12 Ways to Bring the Spirit of Christ into Christmas

To wrap up our week of traditions, Guest Blogger Lara shares 12 Christmas traditions to help bring the spirit of Christ into your homes this Christmas.

1.  Plan your own 12 days of Christmas service for a neighbor or someone who could use a little TLC  (click here for some ideas)

2.  Make this Christmas Scripture Advent Calendar.  Even if it's past December 1st, you can make it today and pick up wherever you're at. 

3.  Christmas in Bethlehem dinner (we usually do it right after Christmas when life has calmed down a bit)

4.  Service chain--Instead of a countdown to Christmas chain, make a service chain out of strips of paper and a stapler.  Family members add a link every time they perform an act of service for someone.  We like to make a goal to have the chain reach a certain length and then we will go on a fun family outing together.

5.  Print off these Christmas Eve devotional books (that include songs, scriptures, and pictures) and spend about half-hour on Christmas Eve singing and reading the scriptures together

6.  Instead of gingerbread houses, make a graham cracker and candy creche scene with graham crackers, candy, royal icing, and toothpicks.

7.  Year by year drawings--Each year have your children draw a Nativity scene, then have them date and sign them and keep them in a binder as a scrapbook.  It will be fun each Christmas  to look back at the progression of their scenes.

8.  Watch inspiring videos and musical performances--if not in person, then on the internet.
Here's one of our favorites this year.  We also like this one and  this one.  


9.  Using supplies and toys you can find around your house, have everyone create their own nativity.  Here's the one my daughter made from Lincoln Logs and her dolls.  Next we are going to try this gorgeous nativity art project. 

10.  Go to the library and check out a variety of meaningful Christmas books and read one each day in December.   (this one, this one , and this one are a couple of our favorites and here is a link to my Christmas picture book review)

11.  If you live near one, visit your temple visitors' center's Christmas displays and performances.

12.  Invite the missionaries to your home to share a Christmas message.  Even better...invite a friend too!

Thanks to Lara for all these fun ideas!  Find more of Lara's great ideas at "Parenting in the Latter-days" featuring wonderful parenting and printable FHE ideas.  (http://thegoldenseven.blogspot.com)

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Traditions: Joshua the Shepherd

Guest Blogger Nicolina shares her family's Christ-centered Christmas tradition, a fun rendition of Elf on the Shelf.

Long before there was a book about elves and shelves, my mother-in-law created an elf.  She used the elf as a tool, and she told her kids, "He's watching you so you better be good".  As a young child my husband would look forward to seeing where the elf moved during the night.  He really tried being good when he was in the same room as the elf.  

A few years ago my husband and I were talking about Christmas traditions, and we decided to spice ours up a bit.  Christmas is a magical time of year.  Young children find that magic to be so real.  We talked about the elf tradition. This was just about the time it was catching on, but we didn't want Christmas to be all about being good for Santa.  Christmas is about being selfless, and I didn’t want our children so focused on being good only so they can get many presents from Santa

One night we were brainstorming, and we came up with Joshua, our Shepherd.  We decided to have a shepherd that would come and remind us to serve each other, to tell us the Christmas story, to give us insight into Bethlehem and who lived there long ago, and to teach us more about the Savior. 

And so every year, once our tree is up, Joshua the Shepherd arrives and we cut a sheep out of construction paper.  He brings "sheep puffs" (aka cotton balls) and every time there is an act of service performed we get to put one puff on the sheep.  Sometimes we have several sheep.  Sometimes we have one big one.  But every year on Christmas Eve, before the birthday of our Lord, Joshua takes the sheep home with him and adds it to his flock.  

 

Like the elf, Joshua moves about the house.  He leaves notes, stories, or scriptures. And we are able to remember the Savior, and the Christmas season.  

This idea will morph as my children age.  He may bring stories to read every day. Perhaps one year he will bring a character out of the Nativity Story each day and we will learn all about that person.  He might leave personalized notes to my children.

We still like Santa, and Santa still visits our house on Christmas day.  But he has become a small part of our Christmas traditions.

After telling my sister-in-law about our tradition she said, "I love it, but I think I'm going to do an angel!"  Then I began thinking… what about a wise man, or a donkey, a sheep, the star, or really anything for the Nativity?

Each year I relearn that Christmas is as good as we make it to be.  I’ve learned this time of year requires effort, love, and service.  And the more I do those things for others, the more I feel the magic of the Christmas season. 

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Traditions: Christmas Adam

Guest Blogger Cali shares her family's Christ-centered Christmas tradition.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions growing up was getting together with my cousins for Christmas Adam.  What is Christmas Adam you might ask?  It’s the day before Christmas Eve, of course!  I guess it’s more of a date than an event…  In any case, on Christmas Adam, we gather as a family to reenact the nativity: the children dress up and act out the Christmas story as an adult narrates, we sing carols, eat treats, and enjoy family time.  My parents started this tradition over 20 years ago and now I’m passing it on to my own children.

Although we don’t live close to extended family, I continue the tradition by inviting a few friends and neighbors to help fill out the roles.  I even sewed costumes a few years ago.  Acting out the nativity is fun because it works well with kids of any age.  (Although with lots of kids, be prepared for a bit of chaos with your holiday cheer.)  You can adjust the narration to be longer or shorter depending on the attention span of your children.  Here is an example of a script that I used the last few years – I read from the scriptures, directing the children as we go along, with some group songs interspersed.

 

My youngest brother Caleb often chose to be the donkey carrying Mary to Bethlehem – he even had a donkey hat to wear.  One year when we were choosing parts, my little cousin declared that she wanted to be the star.  At first my mom thought she wanted to be the star of the show, but in fact, she wanted to be the star, guiding the wise men to Jesus.

Acting out the story of Jesus’ birth is a fun way to invite the Spirit and an excellent occasion to bring family and friends together.  I always feel the Holy Ghost as we read from the scriptures and sing Christmas Carols.  One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Joy to the World.”  I definitely feel joyful thinking about the birth and life of Jesus Christ.

Reference:

Read: Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-2, 7-11

Christmas Adam Script

By Guest Blogger: Cali

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Traditions: Christmas Star

Guest Blogger Sarah shares her family's traditional Christmas gift to Jesus.

Christmas is a wonderful time for many family traditions.  When the kids were younger I wanted to find some way to get them thinking about the “true meaning” of Christmas.  In that attempt, we decided to give Jesus a present on his birthday and follow the example of the wise men in the Bible.  Our present to him came in the shape of a star.

We just made a simple star out of poster board and then cut up an equal amount of little poster board pieces to fill in the star.  When we first started this tradition the kids would color a piece of the star each time they did something nice for someone else.  As the kids got a little older and could start to write on their own, we would have them write out what act of service or nice deed they did and put it on the star.  The kids have always enjoyed this tradition and would often go out of their way to do nice things for people in the home as well as outside of the home.  If they did something at school they would come home and tell me what it was and then write it out.

Each year our family, cousins included, acts out the Christmas story on Christmas Eve.  We then use that star as our new star that shone the night Jesus was born.  On Christmas morning we read through all of the nice deeds everyone has done throughout December as our gift to Jesus.

 “Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him... And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2; 1-11).

Merry Christmas!

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Silent Night: Finding Christ through Music

What traditions invite Christ into your home for Christmas? 
Guest blogger Kristy shares her family's music filled traditions.

“Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.  Round yon virgin, mother and child, Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in Heavenly peace, sleep in Heavenly peace.”¹ The Christmas season has always been my most favorite time of the year.  I look forward to it all year long!!  I am one who starts putting up decorations much earlier than many would deem appropriate and playing Christmas music only in December is just not nearly enough time for me!!  Our family has so many wonderful holiday traditions that bind our family together and help us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. We have found that our most memorable Christmas seasons are those centered on the Savior and when we can feel the Spirit with us. 

Music has always been a large part of our Christmas celebration.  One of our children’s earliest memories is listening to my grandmother playing Silent Night on her violin on Christmas Eve.  The music was so beautiful and the spirit so strong that not a child stirred as she played.  Music continues to be a large part of our Christmas Eve celebration.  Each year after dinner we all gather in my parent’s living room and each of the grandchildren sing a carol or play a song on the piano or other instrument.  The “Talent Show” gets better each year and brings such a warm spirit into the room.  After the performance we all sing a few carols together to get warmed up for our traditional caroling to a few of the neighbors.  We have a specific few we visit each year. 

Another favorite tradition of our family is to go to the Washington DC Temple and see the amazing light display and attend one of the nightly concerts in the Visitor’s Center.  Each year the lights seem more beautiful than the previous year.  There is such a peaceful spirit at the Temple and our visit there helps us to focus on the Savior as we celebrate his birth.

Music has a way to touch our souls and inspire us that the spoken word alone cannot do.  As our children have had the opportunity to sing in Church or perform with various school and church choirs we have seen the powerful impact that music has had on their testimonies.  They have been able to feel of our Savior’s love as they sing hymns and other sacred pieces.  I think of the many times I have sat and listened to Christmas Carols and the joy and peace it has brought to me.

Music has always been and will always be a major part of our Christmas traditions.  It brings us closer to our Savior.  The beautiful words and melodies serve to remind us of His birth and the example of pure love he has provided for us.

“Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight.  Glories stream from heaven afar.  Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ, the Savior is born.  Christ, the Savior is born.”¹

Reference:

1. Hymn, “Silent Night”

By Guest Blogger: Kristy

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Christ Centered Christmas Traditions

“It is the most wonderful time of the year,” and I love it! There are friendly greetings with checkers at the grocery store, extra waves of ‘hello’ from neighbors and passersby, and happy gift giving. I love to pull out my Christmas decorations, drink hot chocolate, and shamelessly stream Christmas music. It is also a time when my thoughts focus on Christ.

However if we are not careful, Christmas can also become too busy and stressful; there is so much baking to do, and calendars are filled with so many good things to fit in before December 25th. 

Our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, said, “And yet, Christmas is what we make of it. Despite all the distractions, we can see to it that Christ is at the center of our celebration. If we have not already done so, we can establish Christmas traditions for ourselves and for our families which will help us capture and keep the spirit of Christmas.”

This is what I hope for… Though it is fun for kids to fantasize of elves working hard in the workshop, I try not to emphasize Santa and his sleigh of presents.  I do try to emphasize the Savior and his birth through our holiday celebrations.  I hang up the picture of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus that first Christmas, and I pull out our nativity sets- for decorations and reminders.  I tell the story of Christ’s birth, and I try to teach my children what Christmas is really all about… our Savior, love for others, and giving good gifts.

I began a new tradition a few years ago when my mother-in-law gave me the book “A Christ-Centered Christmas” by Emily Freeman.   I love her simple ideas on how to make our Christmas traditions Christ-centered. She talks about each of the characters from that first Christmas, their roles, and their gifts to the Savior.  It has helped me to see Mary, Joseph, the Angel, the Shepherds, the Wise Men, Simeon, Anna, and the Baby Jesus in a slightly new light, and I treasure their contributions. It has inspired me with new ideas and ways I can follow their examples. Each year I re-read this book and ponder what gift I might give to Christ this year.

President Monson said, “As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always.”²

We invite you to share with us your Christ-centered Christmas traditions. We hope as we share ways to remember Christ in this season, you might find something that will help you to better remember our Savior and the miracle of his birth.

1. President Thomas S. Monson, “Because He Came” Dec. 2011

2. President Thomas S. Monson, “In Search of the Christmas Spirit”, Ensign Dec. 1987

Published by: McKell

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