Christmas Traditions That Keep Christ In Christmas

Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of Christ, God coming to earth in the shape of a man. But it’s hard to remember the true meaning of Christmas when we’re rushing around shopping, decorating, making food, and preparing for the holiday. How do we keep Christ in Christmas when everything around us is pulling us away from Him?

One way is through Advent. Advent starts on a Sunday between November 27 and December 3 (the date changes every year) and is a time of reflecting on the birth of Jesus and the Israelites waiting for the Messiah. There are various books for the season; my personal favorite family advent devotionals are the ones by Arnold Ytreeide.

Other advent traditions include an Advent calendar and giving small gifts to each other in the days leading up to Christmas. You can do all or some of these; everyone has their own traditions they do.

Christmas devotionals are also meaningful. An easy option is to read a Bible passage tied to Christ’s birth, His ministry, or a prophecy every day until Christmas day. Some good ones are Isaiah 40:11, Luke 1:46-55, and Luke 1:32.

Another way is eating a shepherd’s meal on Christmas Eve. A shepherd’s meal is suppose to be a more simple meal, something similar to what the shepherd’s would’ve eaten. You can do a charcuterie board, soup and bread, or whatever you come up with. Create a special ambiance by lighting candles and playing Christmas music in the background. It gives everyone a chance to stop and think about the true meaning of Christmas.

There are many ways to put Christ back into Christmas. These are only a few ideas. It doesn’t matter what you do, so long as you find something that reminds you that Christ is the reason for the season.