christingle service...roughly what happens? is it for young kids? do we need to make a christingle in advance?

[HowTheFillyjonkStoleChristmas]

and if so, what on earth is a christingle?

and should it actually be spelt christangle?

will there be carols?

[WigWamBam]

The only one I've ever been to was a short, informal service for children, with carols.

They are each given a Christingle (which is definitely how it's spelled!), which is an orange with a red ribbon around it, dried fruit shoved into it on four cocktail sticks and a candle in the middle.

The orange represents the world, the ribbon is the blood of Christ, and the fruit represents the fruits of the earth. The candle represents Christ as the light of the world.

[HowTheFillyjonkStoleChristmas]

excellent.

and is it fun? I mean, as much as such things are? For my strictly atheist kids (oh loooong story as to why i am taking my strictly atheist kids to a christingle)

[daisy1999]

our school are making "chris tingles" !

[WigWamBam]

It was nice - I wouldn't go so far as saying it was fun, but it was nice. Very Christmassy, made me feel a bit tingly.

I suppose it depends on the style of the Vicar, really.