Wrapping Paper And Swaddling Clothes -- Christmas Covers

Baby Jesus swaddled and lying in a manger at night with a bright star shining above — Baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger [mage by Jeff Jacobs from Pixabay]

During Christmas, something will get covered. The question is what. In our materialistic world, people tend to focus on things, specifically presents which are covered in wrapping paper. But for Christians, a person provides the meaning for the season, not a thing. The focus is on the baby covered in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger in Bethlehem. The Christmas covers of wrapping paper and swaddling clothes provide something to ponder at this time of year.

Wrapping Paper As A Christmas Cover

Christmas equates to ringing cash registers for retailers. The five biggest shopping days in 2024 were predicted to be Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), the second Saturday in December, the Saturday closest to Christmas, December 23, and the day after Christmas. Now known as Super Saturday, the Saturday closest to Christmas holds the distinction as the busiest shopping day of the year. In 2020, for example, consumers spent $36.1 billion on that day alone.

And what happens to all this merchandise bought as gifts on these big shopping days? It must be wrapped, of course. Annually, Americans spend $9.36 billion simply on gift wrap. According to estimates, to meet this demand the US produces about 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper each year. Sadly, most wrapping paper isn’t recyclable since it contains glitter and metallic materials. As a result, about half of the wrapping paper produced, amounting to some 2.3 million pounds, ends up in a landfill.

Rolls of wrapping lie on a table with scissors, ribbon, and already wrapped presents — Pretty wrapping paper serves as the Christmas cover for material gifts [Image by Mirka from Pixabay]

Swaddling Clothes In The Christmas Story

The familiar account of the Christmas story in Luke mentions a specific cover associated with the baby born that day. According to Luke 2:7, when she gave birth, Mary wrapped her newborn in swaddling clothes and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. Interestingly, Luke is the only gospel to mention the detail of the baby’s clothing.

And swaddling clothes came up again when the angel appeared to shepherds in the field. The heavenly being announced the baby’s birth to them. Further, the angel told the shepherds in Luke 2:12 that they could find the child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

Illustration of a dark night with an angel appearing to the shepherds with their sheep in the countryside — The angel told the shepherds they’d find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger [Image from Wikimedia Commons]

Swaddling Clothes Explained

In ancient Middle Eastern cultures, including the Jews, swaddling an infant was a standard practice of caring for babies. It involved wrapping a newborn tightly in soft cloths in the form of strips probably made from linen or wool. The snug wrapping helped to restrict movement and to provide security and comfort with the tight strips replicating the feeling of the womb. This covering extended down from the baby’s shoulders to his feet, with legs being extended and arms close to the body. Swaddling clothes remain in use today due to their effectiveness.

Baby swaddled in white clothing lying on a red background — Wrapping paper may be pretty, but swaddling clothes are practical and still in use today [Image from Wikimedia Commons]

In ancient cultures, seeing a swaddled infant indicated the baby’s receipt of proper care. Mary’s care of Baby Jesus using this practice showed her love of and attention to her child. Conversely, lack of swaddling clothes pointed to neglect. In Isaiah 16:4-5, God describes Israel’s poor state prior to His care, stressing the absence of such clothing. God made sure when His Son arrived on this earth that proper care was provided for Him.

Significance Of Swaddling Clothes

Many scholars view the swaddling clothes covering Baby Jesus as a connection to and foreshadowing of His death and of his wrapping in burial cloths. John 19:39-40 describes Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus wrapping Jesus’ body in linen strips in preparation for burial.

The practice of swaddling also relates to Jesus as the sacrificial lamb. The Temple priests required unblemished lambs for sacrifice. Specially trained Levitical shepherds raised these lambs to ensure the absence of blemish. As part of the shepherds’ care of these lambs, they wrapped the newborn lambs in swaddling clothes, just like the practice for newborn babies, to protect them from harm.

Decision Between Wrapping Paper And Swaddling Clothes

Each individual must decide the point of his focus during Christmas. The choice lies between wrapping paper (things) and swaddling clothes (Jesus). Wrapping paper entices attention with its pretty colors and shiny elements. But even more dazzling to focus on is Jesus’ swaddling clothes in the manger. Wrapping paper is temporary—ripped off, thrown away, and destined for a landfill. Swaddling clothes, however, signify the eternal life available by Jesus’ birth at Christmas for the purpose of dying later to save all who accept Him. A Christmas cover has never been more important than that.