Each year we have certain traditions that our family follows during this time of the year. Then there are new ones we start and old ones we decide not to do anymore.
So what do we do for Christmas?
First off we celebrate the birth of Christ. How do we do that?
We do a daily Advent (the last 2 years we have done Truth in the Tinsel). Daily we read about the leading up to and the birth of Christ and then we do a craft accompanying the lesson. My kids make Christmas ornaments about the birth of Jesus.
We do have a Christmas tree (a little one) that is only decorated with our Advent ornaments, homemade ornaments or ornaments the kids made at church.
Something new we started this year, for the month of December our homeschooling for history we are learning about the Biblical history of Christmas using The Arrival of a King.
Something new we started this year, for the month of December our homeschooling for history we are learning about the Biblical history of Christmas using The Arrival of a King.
This year I decided not to do Christmas stockings. Each year my kids get too much "stuff" so I have decided to cut back.
Our family goes and sees a live Nativity or a Christmas show of some sort.
We do not celebrate santa or anything else other then the birth of Jesus in our home. I do not judge anyone who does do santa, it's a personal conviction that I have and stick by it.
This year we did decorate our house on the outside with a few strands of lights and a snowman that lights up - kind of plain compared to our neighbors!
On Christmas Eve my kids and I gather in the kitchen and make our Savior a birthday cake.
We drive to a local neighborhood that has blocks and blocks of beautiful Christmas lights. It is a fun time family time which we look forward to each year.
At our Community Bible Study our kids get up on stage and since Christmas songs to us moms (that will be this Wednesday). It's a time where most of us moms have our cameras out and are all teared eyed!
Our homeschool group goes to a local nursing home and our kids sing Christmas carols to the elderly and read the birth of Christ to them. What a blessing this is to see these elderly folks and their smiles.
This is our 1st year doing Awanas, I am a leader for my 2 older boys class and we are having a party for them. Treating them to pizza and snacks.
On Christmas Eve we go down to my parents house which is an hour south of us and spend Christmas Eve. I have a large family, we all meet there and enjoy dinner together which my mother spends cooking all day. My stepfather is Cuban, she cooks a Cuban feast which I look forward to all year long!
Christmas Day we wake up and read the birth of Christ using What God Wants For Christmas. My parents drive up to our home and spend Christmas morning with us opening gifts and having breakfast.
Christmas evening we go to my cousins house south were we enjoy a nice Christmas meal together and the kids open a few more gifts. There we sing Happy Birthday Jesus and have birthday cake.
December flies by with so much to do. Through it all I try not to lose site of Who and what it's really all about! Jesus!
What are your Christmas traditions? I would love to hear about them! Please leave a comment and share! If you disagree how our family celebrates you are entitled to your own opinion but please remember Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Luke 6:37
Thank you for sharing your traditions. I love reading your blog too!
ReplyDeleteSuch wonderful memories you are giving your children. We like to drive around and look at lights as well.
ReplyDeleteWe have waffles on Christmas morning BEFORE opening gifts!
ReplyDeleteWhat cute traditions. We do a big fish dinner the night before.
ReplyDeleteWhat what wonderful ways you have been celebrating.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! Happy holidays!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat great ways to celebrate. We bake a birthday cake for Jesus as well and this year we are doing a the "SUV" Polar Express and driving around looking at lights. Thanks for sharing !
ReplyDeleteSuch fun traditions! We have a ton - its our favorite time of the year!
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to go to a live nativity but haven't done it yet. I can only imagine how special that is!
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas and traditions. We see Christmas lights and bake a cake for Jesus on Christmas. We decorate inside but we don't always decorate outside because it is a pain. I love doing Christmas crafts with the kids.
ReplyDeleteWe share alot of the same traditions:)
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful traditions! I love that you make Jesus a birthday cake in Christmas eve.
ReplyDeleteThese are great traditions. We don't have many except for visiting lots of family members houses. Which is a tradition in itself but I'd love to start a few of our own.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have many traditions which celebrate the true meaning of the season!
ReplyDeleteWhat great traditions you have! Thank you for sharing them with us! One tradition that I have carried from my childhood is opening one gift on Christmas Eve. It was always holiday pajamas so that we could wake up and have a comfy breakfast together! That is something I do with my girls every year too!
ReplyDeleteLove your traditions! Here are some of ours
ReplyDeletehttp://momedy.blogspot.com/2011/12/its-beginning-to-look-lot-like.html
We also do the 12 days of Christmas for one or two families each year. We do it anonymously and I think that is my kids' favourite tradition of all :)
Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBusy and fun ways to celebrate! Your children will have wonderful memories for years to come!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the "true" meaning of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThese are lovely traditions! Thanks for sharing, I wish more people would focus on what the holiday is all about. Have a blessed CHRISTmas!
ReplyDeleteAwesome traditions. I went to Awana with a friend once. It was a little different, since I'm Catholic - But it was fun.
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