I don’t know about your family, but my family is big on Christmas traditions. We always put the Christmas decorations up the day after Thanksgiving. We never open gifts on Christmas morning because every year we have Christmas breakfast at my grandmother’s house. As a kid, I loved these routines and rituals. I liked knowing that some things were consistent and would happen every single year.
Traditions are special because they are unique to your own family and because they are peppered with memories of years past. Often, our traditions happen accidentally and organically. One year, we do something we enjoy and someone says, “Let’s do this every year!” Sometimes, though, our traditions are more intentional. This Christmas, consider intentionally adding family traditions that point to Jesus. None of these require a ton of preparation, so it’s not too late to add them to the roster this year!
- Read the Christmas story.
This one may already be part of your Christmas celebration. Read the story of Jesus’ birth from Luke 2. If you have small children, consider using a Children’s Bible. (We like these two.) You could also act out the story, using yourself and your children as actors, or using your nativity set. Another fun interactive way to tell the story would be to have your children make sound effects. Remember to ask questions as you go along so your children will stay engaged and understand the story. - Pray for the families on your Christmas cards.
When you receive a Christmas card in the mail, make a point to gather the family and pray for those who sent it. You might do this each night at dinner, or save up the cards for an allotted time during the week. You might ask each member of your family to pray for a different member of the family on the card. - Serve others.
There are countless ways to serve others during the Christmas season. Chances are, your local church will have opportunities available. If not, strike out as a family. Head to a nursing home, a NICU, a hospital waiting room, or a local homeless shelter. Bring gifts, sing carols, offer to pray for families, or serve food. Be sure to check with the management before you go to see what is most needed and most enjoyed. - Give as a family.
Along with opportunities to serve, Christmas also brings in an abundance of opportunities to give. Encourage your children to save up in order to give to others (we like how the Platts do this). Select a child or senior adult from an Angel Tree and buy gifts for them as a family. Many grocery stores offer packaged meals to purchase for those in need. Look through catalogs like Compassion International or Samaritan’s Purse and explain to your children how a goat or shoes can make a difference in a child’s life overseas. Purchase something from the catalogs as a family. - Learn about the real Saint Nicholas.
Depending on your traditions and your children’s ages, you may want to wait until they’re older to talk about Saint Nicholas of Myra. There are countless legends and myths associated with this second-century bishop, but one thing is evident: Nicholas was a generous man who showed God’s love to those in need—particularly children. Those are wonderful qualities to imitate, especially during the Christmas season. - Listen to Christmas music.
Christmas songs and carols are rich in theology. Your young children may not realize it at the time, but they are learning lyrics that point to Jesus as the Hope of the world. Sing the songs as a family and as your children get older, consider going to a Christmas concert (We like Andrew Peterson’s Behold the Lamb of God and Keith and Kristyn Getty’s Christmas music). - Attend church services.
Church services during the Christmas season are a great time for children to learn the story of Jesus’ birth and the hope of His second coming. Familiar Christmas carols are often sung and there’s an opportunity to explain Advent to curious little ones. The candlelight service, while nerve-wracking for parents, can point children to the Light of the world.
Traditions are a fun way to bring our focus back to the real celebration of Christmas—that God Himself came to earth to rescue His people through His Son, Jesus. We hope that tradition is one that lasts years and years.
What traditions does your family have to point to Jesus during Christmas?
Elizabeth Hyndman is a content & production editor and social media strategist for Lifeway Women. You can follow her on Twitter @edhyndman. She also writes at her blog edhyndman.com.
