It's important to consciously choose to participate in activities that keep the real spirit of Christmas in our homes and hearts. Below is a list of such activities that I compiled last year for a church activity. Many of them apply to members of the LDS (Mormon) Church, but plenty will work for you if you are of another Christian faith.
Keep Christ in Christmas
· Hold a family testimony meeting.
· Read about prophecies of the Savior’s birth in the Book of Mormon.
· Read the Christmas story from the Bible.
· Memorize The Living Christ.
· Make a list of your blessings.
· Watch the First Presidency Devotional on the first Sunday in December.
· Watch Music and the Spoken Word Sunday mornings.
· Make thank you notes to use after Christmas.
· Learn a Christmas hymn to sing as a family.
· Read a Christmas story from the Friend or Ensign.
· Make or use a service advent calendar- no one gets the treat until a service has been performed.
· Write down on paper, roll up, and tie with a bow, a gift you are going to give to the Savior.
· Keep track of all the service given by family members in December in a white stocking, gift box, or manger scene. Read the good deeds on Christmas morning.
· Write your testimony in a Book of Mormon and give it away.
· Make Christmas ornaments that focus on Christ.
· Visit Temple Square- especially the nativity scenes and the statue of Christ in the visitor’s center.
· Make a flannel board nativity and leave it out for children to retell the story.
· Use simple costumes to act out the nativity story.
· Write letters and make cards to send to loved ones far away.
· Color, paint, (or purchase) a nativity scene and hang it in your home.
· Watch an uplifting Christmas DVD together such as Joy to the World.
· Have a "white" Christmas--attend the temple.
· Go shopping together for Sub-for-Santa or angel tree gifts.
· Help children clean out toys and donate good used ones to charity.
· Make dinner for a neighbor in need.
· Help children write a story about the manger on Christmas night.
· Write a note to a missionary.
· Have a Bethlehem dinner.
· Have a family Christmas music night with instrumental and vocal performances.
· Attend a live nativity.
· Listen to Handel's Messiah and learn the story behind music. (See Ensign December 2010).
· Make a Christmas advent candle, and read a Christ related scripture each night as candle burns.
· Wrap meaningful and uplifting Christmas books and open one each day and read together.
· Collect uplifting Christmas stories and compile in a binder to read as a family each day.
· Collect or make from paper symbols of Christmas and teach children the meaning. They could draw one from a gift bag and tell how it reminds them of Christ.
· Go for a nighttime winter walk and enjoy the beautiful stars and talk about the special star that appeared at Christ's birth.
· Draw names of family members on Dec 1st. Secretly serve that person all month. Reveal on Christmas morning.
· Make handprints of children, cut out, and print "I will have helping hands for Jesus."
· Determine a need and perform a service anonymously.
· Forgive and make amends with someone.
· Give family members a “golden gift.” Wrap a Christ centered gift (book, scriptures, CD, etc) in gold paper and open on Christmas morning.
· Purchase nativity play sets for children
· Strive to be more like the Savior each day!
Helpful links:
Christ Centered Traditions Blog
Helps for memorizing the Living Christ at Discover the Scriptures
Nativity Matching game
CHRISTmas at I am Momma- Hear Me Roar
