Christmas Gifts is a Wonderful Celebrations

Attending Midnight Mass

Christmas Gifts: Today, Mass is said at midnight on Christmas, as it is commonly believed that Jesus was born at midnight. The Catholic Church has never officially stated that midnight is the time for the first mass ... it has only prescribed that the mass be said "in nocte" (during the night).

Since midnight mass falls in the middle of the night, your children may be too tired to attend. To take part in this wonderful party, take them for a nap earlier in the day! They will love having the chance to attend Midnight Mass with Mom and Dad! The sacrament of confession is offered just before midnight mass in some Catholic churches. This would be a great time to make that final sacrifice of your own to Jesus before the celebration of His birth. Remember that your children will look and see that you are giving a gift to Jesus.

Exchanging Christmas presents

Exchanging Christmas gifts is a wonderful tradition that is very popular in the United States on Christmas Day. This custom is a combination of two old European customs. The first custom was for the children to wake up and put Christmas presents under the Christmas tree. They believed that the Christ Child had come on Christmas Eve and left the gifts behind. The second custom of Santa Claus is the one most Americans celebrate. Traditionally, children looked forward to the arrival of Sinterklaas on the night of December 6. Sinterklaas came at night and put presents in their stockings that were usually hung on the fireplace to dry.

Most Americans celebrate the Sinterklaas tradition with a few adjustments. They usually call him Santa and he comes on Christmas Eve (instead of December 6). This year, try to learn more about the life of the real Sinterklaas. Pray a nine-day novena for him as a family or have your children draw pictures of him. You can also buy Santa Claus prayer cards from a Catholic store and put them in your kids' stockings.

Another great idea when it comes to opening Christmas gifts is to exchange a gift every Christmas Eve. Discuss how the wise men gave Christmas gifts to the baby Jesus. Bring Jesus with you for the holidays to make them holy every chance you get! Then open the rest of your gifts on Christmas Day.
The poinsettia

The Poinsettia plant is also called the "flower of the holy night". It is a native plant of Central America and is widely used in churches and homes during the Christmas season. This plant was nicknamed the "flower of the holy night" because the flaming star of its red bracts resembles the star of Bethlehem. The Poinsettia is named after the US Ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett. When Dr. Poinsett returned to the United States, he took this flower back to his home in South Carolina, where it thrived.

Happy birthday Jesus

Another popular way to celebrate Christmas with young children is to have a birthday party for Jesus. This usually happens on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

You can plan the birthday party as you would a regular party. Bake a cake and decorate it with "Happy Birthday Jesus". Sing a happy birthday and then exchange gifts in his honor. If you have a small wooden statue of Jesus, bake it in the cake. Make sure it is non-toxic. Your kids will be delighted to find the little Christ Child!

Christkind Letters

A beautiful Austrian custom is to write a letter to the Christ Child, the Christ Child. These letters are written by children and adults. They contain resolutions and requests for gifts.

Don't forget to ask your Guardian Angel to bring your letter to the Christ Child! The Austrians believe they are delivered this way!

Christmas time is a beautiful and holy time. It is important to remember why we really celebrate this holiday. It is up to Catholic parents to teach their children the true meaning of Christmas — the birth of the Savior of the world! These holiday traditions and Advent ideas will help convey this important message. Moreover, if you build these traditions in their hearts, they will remember and pass on the Christmas message.