There are many very beautiful ways to celebrate this holy season. Advent and Christmas traditions help make this special season more sacred and less secular. Helping children understand the true meaning of Christmas is essential for the Catholic family in today’s society. Some of the following traditions may be familiar to you. Perhaps you will find some new traditions and Christmas ideas that your family will enjoy for years to come!
Christmas Crib, Cresh, or Nativity Tradition As
we know today, St. Francis of Assisi is credited with the achievements of the manger scene scene. Nativity scene animals, usually donkeys and cows, are traditionally part of every nativity set. St. Francis followed tradition when placing these animals near the manger near of Bethlehem.
Waiting for Christ Child to become a priest until Christmas Eve is a wonderful tradition that begins with the Catholic family. As a Catholic family, it should help children learn that the holy season continues through Epiphany. To do this, leave the nativity scene set up through Epiphany. At Epiphany’s Feast, add wise men to the scene. Families, especially children, look forward to this tradition! Also, make the fun a little longer.
If you do not have a nativity statue, you can use a photo. Set up a “bulletin board” for Christmas and post photos on the bulletin board at the appropriate time. Play the game and decide who will put the children of Christ in Kresh or on the board. This adds to the family celebration.
Christ candle
The tradition of Christ candles is wonderful and easy to implement. Fire a big candle on Christmas Eve and symbolize the arrival of baby Jesus. If you burn it all night, everyone can see that Christmas Eve is a special night when they see the candles.
Help your children choose a “special candle” for your Christ candle. It should burn long and be large enough to be decorated in a special way. In other words, it should stand out.
Christmas Tree Tradition The
Christmas tree tradition dates back to medieval Germany. “Mystery play” was a very frequent and popular form of entertainment at the time. One of the most popular “mysteries” was paradise play. The creation of man, the sins of Eve and Adam, and the expulsion from the Garden of Eden were manifested in a paradise drama set up by the Germans. The garden of Eden is a fir tree hung with fruit (usually apples). This first Christmas tree meant both the “tree of life” and the “tree of discrimination between right and wrong”. When the Germans ceased to play in the church, the paradise tree (or Christmas tree) began to appear in the believers’ homes.
In Germany today, Christmas Eve begins late in the afternoon. Families gather to decorate the Christmas tree. Their beautiful decoration involves using real candles on the wood. After all other ornaments are hung, the candle lights up. The nativity drama takes place in front of the trees early in the evening. Seasonal music plays. After presents are opened and exchanged with each other, the family has a Christmas dinner. The children go to bed and wake up just before the midnight mass.
Your kids get great joy from opening a Christmas program for their family in front of the Christmas tree. Allow older children to help younger children. They can become drama directors. Christmas play can include carols, and children can design special “programs” that all adults sing using the words to Christmas carols. If someone in your family can play the piano, ask him to accompany him.
Participating in the Midnight Mass
Today, it is believed that Jesus was born at midnight, so the Mass is said at midnight on Christmas. The Catholic Church has never officially stated that midnight is the time of the first mass … it only prescribes that the mass be said “at night” (during the night).
The midnight mass is in the middle of the night, so children are too tired to attend. Take a nap to them to participate in this wonderful celebration! They are excited to have the opportunity to join Midnight Mass with Mom and Dad! The sacrament of confession is provided in some Catholic churches just before the midnight mass. This is a great time to make your own last tribute to Jesus before his birthday celebration. Your children will be watching you and you will see a gift to Jesus.
Exchange of
Christmas Gifts Exchange of Christmas gifts is a wonderful tradition that is very popular in the United States on Christmas Day. This habit is a combination of two old European habits. The first habit was that children wake up and put Christmas gifts under the Christmas tree. They are veri
Group