New Life Christmas Traditions

We asked people at New Life Church what special traditions they had for celebrating the season. These are traditions they shared with us that help them keep Christ in CHRISTmas.

  • We wrap a present for Jesus with an opening in the top. Then we write down gifts to Jesus on a slip of paper and put them in the box. On Christmas morning, we open Jesus' gift first, and share with each other what they have given to Him.
     
  • As early in the season as possible (hopefully at the first decoration), we set up our home manger scene. We have the children take turns (by a draw) putting the different characters in the scene as the story is read. (P.S. - Have a durable crèche so that it can be handled and touched all through the season.)
     
  • On Christmas day each family member writes, individually and privately, on a piece of paper an area of their life that they wish to give to the Lord. We place the papers in an envelope and seal it until the next Christmas. Then, when the next Christmas arrives, open the envelope and share what it was that we had given Him, what had happened during the year, and how we had grown in that area.
     
  • We give only three gifts to each child to represent what the wise men gave to the Christ child. It cuts down on the amount of presents and sounds really "spiritual" too.  ;>
     
  • We write down a gift of "time" to someone else in the family. We give these "time gifts" on New Year's Eve.
     
  • Our family makes a birthday cake for Jesus and then we sing "Happy Birthday," explaining to your children the precious reason for the Christmas celebration.
     
  • We take the children to a nursing home with cookies and songs to share.
     
  • Before we open presents on Christmas morning, we read the Christmas Story from Luke 2. Then we stand hand in hand and pray and thank Jesus for His birthday.
     
  • If your child constantly asks "How many days until Christmas?", try this variation of a Cherokee ceremony for children: Tie knots in a rope, one for each day remaining until Christmas, and hang it on the child's doorknob. Each night, untie one knot. This has become a much-loved family tradition in our home.
     
  • We insert "work chores" and "fun chores" into red and green balloons. Examples: "Help clear the table and share a favorite Christmas memory," "Serve the dessert and hug the person on your left," "Take extra chairs back to the kitchen and tell about your best Christmas ever," and "Relax, put your feet up and take a nap." We blow up the balloons and then tape them overhead at Christmas dinner. Have long, curly ribbons hanging from each one. After dinner, each person pulls a ribbon, bursts the balloon, reads the note and does what it says. Children and adults both love this, and it can become a family tradition for Thanksgiving as well.
     
  • We have several young children, so we pick up inexpensive gifts at yard sales . . . a typical price is $1.00. During the holiday season, our kids do special chores in exchange for "Mommy Money." Just before Christmas, we set up "store," setting out gifts we have pre-selected for one child at a time. The kids come and buy using "Mommy Money." Little kids enjoy earning and giving gifts, older kids enjoy saving money, and parents enjoy the extra help they get from kids.
     
  • We spread the gift opening out over many days. This avoids the frenzy of opening all gifts on Christmas day and feeling let down after the "rush." Our pattern is one gift on Christmas Eve, two on Christmas day, and one every day thereafter.
     
  • Each day during the holiday season, we place Christmas cards that we have received on our dinner table. At dinner, we pray as a family for the people who sent the cards. If your children are young, talk about the needs that the person or family may have before prayer. (Toddlers' prayers are indeed precious!)
     
  • Our family sets up the manger scene on December 1st, but we place the wise men on the other side of the house. Every day as Christmas approaches, our children move the wise men closer to the manger. It's fun to see where the wise men appear each day as Christmas draws closer. I've found them staring back at me in the shower, on the way down the stairs, and in the flour canister!

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