As the festive season approaches, many of us are looking for ways to keep the spirit of Christmas focused on its true meaning. Here are 21 ideas to help you create a Christ-centered holiday that the whole family will cherish.
1. Create a Nativity-Themed Living Room
Set up a beautiful nativity scene as the centerpiece of your living room. Growing up, this was always my favorite decoration, sparking conversations about the story of Jesus’ birth. Use different materials and styles to make it a unique focal point that reflects your family’s personality.
Products that could assist:
- Wooden Nativity Scene Set: A beautifully crafted wooden nativity set that captures the essence of the Christmas story and adds a charming focal point to your living room.
- String Lights for Nativity Display: Warm white string lights to enhance the ambiance around your nativity scene, creating a cozy and inviting glow.
- Decorative Lanterns: Rustic decorative lanterns to accompany your nativity set, adding a touch of elegance and traditional charm to your Christmas decor.
2. Advent Candle Devotionals
Each evening, gather around an Advent candle with your family for a short devotional. This tradition is a lovely way to wind down, reflect on the day, and anticipate the coming of Christ. In my home, it’s become a cherished time of peace and reflection.
A few things you might like:
- Advent Candle Set: A set of elegant Advent candles perfect for family devotionals, adding a warm and inviting ambiance.
- Devotional Book for Advent: A book with daily devotionals specifically for the Advent season, ideal for meaningful reflections.
- Christmas Table Runner: A festive table runner to enhance your family table setting, creating a more inviting space for gatherings.
3. Jesus-Centered Advent Calendars
Instead of chocolate, fill your Advent calendar with daily scripture passages or acts of service. I’ve found that this creates a sense of anticipation that’s more meaningful and connects us to the true essence of Christmas. It’s a wonderful way to keep the focus on giving rather than receiving.
Try these:
- Advent Calendar Kit with Pockets: A fabric Advent calendar with pockets to fill with daily scripture passages or small acts of service ideas. Perfect for creating a meaningful anticipation of Christmas.
- Scripture Cards Set: A set of scripture cards to insert into your Advent calendar. Helps keep the focus on the spiritual essence of the season.
- DIY Advent Calendar Supplies: Supplies for creating a personalized Advent calendar, including envelopes and decorative items to design your own unique calendar.
4. Sing Christmas Hymns Together
Gather your family to sing Christmas hymns and carols that celebrate Jesus’ birth. This is a tradition my family holds dear, as it fills our home with joy and a sense of unity. Singing together is a wonderful way to share the spirit of the season.
These products might help:
- Christmas Carol Songbook: A songbook featuring a collection of Christmas hymns and carols that celebrate the birth of Jesus. Perfect for family sing-alongs.
- Digital Piano Keyboard: A portable digital piano for accompanying your Christmas hymn singing. Great for those who love playing music together.
- Portable Bluetooth Speaker: Enhance your singing sessions with quality sound output using a portable Bluetooth speaker.
5. Gift Three Wisemen Presents
Give your children three gifts each, representing the gifts of the Wise Men: something joyful, something needful, and something meaningful. This practice helps us focus on thoughtful giving rather than an abundance of presents. It’s a minimalist approach that my family finds deeply rewarding.
Useful items to consider:
- Educational Toy: A fun and engaging educational toy that brings joy and learning together. Ideal for sparking creativity and curiosity.
- Cozy Blanket: A soft and warm blanket that is useful for keeping your child comfortable and cozy, making it a needful gift.
- Personalized Storybook: A personalized storybook that holds special meaning, fostering imagination and personal connection with the story.
6. Attend a Christmas Eve Service
Participating in a Christmas Eve service is a beautiful way to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It’s a tradition that grounds us in faith and community, and I always leave feeling spiritually refreshed. If you can’t attend in person, many churches stream their services online.
Some handy options:
- Decorative Nativity Set: A beautifully crafted nativity set that serves as a poignant reminder of the Christmas story. It adds a spiritual touch to your home decor and helps focus the celebration on the birth of Jesus.
- Christmas Hymn Book: A collection of traditional Christmas hymns perfect for singing along during a Christmas Eve service. Helps enhance the experience of worshipping from home.
- LED Candle Set: A set of realistic LED candles that provide a warm, flickering glow without the risk of open flames. Ideal for creating a cozy and safe atmosphere during a service at home.
7. Bake a Birthday Cake for Jesus
Celebrate Jesus’ birth by baking a birthday cake for Him. This simple tradition is a joyful way to remind young children of the reason for the holiday. My kids love decorating the cake and singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Jesus.
A few choices to try:
- Christmas Tree Cake Toppers: Decorative cake toppers featuring festive Christmas tree designs to enhance your birthday cake for Jesus.
- Colorful Birthday Candles: Add a pop of color to your cake with these vibrant birthday candles, perfect for celebrating Jesus’ birth.
- Non-stick Rolling Pin: A practical rolling pin that ensures smooth and even dough, making cake preparation easier.
8. Set Up a Jesse Tree
A Jesse Tree is decorated with symbols that tell the story of Jesus’ lineage. It’s a meaningful project that my family enjoys, as it connects the Old Testament stories to the birth of Christ. Each day, we add a new ornament and discuss its significance.
Some ideas to consider:
- Jesse Tree Ornament Set: A set of ornaments specifically designed for creating a Jesse Tree, each representing a symbol from Jesus’ lineage.
- Decorative Hanging Hooks: Sturdy hooks to easily hang ornaments on the Jesse Tree, ensuring they stay in place.
- Advent Story Book for Jesse Tree: A book providing daily readings and stories that correspond with each Jesse Tree ornament, enhancing the tradition.
9. Read the Nativity Story Aloud
Gather around and read the Nativity story from the Bible on Christmas Eve. This tradition is a soothing way to wind down before the big day and refocus on its true meaning. I treasure the quiet moments spent reading together as a family.
Might be a good match:
- Illustrated Nativity Story Book: A beautifully illustrated Nativity storybook that brings the biblical tale to life and engages readers of all ages.
- LED Flameless Candles: Create a warm and cozy atmosphere with these safe, battery-operated LED candles that flicker like real ones.
- Plush Throw Blanket: Stay warm and comfortable while reading with this soft, plush throw blanket, perfect for family snuggles.
10. Create a ‘Gift to Jesus’ Tradition
Each family member writes a gift to Jesus on a piece of paper, such as a promise or a goal for the coming year. We place these in a special stocking and read them aloud on Christmas Day. It’s a heartfelt tradition that encourages personal reflection and growth.
Explore these options:
- Decorative Christmas Stocking: A special stocking to hold the family’s ‘Gifts to Jesus’, making the tradition visually appealing and organized.
- Personalized Stationery Set: Beautiful stationery for writing heartfelt promises or goals, adding a personal touch to each ‘Gift to Jesus’.
- Family Devotional Book: Enhances the reflective aspect of the tradition by offering devotional readings for the family.
11. Volunteer as a Family
Spend time volunteering together, whether it’s at a local food bank or community event. This act of service helps us remember the importance of giving back, just as Jesus taught. My family finds great joy and fulfillment in these shared experiences.
You might like:
- Reusable Storage Totes: Durable and reusable storage totes are great for transporting donations to food banks and community events.
- Volunteer Organization T-Shirts: Matching T-shirts for your family can help create a sense of unity while volunteering together.
- Portable Snack Packs: Easy-to-carry snack packs to share with individuals in need during community service.
12. Make a Prayer Chain
Create a prayer chain by writing prayers or blessings on strips of paper, then linking them together. Each day, remove one and pray as a family. It’s a simple yet powerful way to keep faith at the forefront during the holiday season.
Consider these options:
- Colorful Paper Strips for Crafts: These colorful paper strips are perfect for creating vibrant prayer chains, bringing a lively touch to your holiday decorations.
- Glue Stick Set: An easy-to-use glue stick set that makes assembling your prayer chain simple and mess-free.
- Printable Blessing Cards: Pre-designed printable cards with blessings that can be used as a beautiful addition to your prayer chain.
13. Watch a Nativity Movie
Spend a cozy evening watching a Nativity-themed movie together. It’s a family tradition that combines entertainment with education, sparking discussions about the story of Jesus. We always make popcorn and settle in for a heartwarming experience.
Items that may come in handy:
- Nativity Movie DVD or Blu-Ray: Enjoy a classic Nativity movie on DVD or Blu-Ray for a traditional viewing experience, perfect for family movie nights.
- Microwave Popcorn Variety Pack: Create the perfect movie night atmosphere with a variety pack of microwave popcorn, offering assorted flavors for every taste.
- Cozy Fleece Throws: Snuggle up in soft fleece throws to stay warm and comfortable during your Nativity movie night.
14. Create a ‘Giving Manger’
Encourage acts of kindness by filling a manger with straw or paper strips for each good deed. This visual reminder helps children understand the importance of giving, just as Jesus gave to us. It’s a tradition that has made kindness a central theme in our home.
Give these a look:
- Wooden Nativity Stable: A charming wooden stable to serve as the Giving Manger, perfect for creating a visual centerpiece that encourages acts of kindness.
- Crinkle Cut Shredded Paper Filler: Colorful shredded paper to use as straw, filling the manger with each good deed. Helps children visualize their acts of kindness.
- Acts of Kindness Cards for Kids: A set of cards with ideas for acts of kindness, designed to inspire children and make filling the Giving Manger a daily activity.
15. Hide & Seek with Baby Jesus
Play a game of hide and seek with the baby Jesus figurine from your Nativity set. Each day, find where He’s hidden and move Him closer to the stable. This fun activity keeps Jesus at the forefront of my children’s minds throughout the season.
A few suggestions:
- Nativity Set with Baby Jesus Figurine: A beautifully crafted Nativity set that includes a delicate Baby Jesus figurine perfect for your holiday tradition.
- Christmas Indoor String Lights: Enhance your Christmas decor with festive string lights to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for your hide and seek game.
- Children’s Christmas Story Book: Engage your children in the story of Christmas with a beautifully illustrated storybook to complement your family traditions.
16. Write a Christmas Card to Jesus
Have each family member write a Christmas card to Jesus, expressing gratitude and love. This practice encourages personal reflection and helps us focus on the spiritual aspects of the holiday. We place the cards in a special place to read on Christmas Day.
Maybe worth checking out:
- Christmas Card Set: A set of beautiful Christmas cards to express gratitude and love. Perfect for the whole family to write messages to Jesus.
- Decorative Candles: Enhance the spiritual atmosphere with decorative candles while writing your Christmas cards. Adds a warm and peaceful touch.
- Nativity Scene Display: Set up a nativity scene to remind everyone of the true reason for the season. Encourages reflection as you write your cards.
17. Host a Family Blessings Night
Gather your family to share personal blessings from the past year. This tradition fosters gratitude and brings us closer, as we reflect on the ways God has touched our lives. We sit by the fire with hot cocoa, making it a cozy, heartwarming evening.
Possibly handy products:
- Cozy Fleece Blanket: A warm, cozy fleece blanket perfect for snuggling by the fire during your blessings night.
- Christmas String Lights: Create a warm and inviting atmosphere with decorative string lights that add a festive touch.
- Ceramic Hot Cocoa Mugs: Enjoy your hot cocoa in style with these beautiful ceramic mugs, making the evening extra special.
18. Make a Nativity Scene with Play-Doh
Engage the kids by crafting a Nativity scene using Play-Doh. This hands-on activity opens the door for storytelling and discussion about Jesus’ birth. It’s a creative way to teach and remind children of the true meaning of Christmas.
You might give these a try:
- Play-Doh Modeling Compound: A versatile and colorful modeling compound that is perfect for sculpting a Nativity scene. It encourages creativity and fine motor skills in children.
- Nativity Scene Craft Kit: A craft kit with molds and tools designed to help shape characters and elements of a Nativity scene, making it easier for children to create detailed figures.
- Children’s Bible Story Book: A storybook that narrates the birth of Jesus, perfect for explaining the significance of the Nativity scene as children craft.
19. Read a Christmas Book about Jesus Each Night
Select a collection of Christmas books focusing on Jesus, and read one each night. This quiet time helps us wind down and keeps the story of Jesus’ birth central. It’s become a calming bedtime tradition in our home.
Check these products out:
- Children’s Christmas Books About Jesus: A collection of beautifully illustrated children’s books that focus on the story of Jesus’ birth, perfect for nightly reading.
- Cozy Throw Blanket: A soft and warm throw blanket to keep you cozy during your nightly Christmas book readings.
- Decorative String Lights: Warm, decorative string lights to create a calming ambiance during your reading time.
