyone under the age of 18 who has runaway from home or care, or has been forced to leave home.

Quiet Activities Plant the pips Why not plant the pips from the Christingle oranges to make an attractive pot plant. The children could also use stickers to decorate their pot. Sleeping Seeds Ask the children to spread out, lie down on the floor and pretend to be seeds sleeping in the ground during the winter. Ask one child to move around the room and try to make any of the ‘seeds’ move, laugh or make any kind of sound without touching them. Any ‘seed’ which moves is ‘out’ and joins in trying to wake the other ‘seeds’ up. The game continues until everyone is awake or until the last sleeping seed is declared the winner.