A campaign to make the UK’s 20 million Christmas trees a bit more meaningful this December has been launched by the company behind The Real Easter Egg.
To help parents, grandparents and godparents communicate the Christmas story to the next generation, The Meaningful Chocolate Company has produced the UK’s first ever interactive set of chocolate tree decorations, based on the characters of the Nativity story.
Each box of Meaningful Chocolate Tree Decorations contains a limited edition Christmas card, a sticker set and six hand wrapped, high quality, Fairtrade chocolate decorations. The Christmas story, which can be found on the card, enables adults or children to read the story while placing character stickers on the decorations. Once completed, the decorations can be hung on the tree as a reminder of the real meaning of Christmas.
David Marshall, from The Meaningful Chocolate Company, said “We estimate that most of the UK’s 20 million Christmas trees don’t have anything religious hung on them. The Meaningful Chocolate Tree Decorations are an opportunity to buy a gift that allows the telling of the Christmas story at home. The card also includes and invitation for people to go to church to hear the Christmas story. So, not only is it educational, it’s also a piece of evangelism.”
The Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, said: “I am delighted that, following the success of The Real Easter Egg, The Meaningful Chocolate Company has developed this great product which enables the telling of the Christmas story as well as supporting Fairtrade and charitable causes. This is a fun way for people to share that story.”
The Meaningful Christmas Tree Decorations cost £3.95. Orders can be made through www.MeaningfulChristmas.co.uk or exclusively from Traidcraft. Orders should be made by mid November 2011 as supplies are limited.
Pictured: The Meaningful Chocolate Tree Decorations with Paul Chandler from Traidcraft and David Marshall from the Meaningful Chocolate Company?Only 12% of adults know the Christmas story – and just 7% amongst 18-24 year olds. (ComRes survey see www.tinyurl.com/3byr2qt)
Christmas Trees
The use of evergreen trees to celebrate the winter season began before the birth of Christ. However, in Britain the custom of decorating trees to mark Christmas did not begin until Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s German husband, brought the tradition from his home land to Windsor Castle in the 1840’s. 161 years later it’s hard to believe that most of the UK’s 20 million Christmas trees have nothing religious hanging on them.
Contact
David Marshall on 07834 320 120, david@meaningfulchocolate.co.uk
Arun Kataria, Communications Officer, Diocese of St Albans, Tel: 01727 818110
The Meaningful Chocolate Company
Last year the Meaningful Chocolate Company launched The Real Easter Egg, the UK’s first and only charity Fairtrade Easter egg to mention the religious understand of Easter on the box. By Christmas 2012 the company expects to have helped raise over £60,000 for charitable projects, as a result of Meaningful Chocolate sales. Find out more at www.meaningfulchocolate.co.uk
Fairtrade and charitable
The decorations are made from high quality Fairtrade certified chocolate. In addition to paying the sugar and chocolate growers a premium for their ingredients, 15 pence from the sale of every Meaningful Chocolate Tree decoration pack will be donated to the charity, Traidcraft Exchange.
Traidcraft Exchange
Money donated to the Traidcraft charity from the sale of these decorations will help small-scale farmers and producers in the developing world gain the knowledge and confidence they need to trade their way out of poverty. Traidcraft works to create a world free from the scandal of poverty where all people and communities can flourish. Find out more at www.traidcraft.org.uk
Traidcraft Exchange – registered charity no 1048752
