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Ideas to Make Your Christmas Special
Do you have a great family Christmas Advent Tradition?
Ask one hundred people on the street, "What does Christmas mean to you?" and you are likely to get 100 varied answers. The Christmas Advent Season always conjures up thoughts, feelings, and memories. Would you like to make the entire season more memorable, and more positive for those you love and care about? Thoughtfully establish a tradition!
Traditions can be wonderful "anchors" in a life of flux and uncertainty. Our best traditions remind us of our place and purpose in this world. And the good news is that you can establish your own tradition, and perhaps see it carried on for generations to come. And, it doesn�t have to be expensive.
Traditions centered around activities: Some families establish a tradition around the activities of the season. Shopping for the tree, decorating the tree as a family, going caroling, having a special Christmas dinner, going to Christmas Mass.
Traditions centered around the Message of Advent: Some families have established a tradition around the Message of the Advent season. As an example, we have for thirty four years gathered the entire family on Christmas eve, and read the story of Christmas from the gospel accounts, let the youngest participant put the story in their own words, which by the way is always good for some humor, offer a prayer of thanksgiving, and then opened one present each while Christmas music plays in the background. Even those family members now in other states with their own families or single, take a few minutes out on Christmas Eve to celebrate the wonder of the message of Christmas, sometimes checking in by phone to share in the tradition.
A Tradition centered around reaching out: We are aware of families that invite a person from their Parish or from a neighborhood nursing home to the home for Christmas dinner. Others choose to serve food in a local shelter for those with no home and no family. Still others deliver toys to homes where Christmas presents are an unlikely event.
The strength of establishing a tradition lies within the ability of the tradition to make the participants cease their normal activities, and focus on the deeper meanings within a holiday over cluttered with the frivolous and commercial. To be sure: We can enjoy the latter, and should. It just grounds us in truth to find our individual and collective methods of celebrating the incredible gift of the Christ Child.
- Connect with Jesus
- Build a Family Tradition
- Bake cookies
- A Charlie Brown Christmas
- Give Great Gifts
- Thank All Our Troops
- Share Christmas Stories with the family
- Spend time with your family
- Explore new cultures
- Make new friends
- Celebrate Advent
- Listen to music
- Go caroling
- Reach out to someone in need
- Pray daily
More Advent & Christmas
Advent & Christmas 2024
Begins Sunday, December 1, 2024
Ends on Sunday, December 24, 2024
"And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.'"
Christ the King
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Christ the King Day is a Catholic celebration that takes place on the last Sunday of the liturgical year in the Catholic faith. continue reading
Advent 2024 starts on Sunday, December 1, 2024
Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas every year.Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
[holy day of obligation]
Monday, December 9, 2024
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Blessed Virgin Mary in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, ... continue reading
Advent 2024 ends on Sunday December 24, 2024
Advent ends on Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas, every year.Christmas
Birth of Our Lord Jesus
[holy day of obligation]
Monday, December 25, 2024
![Image of ChristmasBirth of Our Lord Jesus[holy day of obligation]](https://www.catholic.org/files/images/media//15226932365_150.jpg "ChristmasBirth of Our Lord Jesus[holy day of obligation]")
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. continue reading
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
[holy day of obligation]
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
![Image of The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God[holy day of obligation]](https://www.catholic.org/files/images/media/2022/16665677875_150.jpg "The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God[holy day of obligation]")
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God is a feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus Christ. continue reading
Epiphany
Monday, January 6, 2025
The Epiphany signifies the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the Baby Jesus. continue reading
Advent Reflections
Reflection for every day of Advent
Advent is a period of waiting, like Lent. We are called to obtain the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to pray and fast, as we await the arrival of our ... continue reading
Advent Calendar
Every day of Advent
An Advent calendar has become a tradition for many families when celebrating Advent and the Christmas season. continue reading
Advent Candle
24 Days of December
An Advent candle is a neat way to mark off the days until Christmas. Such candles are commonly found in churches and sometimes in homes. continue reading
Advent Wreath
Each Sunday of Advent
The wreath's symbolism of the advent (coming) of Light into the world is clear. The gradual lighting of the four candles, one on each Sunday of the ... continue reading
Advent & Christmas Classes
14 Free Classes - Mobile Friendly
You’re joining our global classroom. Thousands of students from all over the world, each with their own unique story, learn at their own pace on ... continue reading
Advent & Christmas PDFs
FREE - Printable - Catholic
Free Advent & Christmas PDFs for anyone, anywhere; Use in your Parish Church - School - Bulletin Inserts. continue reading
Christmas Gifts
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Make This Christmas Special with Gifts from Catholic Online Shopping. continue reading
Nativity Scene
Holy Family
The Nativity Scene is a meaningful expression for our religious faith. With it, we provide a captivating visual focus during the Christmas season. continue reading
St. Nicholas
December 6th
The true story of Santa Claus begins with Saint Nicholas. continue reading
Advent? What is it all about
The word Advent derives from the Latin word meaning coming. The Lord is coming. We may reflect that every year at this time we celebrate his coming... continue readingThe Christmas Story
To become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role." The angel Gabriel at the moment of... continue readingAdvent Daily Readings
The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and to quietly reflect on the promise of the baby... continue reading
More Advent & Christmas
If you want Christmas to be special, celebrate Advent! Watch
Of all the seasons of the liturgical year, Advent seems to be the most overlooked. Overshadowed by Christmas, Advent is forgotten and ... continue reading
Advent Reflection - Day 2 - The First Monday of Advent Watch
Your Daily Advent Reflection - Day 2 - First Monday of AdventYou're going through trouble, but is it the right trouble? Advent is a period ... continue reading
How to bless your Advent Wreath at home Watch
The Advent Season is upon us, and many of us have put up our Advent Wreaths. Did you know you can bless your Advent Wreath right at home? ... continue reading
Advent Reflection - Day 3 - The First Tuesday of Advent Watch
Your Daily Advent Reflection - Day 3 - First Tuesday of AdventA guest is coming! Are you ready? For many people, Advent hardly exists. The ... continue reading
Advent Reflection - Day 1 - The First Sunday of Advent Watch
Your Daily Advent Reflection - Day 1 - The First Sunday of AdventDo you know what Advent is really for? We begin the season of Advent ... continue reading
Why Celebrate Advent?
This coming Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent. Many bring out the advent candles out of storage and set them in a wreath. Over these few ... continue reading
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