One I found on CafeMom... I have taken 25 Christmas Children's books (about Jesus' birth) and have wrapped them (we had a BUNCH on our shelves, and the dollar store and discount sections at Christian bookstore finished collection). Every day in December, we unwrap and read one book
Gifts: I think it is important that the girls are included in gift giving (showing love to others) even at a young age. So, Emily helped me make gifts in a jar for family and we're giving Handpring gifts (tote bags and plaster of paris pictures) with both girls' stamp!
PJs: Every Christmas Eve we wear matching PJs, pop popcorn, and read the Christmas Story from Luke around the tree. Then, I play piano and we sing Christmas Carol Hymns, pray together and head to bed.
Lights: I love the way Christmas lights remind us to be a Light in the Darkness. Well, we are really blessed in our community. There is an entire neighborhood decorated with lights that tell the story of Christ (from birth to resurrection)! We always include that in our Light-Seeing Tours!
What are your fun traditions?
Let's talk about New Year's Eve... come to: http://www.cafemom.com/group/happynewyear
Kayla's 1st Christmas! Emily's 3rd Christmas!
My grandma started that tradition in our family and we keep it going!
Let's talk about New Year's Eve... come to: http://www.cafemom.com/group/happynewyear
Kayla's 1st Christmas! Emily's 3rd Christmas!
The BEST Top 20 Christmas Traditions List Ever!
that has the full description of these traditions, but here are just a few...feel free to check out the full descriptions on my homepage:The Gift of Love
The Blessing Ornament
The Priceless Gift
The Live Nativity
Jesus Birthday Cake
The Christmas Envelope
The Christmas Kindness Box
The 3 Gifts of Jesus
The Story by Heart
If you want me to post the full details on any of these...let me know, but these are the ones that have the most Christian meaning to the Christmas Season behind them.
I especially like the 3 Gifts of Jesus... that would be a great post of its own. I don't want to copy it and take credit for your idea. Thanks!
You are Invited to join: Christian Celebrations http://www.cafemom.com/group/christiancelebrations
Kayla's 1st Christmas! Emily's 3rd Christmas!
Gift of Love
This is a very special gift
That you can never see.
The reason it's so special is,
It's just for you from me.
Whenever you are happy,
or even feeling blue.
You only have to hold
this gift and know
I think of you.
You never can unwrap it
Please leave the ribbon tied.
Just hold the box close
to your heart;
It's filled with love inside.
Take a small box or decorative bag and put some die-cut hearts inside, sprinkle a little glitter and blow kisses in the bag. Attach this is the poem for the perfect gift from a little one this Holiday Season!
The Blessing Ornament
Each Christmas we choose our biggest blessing of the year and go together to buy an ornament that reflects it. Some are easier than others. Our wedding was easy to find and ornament for. But the second year we were married our blessing was we were able to pay off all of our debt. It was hard to find something to represent that, but we finally found a monopoly guy carrying a sack of money. Anyway, it's just a nice tradition and its fun to sit down with dh and reflect on our year and go find something together.
The Priceless Gift
Take an empty box, wrap it in wrapping paper, and then tie with a ribbon.
Attach this note to the box:
I took an ordinary box
As empty as can be
I filled it with a special gift
And wrapped it carefully.
But please don't ever open it
Just leave the ribbon tied
And hold it tightly near your heart
Because my love for you's inside!
The Live Nativity Story
Get a nativity scene that has at least a Mary, Joseph, donkey, manger, and a baby Jesus that can remove from the manger. Keep Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in a hidden place for now. Even the wise men and shepherds could be set out in different places to signify where they may have been before their journey. One week before Christmas, start Mary and Joseph with the donkey on their journey to "Bethlehem" (wherever the stable is). Each night after your kids go to sleep, move Mary and Joseph a little closer to Bethlehem. Encourage the kids to find them each morning when they wake up. This helps the kids realize there really was a journey involved. They couldn't just "drive" there in a day. On Christmas Eve Mary and Joseph arrive at Bethlehem. And, of course on Christmas morning the real excitement happens! Baby Jesus is found in the manger! Praise God for His precious gift to us!
Jesus’ Birthday Cake
Our family makes a little cake together. After it's baked our family decorates the cake and we then sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and celebrate the birth of Christ!
The Christmas Envelope
It's just a small white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It is left there each year with a special gift for someone else, someone in need. Each year there is GREAT anticipation, as this is the best gift our family gives each year!
The Christmas Kindness Box
December 1st is the perfect time to start your family Kindness box for the Holidays. Wrap a shoebox as if it were a present, then cut a slot in the top and place the box, along with a pencil and pad of paper, on the dining room table or under your Christmas tree. When someone in the family notices someone else being kind they should write the act down and slip the note in the box. Young children can participate as well, by either drawing a picture or telling a parent what they saw and having them jot down the kind deed. On Christmas Eve, open the Kindness box and read the notes aloud. This is a wonderful way to take the focus off presents, and put it on something we all value.
The 3 Gifts of Jesus
Instead of doing lots of gifts with little meaning, do 3 with the same meaning as the gifts given to Jesus. Gold, Incense and Myrrh. The Gold gift should be the one of the most value, not necessarily the most expensive, just the one that is the most desired. The Incense gift should be something to help the receiver worship or use their gifts. Examples might be an instrument, a book, art supplies, etc. The Myrrh gift should be something that you “put on” like soaps, lotions, perfumes or even clothing. Before the gifts are given, the story of the Wise Men should be read to remind everyone about the TRUE gift of the season!
The Story by Heart
Each year recite the story of Jesus birth together as a family. For young children, practice with them beforehand so that eventually, the whole family can recite the most important story written by heart!
Thank you for sharing them!
You are Invited to join: Christian Celebrations http://www.cafemom.com/group/christiancelebrations
Kayla's 1st Christmas! Emily's 3rd Christmas!
We would need to get a Santa Suit for DH to wear and I will video tape him acting like he's crawling out of the chimney and leaving toys, then I will have the Bible out by his cookies and santa will sit down to snack and he'll make it a point to take time to read the Christmas story in Luke and then he'll bow his head to pray, then fill the stockings and head back up the chimney, I'll cut it off just as he's sticking his leg in you know..and the next day we;ll show Beth our "secret footage" we got of Santa the night before and make it a point for her to see that he loves the Lord...what do yuo guys think?
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- iluvcallalilies
on Dec. 10, 2007 at 7:24 PM