CHRISTmas Traditions

(originally from Sandy Theile)

Gifts to Jesus

Jesus gets a Christmas stocking, too! His hangs in the center of the four for each member of our family. Each family member is responsible for writing out their gift to Jesus and placing it in the stocking. On Christmas Eve we get together and each share our gift to Jesus with the other members of the family. We follow with prayer and singing traditional Christmas hymns.

We wrap a present for Jesus with an opening in the top. Then we write down gifts to Jesus on a slip of paper and put them in the box. On Christmas morning, we open Jesus' gift first, and share with each other what they have given to Him.

On Christmas day each family member writes, individually and privately, on a piece of paper an area of their life that they wish to give to the Lord. We place the papers in an envelope and seal it until the next Christmas. Then, when the next Christmas arrives, open the envelope and share what it was that we had given Him, what had happened during the year, and how we had grown in that area.

Read the Christmas Story

After the Christmas Eve service we gather family around the fireplace, and read the Christmas story, passing the book around to each person to read a page. After we finish the story, we go around the room giving each person an opportunity to give thanks to the Lord in prayer.

Birthday Party for Jesus

The first thing Christmas morning we have a birthday party for Jesus complete with birthday cake and song, this year we will add balloons, decorations and presents (the presents will be given to less-fortunate children), reminding everyone, the birth of Jesus is the REAL reason for the season. We have a birthday cake for Jesus. The cake is chocolate, representing sin. It's filled with cherry pie filling, representing the blood of Jesus, and it's covered with white frosting which represents our new life in Christ."

Christmas Chain 

A chain made with 25 red and green paper loops is a visual way to count down the days until Christmas.  Each day a child can tear off a loop.  Making the chain—on the green links, write things for which you thank God (pets, food, laughter, etc) on the red links, write the names of friends/family members.  Use the link each day for a time of family prayer.  On green days, give God thanks for each item, and on red days, ask His blessing on a loved on.

Only Three Gifts

We give only three gifts to each child to represent what the wise men gave to the Christ child. It cuts down on the amount of presents and sounds really "spiritual."

Nativity Scenes      

One of the things we do in the days before Christmas is place our nativity figures all over the house. The empty manger is placed under the Christmas tree. As the days get closer to Christmas, the figures are moved closer to the manger. The first thing my kids open on Christmas morning is a wrapped Baby Jesus to remind them that Jesus is the best gift we can ever receive!"

Our family sets up the manger scene on December 1st, but we place the wise men on the other side of the house. Every day as Christmas approaches, our children move the wise men closer to the manger. It's fun to see where the wise men appear each day as Christmas draws closer. I've found them staring back at me in the shower, on the way down the stairs, and in the flour canister!

Collect 24 nativity pieces—Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men, angels, sheep, goats, donkeys, cows, etc. Keep all the figures in a basket and on each day of Advent, have children take turns adding another figure to a nativity scene displayed in a central place.  Some days, read an appropriate passage of Scripture.  As they place each figure day by day, the story of Jesus’ birth unfolds before their eyes.

Yule Log  

If you have a fireplace, make a fire using a hardwood log.  Have family members write on slips of paper the things they are sorry for that happened during the past year—they can either share them with the rest of the family or choose to keep them private.  Then, one by one, drop them in the Yule flames to symbolize the freedom in Christ we have from sin.  When the log finally burns out, save a piece of it to start next year’s Yule log.

Alternate Sleeping Arrangements

We realized that Mary, Joseph and Jesus did not have it easy that first Christmas, and we wanted to remember that. Each Christmas Eve we give up our beds and sleep on the floor together to remember what they must have endured. Our children are young enough at this point that they think it is fun and different, while we often feel it in our older backs. Each year they understand a little more the sacrifice that Mary and Joseph made, and at the same time we do enjoy the cozy family time.

Baby shower for Jesus 

Host a baby shower and invite attendees to bring baby gifts to be donated to a local charity. Play the usual shower games and celebrate the chance to show love to a poor child whose family lacked even a bed in which to lay Him.

Making the Baby’s Bed 

Put the names of all family members in a bowl and on each weekend of Advent, have each family member draw a name.  Throughout the week, do kind deeds for the person whose name they selected, without revealing their identity.  For each kind act, put a piece of straw in a make-shift manger (shoe box?)  Each weekend, draw a new name.  The goal is to see how full and soft you can make your manger.  This activity helps kids focus more on others than themselves.

At the dinner table 

At special holiday meals, set one extra place—for the Christ child.  This is a concrete reminder to children that Christ is always present with us.

Place a different figure of the nativity in front of each family member’s place at the table.  Ask each person to share what the character might have felt at the birth of Christ.  Ask what each character gave out of love for Jesus.  Encourage conversation about ways each can show love at Christmas because of Jesus’ great love for us.

Focusing on Others

Just as shepherds and wise men visited Jesus and his family, make Christmas a time of visiting friends and family members, especially those not often seen.  Involve children in making some small gift or greeting card to take as you visit.

Don’t forget this old-fashioned activity of Christmas caroling.  Be sure to sing at the homes of shut-ins who may be especially lonely this time of year.  Children can learn the names of elderly church or community members whom them rarely see, and they can experience the joy and thankfulness these people feel.  It can be a marvelous giving experience.

For one week during December, have a simple meal of soup and bread.  Then send the money saved on food to a food shelter or other charity.  What a good way to help children share their hearts with a needy world!

Treasure Hunt 

Type up the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke, and then cut it into strips, verse by verse.  Hide the strips of paper around the house.  Then draw a treasure map, with a star to indicate where each piece of the story is.  Once the kids find all the verses, have them put them in the correct order to read out loud. 

A Jar Full of Blessings 

Throughout the year, as God answers a prayer, have kids write it down on a slip of paper and put it into a jar.  During Advent, let the children take turns reading all the blessings God has provided.

Christmas Pantomime

On slips of paper write down activities from the Biblical narrative of the nativity that can be mimed, such as:  Joseph and Mary on their way to Bethlehem, the innkeeper turning away Joseph and Mary, the wisemen following the star, etc.  Then take turns pulling a slip of paper and acting out the activity while others guess what he/she is doing.

Manger instead of a tree

Instead of having a Christmas tree be the focus of your holiday decorations, use a manger instead.  Use a large doll in a box or a cradle.  Consider using evergreen branches instead of straw and put lights around the manger.  Then put your gifts around the manger.  This helps even the youngest child understand that Jesus is the real center of Christmas.

Holiday Placemats

Using a 12 x 18 construction paper, help children design and make place mats for the family. Use old Christmas cards to cut out pictures and verses to be pasted on the place mats. Laminate or cover with clear contact paper when done.

Advent Pledge

 At the beginning of Advent, give older kids a chance to sign this pledge:

This advent I commit myself…

To remember those people who truly need my gifts,

To express my love for family and friends in more direct ways,

To look for chances to share what I have—whether time, talent, or concrete objects—with those who have less than I

To examine each of my holiday activities in light of the true spirit of Christmas

To initiate acts of peacemaking within my circle of family and friends

To keep Christ at the center of each day as I prepare my heart to welcome His coming.

Holiday Memories (not really Christ-focused, but create great memories)

Don’t let the Christmas season go by without taking pictures of your family.  Each Christmas, take photos in the same location, such as in front of the Christmas tree or sitting around the table ready for Christmas dinner.  A yearly set of photos focused on the same events and locations provides many opportunities to build happy memories and recall Christmas celebrations year by year.

Throughout the holiday season, use a video recorder to periodically have kids tell about the day’s happenings and also to reflect on the past year.  On Christmas Day, watch the tape as a family.  You might also want to make copies to send to relatives who are far away.  Next year at Christmas, listen to the previous year’s tape to remind children of past memories and show them how they’ve grown.  Continue to use the same tape each year.

After Christmas is over, but before you put your decorations away, compose a letter to each of your children.  Write about what you remember about them and the progress they've made during the past year and place in their stockings.  On the day you put away Christmas decorations, ask your children to look in their stocking again.  The older kids can read their letter, but you may need to read it to younger ones.  Or if your child is an infant, keep the letter until he/she is older.  Make sure to pack these letters away and send them back to your child when he/she is in college or on their own!    

What ideas do you have about keeping Christ at the heart of Christmas?