Keep Christ in Christmas: 3 Family-Friendly Activities to Honor Jesus Christ

There’s no better time of the year to teach our children about Christ than the holiday season. It’s not easy though with the constant hustle and bustle of making sure gifts are bought, decorations are put up, everything is coordinated with relatives flying in and everything else in between. Even if you found the time to talk to your children about your faith and how it relates to the holiday season, where would you even start? Here are a few traditions backed by educational research you can incorporate with your children to provide a spiritually enriching experience for them this holiday season. 

The Nativity Scene

There is arguably no other tradition more well-known among Catholic households during the holiday season than the nativity scene. Its origins have been widely debated, but one belief holds that the nativity scene finds its origins with St. Francis of Assisi who created one for the purpose of providing a visual aid for people to focus on the importance of Christ during Christmas. A nativity set has the potential for serving that same purpose in the 21st century as it also provides a hands-on activity for children. It also opens up the opportunity for a great story-telling session that has been backed by research to be an invaluable learning tool. Feel free to get creative using technology as well to provide a more attention-grabbing experience. 

Storytelling carries a plethora of benefits for learning thanks to its captivating nature. It increases vocabulary, fosters creativity and increases social skills, but it also helps with learning retention that helps ensure the story of Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas isn’t lost. Professor Denise E. Augusto recalls in her article published in 2016 “Why Storytelling Matters: Unveiling the Literacy Benefits of Storytelling,”  a four-week reading program that was conducted. One of the results they noticed from the study was that the students had enhanced memory recall. 

Make your own Jesse Tree

There are several studies that show hands-on activities can increase learning retention, improve attention and encourage teamwork and critical thinking. A Jesse Tree offers a ton of hands-on activity and lets your child express their creativity as they become familiar with the Old Testament and work their way towards the New Testament. 

Dedicate each day of December to an ancestor of Jesus Christ and read a passage from the Old Testament that focuses on them. Next, have your children unleash their artistic skills and decorate their own Christmas ornament that represents what you read of that ancestor. Continue doing this each day with your children until you make it up to the birth of Christ. There are several variations of how to make a Jesse Tree from a small tabletop Christmas tree to one made out of colorful paper that you can adorn your wall, or even your classroom with. 

      Advent Wreath

The tradition of the advent wreath has its roots in pre-Christian times when the lit candles would be used to symbolize hope for the return of the light after the winter solstice. We still look forward to the light, but it’s the true light of the world – Jesus Christ. There are several different variations of advent wreaths, but the concept is generally the same. A wreath surrounds three purple candles symbolizing hope, peace and love along with a fourth candle, usually pink or rose colored, symbolizing joy. There are some variations where there is a fifth holder for a white candle that symbolizes purity to be lit on Christmas day. Here’s how the tradition works:

-You light the first candle, which is purple, on the First Sunday in Advent and every day that week.

-The second week, you light the first two purple candles on the Second Sunday in Advent and do the same every day that week.

-On the Third Sunday in Advent, you light the first two purple candles plus the pink “joy” candle, and you light those same three candles every day that week.

-On the Fourth Sunday in Advent, you light the first two purple candles, the pink candle, and the final purple candle (four candles total), and you light all four candles every day that week.

-On Christmas Day, you light all of those candles plus the Christ candle, if your wreath has one. 

 It’s not uncommon for the candle lighting to be preceded by a brief prayer or devotional reading from the Bible. This beautiful tradition not only creates a warm family-centered atmosphere in the home, but also teaches your children the importance of their faith as they watch the light grow brighter every week signifying our hope that we have in Christ. It also has the potential to benefit everyone in the family on several fronts thanks to its weekly routine. A 50-year study published by the American Psychological Association shows that family routines and rituals can lead to improved family relationships, healthier children and improved academic performance. 

It can be difficult to help your children understand what the true meaning of Christmas is. If you feel stuck though, these simple,yet rewarding, research-backed traditions offer a starting point to lay that  foundation. Try incorporating them with your family this season and make an impact on not just your children, but generations to come.