Traditions and Activities

Ideas for traditions or activities for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, not in order of importance. In fact, the best one may be last.

1) Adorenaments are good to do with children, maybe ages 6-12. The lessons/stories are a little hard to understand for younger children, but they like to hang the decorations on the tree. Adorenaments are good reminders for adults too.

2) Advent is very spiritual. Here are some resources, in case you are not very familiar with Advent.

http://www.spirithome.com/advent.html

http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/adx/

http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/christmas-prayers.html

3) Go to the post office and look at the various postage stamps commemorating the birth of Jesus. Buy some of the stamps that you think glorify Christ the most. Use them on Christmas cards, if you send them out, and all of your mail during Christmas.

4) Order Chrismons and make them with your children.

5) Think/talk about the following characters in the Bible.
Zechariah and his song (Luke 1:68-79)
Elizabeth
Their son, John the Baptist
Joseph
Mary
The shepherds
The angels who were present
The Magi
Simeon and Anna (Luke 2)

6) Attend a Christmas gathering at church, e.g. Christmas play, concert/cantata, candlelight service, etc.

7) Have a Christmas party or invite a family over and read Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah's coming, or the Christmas story, or New Testament passages very related to Christmas. See our Scripture page. Also, maybe include Prayers and Spiritual Sayings related to Christmas.

8) Go caroling and sing only spiritual Christmas songs.

9) Choose a Christmas card which glorifies Christ and send them out. Here are some example cards which glorify Christ. Just click on the thumbnail image to enlarge it.

Links to Christmas card sellers on the Internet. You should be able to find nice spiritual Christmas cards on one of these sites.

http://www.chapelgifts.com/
http://www.designcrafters.com/greeting_cards/christmas_cards/religious/
christian_christmas_cards_1.html
http://www.cardsdirect.com/religious-christmas-cards.aspx
http://www.inhisname.com/ChristmasPages/Cards1.htm
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_sp?sp=71961

10) Go to the website of the Web Gallery of Art and look at some of the ancient European artwork done to commemorate Christ's birth. After you get to their site, go to the Search page and search the following terms:
Annunciation
Nativity
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration of the Angels
Adoration of the Magi
Adoration of the Kings

11) When you give a Christmas gift to anyone, tell them in your own words that you are giving it because God gave the greatest gift by giving His Son Jesus to us to come to the world to save us from our sins, if we believe in Him. Make it ceremonious and traditional. Read more on our Gifts page.

12) As you decorate, especially the tree, make a ceremony out of it. Talk about the spiritual meaning behind each decoration. See more on the Decorations page.

13) Buy good Christian books and read them, with your kids if appropriate. See our Books page.

14) Go help someone who is poor and needy, if you are financially able. Since you have Internet access, you should have no trouble finding someone poorer and needier than you are. Share with them.

15) Think about spiritual Christmas music. Maybe go to a Christian bookstore or download spiritual Christmas music. Be sure to see our Songs page before doing this.

16) Talk with your family about how you can honor Christ more this Christmas, and next. See our Focus on Christ page.

17) Pray with your family about spreading the good news about Jesus throughout the whole world. See our Evangelism/Missions page.

18) Intentionally turn away from things on our Second-rate Christmas page.

19) Have a family meeting and brainstorm new, unique traditions that honor God. Our family, for example, came up with the idea of watching the sunrise on Christmas day to represent the Son coming into the world.

20) Have girls also do a "dance of lights" to celebrate that Christ came into the darkness of the world to bring light. We found some battery-operated Christmas lights which look great when you string them from hand-to-hand over the shoulders. Then dance in a dark room. It might sound corny, but it's great.

21) Rather than centering your Christmas gatherings around gifts for kids. Make the most important part be a celebration honoring Jesus in your family or extended family gathering. It's best done at night, if you want to do things involving lights. It's perfect before giving a gift. Here is a ready-made Christmas celebration that you can easily do:
a) Read John 1:1-14
b) Have some girls do the "dance of lights" as described above
c) Read Luke 1:5-25
d) Sing the first verse of "God rest ye merry gentlemen"
e) Read Luke 1:26-56
f) Sing the first verse of "Joy to the world"
g) Read Matthew 1:18-25
h) Sing "Silent night"
i) Read Luke 2:1-7
j) Sing "Away in a manger"
k) Read Luke 2:8-20
l) Sing "Hark the herald angels sing"
m) Read Luke 2:21-39
n) Sing "O come all ye faithful"
o) Read Matthew 2:1-23
p) Sing "The Little Drummer Boy"
q) Light candles, everyone hold one.
r) Read John 3:16. Read Matthew 5:14-16. Explain that we are to share the good news about Jesus with others.
s) Talk about the spiritual decorations that are on the Christmas tree and/or in the house or yard.
t) Explain that we give gifts because God gave us the greatest gift by sending His Son to earth to show us how to live, and then to die for our sins.
u) Give gifts in honor of Jesus.
v) Have a feast in Jesus' honor. Maybe include a birthday cake for Jesus, if you have young children.

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