There are SO many Christmas traditions out there. Elf on the shelf, opening a Christmas present each day, wearing matching Christmas pjs. The list goes on and on. But today, I wanted to share 10Christ-centered Christmas traditions that are great if you are wanting to make sure that you are including the Lord in your traditions with your family.
10 Christ-Centered Christmas Traditions for your Family
1.) Decorate together as family and include a nativity scene. It can be small or it can be large, just do it together and explain to your kids what it means. If there are any live manger scenes near you, I would highly recommend visiting those too.
2.) Sing Christmas hymns – Whether it is just with your own family, to neighbors or even to friends, we love to sing Christmas songs. It would be great to even volunteer at the local nursing home.
3.) Read the Christmas story from the Bible – This seems so simple, yet it can be so easy to forget when we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. It is my favorite story, and I even have a new favorite book version for kids that the girls love!
4.) Include your children in helping to go through unused toys they have in their rooms to donate to other children in need – This is the perfect time to involve your children. Have them go through their own unused or old toys, books and dads to donate. We tell them they are helping other children, and they always feel so good about it. Plus, it will make room for new toys that you know they will be receiving soon. Might as well make room and help others!
5.) Go to your church’s Christmas eve service together. This is a great time to hear the scripture and some great songs. It’s a great way to all worship together and go to sleep thinking about the grace and gift we have received.
6.) Buy The Giving Manger or The Shepherd on the Search – These are great ways for the kids to be involved, have some fun and also learn more about the true story of Christmas.
7.) Serve food at your local shelters – I have been waiting for Leighton to get a little older to join me on this one, but we did deliver grocery boxes from our church to neighbors this past month, and it made Leighton and Grayson so happy to be able to help others.
8.) Write letters to Jesus – If they can write to Santa, I bet they would love to write to Jesus! Let Him know about their year. What they’ve been up to, how they’re feeling, how thankful they are for his salvation.
9.) Put on your favorite Christmas pajamas and read daily devotionals together. I just recently bought this devotional for the kids, and I love that it is for the entire family, gives activities and has some good prompts for discussions. The kids put on their nativity pjs, and it is such a fun time!
10.) Celebrate Jesus’ birthday with cake – This is still one of my favorite traditions as a child, and I bet it will be your kids’ favorite too! Who doesn’t love this one? And it stuck out to me as a kid and still does now. Sing happy birthday to Jesus and eat the cake. It’s a tradition that everyone can love!
What do you think? Do you do any of these traditions? Any that I should add to my list? Let me know in a comment below!
