Do You Include Any Religious Traditions In Your Holiday Celebrations?

**staceyy** · 12-11-2005, 12:35 AM

I enjoy Christmas, its my favorite holiday but I am sad to say that I don't really include any religious traditions in my celebrations. I don't attend any church services, I don't bake a birthday cake for Jesus, I don't own a nativity scene, I don't read the Christmas story etc. Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Christ yet I and many others seem to have forgotten this in our celebrations. I intend to get back to the basics and incorporate my faith into future celebrations. Do you remember to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas or has Christ gotten lost in the shuffle of your celebrations also? I'm looking for ways to incorporate religion in my Christmas celebrations. Any suggestions?

**canadian gardener** · 12-11-2005, 12:57 AM

Christmas Eve my mother always read to us the passage from the Bible describing the birth of Christ.

We often looked at colourful illustrated children's books that illustrated the Nativity.

There was one picture in particular that I recall to this day. The blue of the twilight, the light of the fire, the newborn baby. It was a realistic picture, no halos, but it always caught me, and I love any of the nativity scenes that remind me of it.

I like the passages about the birth of Christ, they are central to the faith side of the celebration.

In fact I could happily dump the other stuff, (family won't let me) and just keep my nativity sets, and books with that as a theme.

I've been teaching Romans to my ladies bible study this year (and part of last) and it's all about the meaning of the gift of God towards us.

I think you are right, finding the core, digging deep to the real meaning keeps the other stuff, the stress and strain from overwhelming the celebration of God's Grace to us in the form of His Son.

**Julia Kimber** · 12-11-2005, 07:25 AM

We have a nativity set and play carols and I reflect on the meaning of Christmas and hate the way it has become so commercialised.

Julia

**AmyMCGS** · 12-11-2005, 09:47 AM

I have two "good' nativity sets set up, and I also got my two year-old a plastic one to play with.

We always attend church Christmas Eve- even my DH, who doesn't go any other time of year. (DD and I go every week.)

I make it a point to send religious Christmas cards-- no "happy holidays" for me. After all, the entire reason for the holiday is Christ, so I figure the least I can do is remind people of that with my cards.

I'm looking for a good illustrated book of the Christmas story to read on Christmas Eve... but I haven't found what I want yet.

**Early Bird** · 12-11-2005, 10:31 AM

We do lots of little things that bring the true meaning of Christmas to our family:

As Christmas approaches, we have relevant readings -- and relevant sermons -- at church. A few weeks ago, the priest gave a sermon about how, even if the turkey is burnt, CHRISTMAS IS ALREADY A SUCCESS! Because Christ is among

Very heartening to the disorganized among us!

At church, and at home, we light an Advent wreath. Today is Gaudete Sunday, a day of joy, when we light the rose candle.

Here's more info on Advent wreaths: http://www.catholicculture.org/lit/a...iew.cfm?id=954

If you want a quick-and-easy way to incorporate the real meaning of Christmas, try this online Advent Calendar:

http://www.smmp.com/Advent/Advent.htm

Our family tries to get to Confession during Advent. (DONE!) And we participate in the church's Angel Tree program. (DONE!)

For decorating, DH bought a georgeous nativity set, hand-carved of olive wood. We also have the secular items -- the tree and the stocking and the Playmobil Advent Calendar. And the cookies and the gifts and the Christmas cards. But the nativity set takes center-stage in the living room.

We have only one decoration outside -- a star. If we put up any other outside decoration, it's a manger scene. Years ago, we noticed that there were far more secular decorations than religious ones. That's when we decided to go with outside decorations that reflect the religious aspect of Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, we'll put out luminarias to light the way of Christ (a common Southwest tradition).

And we'll go to Children's Mass on Christmas Eve.

**dina** · 12-11-2005, 01:41 PM

In our faith the recognition of the Chirst presence in the world and in all beings is considered the true meaning of "Chirstmas" -- not just the baby in the manger. We celebrate "Christmas" through the recognition of this presence every day of our lives.

Our Chirstmas is very quiet and low key. Basically we just wait for the season and all the wild partying and excess to be over. We do attend a few Chirstmas plays and musicals put on by other churches and we do go to Christmas Eve services. But we don't get into Santa Claus, Christmas Trees, gift giving (we give gifts throughout the year) and excessive eating and drinking.

Chirstmas is a "light holiday" and we sometimes have a small celebration around the concept of light -- there are many scriptures related to this. In the past we have lit candles representing the Trinity and the archangels -- not an advent wreath. This year we put up a few outdoor lights.

We don't make a big deal of our beliefs because it only makes others angry. But we will answer questions if asked.

**marym** · 12-11-2005, 02:36 PM

We have always had advent calenders for the kids. We still do even though the kids are grown and out on thier own. We always put up the nativity set, I am teaching my 16month old Granddaughter wich one in baby Jesus. We attend mass on Christmas eve or Christmas day.

**staceyy** · 12-11-2005, 10:35 PM

Thanks, I'm going to take some of these ideas and incorporate them into my celebration.

**Renee-2kids** · 12-12-2005, 01:16 AM

Christmas eve church
nativity set
birthday cake (first year for that)
religious Christmas cards
hyms
bought dd a book about giving gifts on Jesus' birthday (she's 2)

**mommymath** · 12-12-2005, 09:58 AM

We have a menorah which ds lights for every night of Chanukah (DH is Jewish) and read Chanukah stories for a bit of Jewish history ... we also observe some of the pagan aspects of the season, like the return of the sun. We celebrate the New Year in the Japanese style (clean house from top to bottom, well, at least thinking about it, mochi (rice cakes), offering to ancestors, ozoni soup). We also do have a tree and a visit from Santa, so ds gets a little of everything.

**dina** · 12-12-2005, 10:02 AM

You might want to look at the Buy Nothing Christmas site I posted separately http://www.buynothingchristmas.org

Don't worry it's not about being a Scrooge. It's from a group of Canadian Mennonites and is about simplifying and reducing stress. The alternatives page has some really good ideas.

**daddys3chicks** · 12-12-2005, 10:26 AM

We focus on Jesus more than Santa. We set out our nativity sets and talk about Christmas as being Jesus' Birthday. We attend service on Christmas Eve as well.