The Smell of the First Christmas

by Stephen Hampton, Chase Campus Pastor

Isn’t it amazing how a smell can take you back to a memory? One smell that reminds me of Christmas is Frazier Fir Christmas trees. I had the privilege of serving on the Young Life staff for over 18 years, and the last 10 of those years I served as the Area Director of Young Life Huntsville. Young Life Huntsville has been selling Christmas trees as a fundraiser for almost 40 years. Every year, I would help unload close to 1,000 trees that God would miraculously sell over a 3-4 week period. I worked the lot many nights each year, and my daughters loved to spend time with me at the lot. They would climb the stacks of trees, roll down the big hill and drink hot chocolate. The smell of Frazier Fir trees and hot chocolate will always remind me of Christmas.

Have you ever wondered what smells would remind Joseph and Mary of Christmas? Maybe it would be the smell of hay or whatever was all over the floor of the room where Jesus was born. Or maybe the smell of the wood the manger was made from. Maybe it was the smell of the shepherds who came to see Jesus after he was born. Or it might have been the smell of the gifts given by the wise men:

“They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-11 – The Message)

Gold doesn’t have much of a smell, but frankincense and myrrh definitely do. I did a little research and found out that they are “derived from tree sap, or gum resin; both frankincense and myrrh are prized for their alluring fragrance.”

I believe that the fragrances of frankincense and myrrh would always remind Joseph and Mary of that first Christmas morning. What smell reminds you of Christmas?

Stephen Hampton, his wife Jane, and their three girls started attending Cove Church in 2001.  After 10 years as active members on the Hampton Cove campus, Stephen became the campus pastor of Cove Church @ Chase in June, 2011.