I have looked forward to this post for months as it’s been penciled into my blog schedule. Yet I have lost count of the number of times I’ve sat down and tried to write it. Although Christmas literally means “the Christian celebration of Christ’s birth”, talking about how our family strives to have a Christ-centered Christmas can come off as judgmental. As if I’m telling you this is the right way to celebrate Christmas. So I guess that’s how I’ll start–with a disclaimer. Our family chooses to celebrate the holiday season by having a Christ-centered Christmas. That’s what works for us. It does not mean that the way that you choose to celebrate Christmas is wrong. This post contains affiliate links, all opinions are my own.
simplifying our season
For our family having a Christ-centered Christmas means to simplify our holiday season. Simplifying the season is something that I’ve been working on the past few years. I think that the term simplifying confuses some people. When I’m talking about simplifying our season I’m talking about refocusing and reprioritizing. As I plan out our Christmas festivities and the various things that we have planned I ask myself three questions. First of all, does it allow us to spend quality time together as a family? Secondly, is this a tradition we truly look forward to all year? Thirdly, does it bring us closer to the Savior? Because ultimately Christmas is about Christ, everything else is extra fluff. Sure, it’s nice and it’s fun. However, it might not have any real value, especially during a time of year that tends to be overly busy.
Christ-centered giving
A couple years ago I shared some of the major ways that we focus on the Savior. I try to share the things we do during this time of year to make our Christmas more Christ-centered. I mentioned that on Christmas morning each member of our family has three gifts waiting for them under the tree. Each of us opens something joyful, something needful, and something meaningful. These three gifts represent the three gifts that the Wise Men brought to the baby Jesus– gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Did you know that each of these gifts that were presented had a special meaning? Gold was a gift meant for royalty. Myrrh was a common incense that represented Christ’s humanity. Frankincense was a incense that was used in the temple and represented His divinity.
By following a similar gifting pattern our family has been able to simplify our gift giving. But it has also helped to keep this aspect of Christmas centered on Christ. As we each take turns opening our gifts we talk about which gift it is that we’re opening–joyful, needful, or meaningful. This helps to reinforce why we’re opening our gifts. It also slows our busy Christmas morning down so it’s more than a flurry of wrappings and discarded trinkets. I use a grid system to keep organized as I purchase Christmas presents and I made one for you too! Take a look and you’ll notice there are four columns, I use the last one to keep track of stocking stuffers. Obviously you can feel free to use it in any way that works for your family.
some ways our family has a Christ-centered Christmas
- When planning our holiday activities we ask if each activity will allow us to focus on family, traditions, and Christ. In this was we can simplify our season.
- When we decorate the tree we discuss the importance of the star on top.
- We read Celebrating A Christ-Centered Christmas with our children. We’ve adopted some of the traditions and practices found in A Christ-Centered Christmas.
- Before we do anything else on Christmas morning we read the Christmas story from the book of Luke.
- When opening presents we do so one at a time and discuss the meaning behind the gift we’re opening.
Over the years as I’ve shared about our Christ-centered Christmas I get the same remarks in my inbox over and over. “I love this idea! I’ve been wanting to do something similar but I’m not sure how my husband/kids/extended family will take it”. I totally understand that, it can be tricky. Having kids who don’t “believe” in Santa Claus means you constantly have to remind them that “everyone celebrates and believes differently”. After all, despite what others sometimes think I would hate if my kids “ruined the magic” that another family has worked so hard to create.
Family members have often thought we’re silly over the years. That’s okay though, what’s most important is that you and your spouse are on the same page. Our family is lucky because we’ve always celebrated our Christmas this way so it’s all our kids know. Others who are used to having their Christmas a certain way might need to be sat down and talked to if you want to make a change.
22 Responses to our family’s Christ-centered Christmas
I love this so much! So true that sometimes people get caught up in it all, but going back to the reason we are celebrating is what it’s all about!
This is such a beautiful idea and I completely love how you honor Christ on Christmas! The gift ideas are also fantastic!
We are not as religious as your family but it is great that there are options for everyone.
I think your ideas of simplifying, focusing on family time can apply to anyone. I think it’s great that you are sharing your way of celebrating a Christ-centred Christmas in an open way, I think your ideas will inspire others.
I love this! And she is adorable- love the bow!
these are great. I love the willow creek nativity set too.
what great books to help guide you guys!
This is the cutest little book!! I love this, what a fun idea!
I grew up in a traditional American Christian and my parents made efforts when we were younger to make things Christ-centered (like having a birthday cake that said “Happy Birthday Jesus” and reading the passages about Jesus’s birth). I still enjoy celebrating it as an adult and identify as a Christian. But sometimes wish our parents had also familiarized us with the original pagan origins. Mainly because in high school an atheist friend challenged me by pointing out it was a “kidnapped pagan holiday” and I didn’t know how to defend my point of view. He brought up numerous historical facts about how it was indeed regularly celebrated as the Winter Solstice in Roman times (with feasting, gifts, evergreen bows, etc.), which was basically renamed and adapted after Constantine converted Rome to Christianity (in order to keep the holiday but align it with Rome’s new religion). Which is similar to what Rome did when it took over Greek religion and culture (keeping what they liked and converting it to fit their needs). He had some good points, like how it wasn’t celebrated by the Christians in the New Testament and how Christ called his followers to remember his sacrifice, not his birth (which was mainly documented to help trace his genetic line to David and how he fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy). I was more than a bit blindsided by it, because I wasn’t aware of the actual history. I can admit Christmas was a bit of a “kidnapped holiday” in many senses. Looking back, now I would probably have answered that while celebrating a December 25 Christmas isn’t specifically biblical, there are other modern ways we as Christians celebrate and honor our faith that aren’t mentioned in the Bible. Like modern media, musical instruments and other things that the early Christians didn’t utilize but modern Christians have found ways to purpose for worshipping and performing ministry. And that for most Christians, it is now a remembrance of the Old Testament prophecy being fulfilled. I think someday that is something I hope to find a way to incorporate into family traditions. And this is absolutely no criticism of how other people choose to structure their holiday traditions or any kind of criticism of my parents. Just how I’m feeling inspired to think about crafting traditions with a family someday as you’ve done with your own!
Thanks for your thoughtful response!! There’s definitely a lot of history surrounding the Christmas holiday.
We love everything about Christmas!!! Thanks for the opportunity to get these books!
I love hearing how others celebrate, thank you for sharing. Great ideas to keep Christmas Christ Centered, it is so easy to lose sight during this hurried and busy season.
our fave tradition is being with the family christmas eve and day. I love when the whole family comes together. I know a lot of people say they fight with their families but we just are so happy we have the time together.
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