Christmas traditions and Advent ideas from the Catholic family
Christmas Traditions: There are so many 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 a must for Catholic families in today's society. Some of the traditions below that you may be familiar with and practice. You may find new traditions or Christmas ideas that your family will enjoy for years to come!
The nativity scene, crèche or Christmas tradition
Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with the manger scene as we know it today. The animals in the nativity scene, usually the donkey and the ox, are traditionally part of every nativity scene. Saint Francis followed tradition when he had these animals placed near the manger in Bethlehem.
Waiting until Christmas Eve to place the Christ child in the daycare center is a great tradition to start with your Catholic family. As a Catholic family, you must help your children learn that the holy season continues into Epiphany. You can do this by leaving your nativity scene set up through Epiphany. Add your wise men to the scene at the Feast of Epiphany. Family members, especially children, will look forward to this tradition! It also stretches the fun just a little longer.
If you don't have nativity scene images, you can use images. Set up a "bulletin board" for Christmas and place the pictures on the board at the correct times. Play a game to determine who can place the Christ Child in the nursery or on the board. This will contribute to the family celebration.
The Christ Candle
The Christ Candle tradition is beautiful and easy to apply. On Christmas Eve, light a large candle to symbolize the arrival of baby Jesus. Let it burn all night and everyone will realize what a special Christmas Eve is when they see the candle.
Have your children help you choose a "special candle" for your Christ candle. It should be large in size so that it can burn for a long time and also be decorative in a special way. In other words, it has to stand out.
The tradition of the Christmas tree
The beginnings of the Christmas tree tradition go back to medieval Germany. The "mystery game" was a very common and popular form of entertainment at the time. One of the most popular "mysteries" was the play Paradise. The creation of man, the sin of Eve and Adam, and their subsequent expulsion from the garden of Eden, were represented in the Paradise play the Germans performed. A fir tree hung with fruit (usually apples) represented the Garden of Eden. This first Christmas tree represented both the "tree of life" and the "tree of discernment between good and evil." When Germans stopped playing mystery games in churches, the Paradise tree (or Christmas tree) began to appear in the homes of the believers.
Today, Christmas Eve in Germany starts late in the afternoon. Families come together to decorate the Christmas tree. Their beautiful decorations include the use of real candles on the tree. After all other ornaments have been hung, the candles are lit. Early in the evening a nativity scene is performed in front of the tree. Seasonal music is played. After presents are opened and exchanged, the family has a Christmas dinner. The children are put to bed and are awakened just before midnight mass.
Your children will have fun setting up a Christmas program for your family for the Christmas tree. Let the older children help the younger; they can be the directors of the play. The Christmas play can include caroling and the kids can design special "programs" with words for the Christmas carols for all the adults to sing. If someone in your family can play the piano, ask them to accompany you.
