If you are a Christian, Christmas is a pretty important holiday. It is the day we have set aside to honor His birth. Granted, no one knows exactly when He was born (probably in spring actually, as the shepherds were in the fields with their flocks)...what is important is that He came- He came to us in our vulnerability, in a vulnerable form, so that form might later be nailed to a cross so our sins might be atoned for. So the date honoring His birth is well worth celebrating. How can we add meaning to the celebration, when the world wants to make it a celebration of spending money instead?
It's too late to celebrate St. Nicholas Day, on Dec 6. (Next year, try it. Look up the St. Nicholas Center for some great ideas) But do sit down with your children and tell them about the man, who lived in 325 AD in the region now known as Turkey, who gave gifts to poor children, helped found hospitals and orphanages and was known for his devout faith. Tell them how this historical figure became known later as the caricature of Santa Claus (albeit with a little blending of European winter mythology thrown in.)
Use the Advent calendar- use the Advent wreath. Read the daily readings (check churchyear.net/advent for some ideas and suggestions) ...build up daily the story of the Nativity so your family keeps their mind focused on what is really being celebrated.
Make sure you have a Nativity set put up in your house. Make sure it gets a greater seat of honor than all the cute Christmas-y knick knacks. What your family sees you honor will have greater importance.
Go to Church.
When you set up the Nativity set, don't put all the figures in at once. Put the Wise men in one area of the house, the shepherds in another, and Mary and Joseph together somewhere else. As you read the nightly advent Bible readings, of the Nativty, allow your children to move the various pieces a little closer to the Stable (which represents Bethlehem.) On Christmas Eve, have Mary and Joseph arrive. Christmas Morning, have the children look for the Christ child, so that He may be placed in the Manger. Have the children move the shepherds into place then. If you don't celebrate Epiphany, put the Wise Men there on Christmas Day too....
BUT...if you want to prolong the festivities...celebrate the 12 days of Christmas. On Christmas morning, give your family members some of their gifts, but withhold 12 smaller gifts (maybe stocking stuffer types)...and each night following Christmas Day for 12 days, meet as a family and open a gift each. On the 12 Day, Jan 6, we celebrate Epiphany, which is the day set to honor the arrival of the Wise Men. (If you celebrate this, this is the time to move the figurines to the Nativity.) On this day, have a big meal, celebrate, and give three last gifts.
We need to remember that this day and season in the Christian calender is set apart to celebrate Jesus- so let's make sure He's honored yet another way. Have each family member write a pledge to Jesus as a "gift"...maybe that Mom is going to bake cookies for the lonely widows at the Nursing Home, or Dad is going to do the lawn care for the crippled Veteran down the street, or the child is going to help so and so....You get the idea. Wrap the Pledges (individually) in small boxes or pretty envelopes and tie them to the tree. On Christmas morning have everyone read what gift they are giving to others for Jesus on His birthday. If we give Jesus a gift, children especially will tie His birth more closely to what is so rapidly becoming a secular celebration.
Teach your children to honor the holidays of other faiths by being respectful to the adherents thereof, but to also expect the same respect given to their faith's holy days. We do not need to tear down any other faith (that's not what Jesus would want...remember...love thy neighbor) but we are expected to honor our own faith and we should expect others to do so. They won't always, but we can try.
-Beth Butler
It's too late to celebrate St. Nicholas Day, on Dec 6. (Next year, try it. Look up the St. Nicholas Center for some great ideas) But do sit down with your children and tell them about the man, who lived in 325 AD in the region now known as Turkey, who gave gifts to poor children, helped found hospitals and orphanages and was known for his devout faith. Tell them how this historical figure became known later as the caricature of Santa Claus (albeit with a little blending of European winter mythology thrown in.)
Use the Advent calendar- use the Advent wreath. Read the daily readings (check churchyear.net/advent for some ideas and suggestions) ...build up daily the story of the Nativity so your family keeps their mind focused on what is really being celebrated.
Make sure you have a Nativity set put up in your house. Make sure it gets a greater seat of honor than all the cute Christmas-y knick knacks. What your family sees you honor will have greater importance.
Go to Church.
When you set up the Nativity set, don't put all the figures in at once. Put the Wise men in one area of the house, the shepherds in another, and Mary and Joseph together somewhere else. As you read the nightly advent Bible readings, of the Nativty, allow your children to move the various pieces a little closer to the Stable (which represents Bethlehem.) On Christmas Eve, have Mary and Joseph arrive. Christmas Morning, have the children look for the Christ child, so that He may be placed in the Manger. Have the children move the shepherds into place then. If you don't celebrate Epiphany, put the Wise Men there on Christmas Day too....
BUT...if you want to prolong the festivities...celebrate the 12 days of Christmas. On Christmas morning, give your family members some of their gifts, but withhold 12 smaller gifts (maybe stocking stuffer types)...and each night following Christmas Day for 12 days, meet as a family and open a gift each. On the 12 Day, Jan 6, we celebrate Epiphany, which is the day set to honor the arrival of the Wise Men. (If you celebrate this, this is the time to move the figurines to the Nativity.) On this day, have a big meal, celebrate, and give three last gifts.
We need to remember that this day and season in the Christian calender is set apart to celebrate Jesus- so let's make sure He's honored yet another way. Have each family member write a pledge to Jesus as a "gift"...maybe that Mom is going to bake cookies for the lonely widows at the Nursing Home, or Dad is going to do the lawn care for the crippled Veteran down the street, or the child is going to help so and so....You get the idea. Wrap the Pledges (individually) in small boxes or pretty envelopes and tie them to the tree. On Christmas morning have everyone read what gift they are giving to others for Jesus on His birthday. If we give Jesus a gift, children especially will tie His birth more closely to what is so rapidly becoming a secular celebration.
Teach your children to honor the holidays of other faiths by being respectful to the adherents thereof, but to also expect the same respect given to their faith's holy days. We do not need to tear down any other faith (that's not what Jesus would want...remember...love thy neighbor) but we are expected to honor our own faith and we should expect others to do so. They won't always, but we can try.
-Beth Butler
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