Creative Christmas Traditions for Celebrating the Real Meaning of Christmas

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Many fun and meaningful traditions have been created to celebrate and remember this special and sacred event. Within some of these traditions one can find symbols of Christ's birth. For example, the candy cane can remind one of the shepherd's crooks as they watched their flocks by night. Exchanging gifts should remind us of the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus, and ultimately, of the great gift Christ has given us in his life, death and resurrection.

However, with the hustle and bustle that comes with the Christmas season, it can sometimes be difficult to remember, as they say, "The Reason for the Season." Here are some creative traditions that will help keep the real meaning of Christmas fresh in our minds through out the holiday season.

Fill His Manger with Straw

This tradition starts with an empty manger and a good amount of straw. A small wooden crate or box, big enough to hold a baby doll is just the right size, although some people I know have actually made little wooden mangers for this yearly tradition. The manger should be placed where everyone in the family can see it. Through out the month of December, family members provide acts of service to others whether in or out of the family. Each time they do something special, they can add a piece of straw to the manger. The goal is to add as much straw as possible to create a comfortable bed for the baby Jesus. Thinking about it in these terms, one might want to do as much for others as possible to make the bed comfortable. It is a great way to think about how our small acts of service really do serve Jesus Christ. Matthew 25:40 "…Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye hae done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye hae done it unto me."

Community Service

If you have children, this is a great way to teach them about helping others at Christmas time. Participate in a "Toys for Tots" toy drive or an "Adopt a Family" program. Go with your child to a toy store or mass merchandiser and have them help choose some gifts for a child close to their age. It's great if your child can understand that he is choosing a gift for someone who might not otherwise have presents on Christmas morning. Even better might be to suggest your child contribute a small amount to buying the present. Don't force your child because he will not feel good about doing it and gain nothing from the experience. Instead, ask if your child would like to help out by donating a few dollars. The good feeling that will come from making a sacrifice for someone else will be a true gift to your child and a wonderful way to remember what Christ's life was all about.

Give a Gift to the Savior

Several days before Christmas, or even on Christmas Eve, spend time with your family thinking about what gift you could give to the Savior, Jesus Christ in the coming year. This gift should be some kind of goal for a positive behavior change. Maybe you could resolve to pray with more feeling or to express gratitude daily. You could work on replacing a bad habit with a good one or study the scriptures daily. Write your goal on a piece of paper, put it in a little box, wrap it and place it under the tree. On Christmas morning, at a special time, have everyone open and share their gift to Jesus with the family.

By incorporating some of these traditions into your yearly Christmas celebration, you and your family will be able to keep the true "reason for the season" in mind as you enjoy all the other fun traditions that are also a part of Christmas.