Earlier this week I shared with you traditions that we follow in our own home to help us keep Christ in Christmas. Here are some other ideas that were passed along to me from various Catholic families.

The Advent Tree

In previous years I’ve waited until the last minute to decorate, cook, etc, but that puts a huge strain on the season in those final days of Advent. This year I wanted to keep Advent as a waiting period and a time of penance, but also try to avoid the last minute rush. This is what we’re doing this year.

Once “Pink week” comes this Sunday (the third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday) we will slowly begin to decorate (dragging it out for the next 2 weeks) since “pink week” invites us to recognize the hope and joy to come. But our biggest change is we have our tree up and decorated with wonderful PURPLE balls, silver garland, and PURPLE and PINK lights. I saw all these things at Target and now we have an “Advent tree!” This way our tree is up and ready to go and is getting the water it needs. Closer to Christmas we’ll take down the purple and put up the Christmas decorations. (From KF of CA)

Christmas Letters

An old Catholic custom is the writing of “Christmas Letters” by the children. These letters, addressed to the Child Jesus (NOT Santa Claus) are written or dictated by the little ones some time before Christmas. They contain their wishes concerning Christmas presents, petitions for various intentions, and a promise of sincere effort to please Our Lord in preparation for Christmas. When they go to bed, the children put their letters on the windowsill, from where “angels” take them during the night to bring them to the Child Jesus in heaven.

This charming custom helps the parents to impress on the minds of their little ones the importance of a sincere spiritual preparation and at the same time great confidence in God who is concerned with our temporal and spiritual needs. Parents who favor this custom will often be deeply touched when they discover that some of their children put more stress on spiritual graces than on material gifts even on an occasion like this. I t can also alert parents to the need for more guidance and direction toward this goal. (From LD of CA)  (Bobbi’s note – Love this idea! I’m doing it this year!)

The Baby Jesus Crib

Our family bought a small ceramic baby Jesus in a wooden crib. Baby Jesus is put away until Christmas Day but in order to prepare a comfy bed for Jesus we have “sacrificial hay”. I cut thin strips of brown construction paper and placed them in a box underneath the table that holds Jesus’ crib. Whenever any family member does a good deed, they get to put a piece of “hay” in the manger. At first the kids would announce proudly their placement of hay but after awhile I noticed them slipping away quietly to place a piece of hay for Jesus without recognition. I’m sure that made Baby Jesus very happy! (From JD of CA)

Taking the Stress Out of Advent and Christmas

As for Advent, we are doing things quite different this year. Every year we have always gotten out all the Christmas decorations and the tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. This year we got out some decorations for the fireplace and the stockings for St Nick Day. (Dec. 6) Everything else, will be put out the 3rd week of Advent (pink week) as we show signs of Joy! Our tree will go up the third week also or we might wait for Christmas Eve.

We have several Advent calendars and our Advent wreath, which we gather around every evening as a family to light the candles and say our Advent prayers. We emptied our basket of reading books in the living room and filled it with religious, advent and Christmas books.

We have been celebrating the special feast and Holy days as a family. We celebrated St Nick with stockings in the morning filled with several religious gifts and a few small treats, then read books about him. We celebrated The Feast of the Immaculate Conception with Mass, prayers, and the SPECIAL book called Angel in the Waters. We will also try to celebrate other special days this month.

We have been talking everyday about the presents we are going to give Jesus, and have been trying to teach the kids that these are gifts we can give him all year long( being nice to brothers & sisters, helping Mom or Dad without being asked, saying extra prayers, playing a game with sibling, doing a chore for someone else, etc.) We are trying to steer them away from talking about what they want to get, and lead them toward talking about what they want to give (this is very challenging at times!)

In years past, I have been so overwhelmed during December that I never got to enjoy Advent, or teach the kids about it, just spend it as a time of prayerful waiting. I have always been so busy with activities, Christmas shopping, and general business, that I missed the whole season, and always said, “I’ll do it different next year.” This year, I’m actually trying to do it different. We streamlined our Christmas shopping and did it all in one day before December arrived. We got out our advent materials early, and had them ready, when the first Sunday rolled around. We are just simplifying, and really enjoying it so much more. I feel peaceful, and happy, and have time for spontaneous book reading and prayers with the kids. (From AM in CA)

Hold the Gifts

(Bobbi’s note  – This idea is from me. I have not used it with my own family since I am too much of a sucker for presents under the tree on Christmas morning but it may be a wonderful and grace-filled option for your family.)

Many years back, our holy parish priest, during one of his homilies, challenged us to not give gifts on Christmas. What?? He suggested we wait until the Epiphany, twelve days later. I thought he was a bit crazy at the time but I didn’t give it too much thought until we got home and mom and dad announced that we would give it a try that year. My heart broke at not having the traditional presents on Christmas morning – I was a gift-giving fanatic who put a lot of time into the “perfect” gift.

However, I must admit that the transition was not all that hard. Christmas became a celebration of Christ’s birthday and our gifts to Him. Emphasis was given to family togetherness and enjoying one another’s company. It also eliminated the anti-climatic day after Christmas. We finally realized that the Christmas season, in reality, is just beginning! The Christmas Octave took new meaning as we waited for the coming of Epiphany with new interest. We still have the fun of exchanging gifts with our loved ones but waiting until Epiphany (or “Kings”) helps keep things in proper perspective.

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There are numerous other ways to keep Christ in Advent and Christmas but these are just a few suggestions. With a little imagination (and the prompting of the Holy Spirit) you can start your own family traditions of truly living Christmas!

Feel free to comment and share your own traditions with us. I have a link up in Part 1 of this post to add your own blog post about your family’s Catholic traditions. Join in!