Christmas at the Grand Canyon: A Spiritual Journey for the Devout
Countless individuals discover the profound significance of the holiday during the annual candlelight service.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz.—Hanes Swingle first peered down at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon when he was just eight years old.
At that tender age, he remarked that the wonder and splendor of nature often go unnoticed.
There were presents to purchase and trinkets to take home.
Beauty belonged to adults.
“It was a completely different perspective as a child,” noted Swingle, a visitor from Tennessee, reflecting on those distant years as an adult.
Now, on his third visit to the Grand Canyon, he perceives the shadows in the rock formations differently. The colors resonate differently. The emotions are altered. He has transformed.
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“It’s simply breathtaking, akin to being inside a grand cathedral,” Swingle expressed.
At a Christmas Eve service at the Grand Canyon Community Church, 71-year-old Swingle lit a candle to honor the holiday’s significance, not far from the iconic landmark.
Pastor Michael Paddy has served as the resident minister of the interdenominational church for over two years. He believes there is a profound spiritual energy and connection to the land, irrespective of one’s faith.
For the last four decades, the church has hosted a candlelight service on Christmas Eve, with the pastor delivering a sermon tailored to the theme each year.
This year’s message was titled “Christmas in a Bag.”
Inside the bag were sweets, fudge, cookies, and a bright red-and-white Santa hat, which he donned for visual effect.
As he unveiled these items from a blue shopping bag, Paddy reminded the more than two dozen attendees that the holiday’s materialism and embellishments can sometimes overshadow its true essence.
He emphasized that while these elements are not inherently wrong, they should be contextualized within “why we’re doing it, what we’re celebrating.”
Visitors admire the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona from an observation point at sunrise on Dec. 24, 2024.Allan Stein/The Epoch Times
“We aim to transform Christmas in my bag into Christmas in the Bible,” he articulated, encouraging everyone to “remember the real reason for the season.”
“Christmas at the Canyon is a deeply beautiful experience,” Paddy remarked to The Epoch Times. “My focus is not on how ancient the Grand Canyon is, but rather: How is your soul?”
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon exhibits a blend of color and shadow on Dec. 24, 2024.Allan Stein/The Epoch Times
Some Christians believe the Grand Canyon is as old as the earth, roughly 6,000 years, as noted in the Bible.
All agree on the immense natural force that is the canyon, which spans over 1.2 million acres and extends 277 miles long and is 18 miles wide at its widest point.
Michael Paddy, resident minister at the Grand Canyon Community Church in Arizona, on Dec. 24, 2024.Allan Stein/The Epoch Times
The Colorado River has been laboriously sculpting the canyon’s steep sides over millions of years.
Designated a national park in 1919, the Grand Canyon now attracts over 5 million visitors annually.
The park, situated approximately 7,000 feet above sea level and 60 miles north of Williams—known as the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon”—is open year-round. Many visitors prefer to celebrate the holidays at this landmark to avoid the summer crowds.
“I find something miraculous when someone stands in front of that canyon,” Paddy remarked. “The beauty and grandeur coexist with a vast array of spiritual beliefs.”
Pastor Michael Paddy showcases a Christmas stocking to highlight the material aspects of the holiday during a candlelight service at the Grand Canyon Community Church on Dec. 24, 2024.Allan Stein/The Epoch Times
Native Americans attribute unique spiritual significance to the canyon’s pastel-colored walls, Paddy shared.
“I remain in awe every single time I see it,” Paddy affirmed.
Samantha Escamilla, a visitor experience specialist with the Grand Canyon Park Service, noted that there are fewer visitors during the holiday season compared to the summer months.
Visitors maintain a safe distance from a pronghorn deer at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, on Dec. 24, 2024.Allan Stein/The Epoch Times
“From what I’ve heard,” she observed, “people often book reservations a year ahead just for the holidays.”
“Some return each Christmas without fail.”
Michael Yuan, visiting from Maryland, shared that while he’d previously visited the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, this was his first encounter with the South Rim at sunrise, and it was “incredible.”
For Swingle, celebrating Christmas amidst the Grand Canyon is both a unique and unforgettable experience.
Visitors look over the edge at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on Dec. 24, 2024.Allan Stein/The Epoch Times
“I’ve walked along the canyon’s edge, driven by, and gazed in. I hope to venture into the canyon deeply enough to say I’ve truly experienced it,” Swingle told The Epoch Times.
It had been 40 or 50 years since his last visit. “I can tell you, it’s a completely different experience and appreciation,” he reflected.
The Grand Canyon is “God’s creation,” Swingle declared. “And Christmas harmonizes perfectly with everything in creation.”
