Christmas Archives - Page 4 of 6 - Teaching Catholic Kids

It’s not that easy being (ever)green

There’s something about a Christmas tree that draws one to it. Even though your tree is probably bone dry and headed to the curb (or to its box in the storage space if your tree is artificial), who among us doesn’t take heart in a living thing that thrives and grows year-round and maintains its color even in the harshest of conditions? Evergreens are an important symbol during the Christmas season in the Church. But why? What is it about the evergreen that it has become such an enduring symbol of our Catholic faith? Find out online.

Christmas, evergreen, hope , +3 new year renewal tree

Pray the O Antiphons with your children

The O Antiphons are seven verses in the Liturgy of the Hours that contain powerful pleas for the coming of the Lord. They are chanted or recited during Vespers on the last seven days of Advent. Find this post online for each days antiphon, and listen to a hymn, O Come Emmanuel.

advent, Christmas, O Antiphons

Not the same old (Christmas) story

Every year around this time, we’re bound to hear a familiar set of narratives in the media. How much we’ll spend. How far we’ll travel. How far behind retail sales are compared to last year. It’s time to put aside the tired stories. Here are three replacement conversations we should be having this Christmas, including talking about how much to give, not how much to spend! Find the conversations online.

Christmas, family, gift giving , +1 gifts 1 Comment

Ten ways to keep Christ in Christmas

At Thanksgiving we thank God for many blessings and gifts. At Christmas, we try to imitate God’s generosity by giving gifts ourselves. But Keeping the emphasis on the birth of Jesus during the days before Christmas is difficult for both adults and children, especially as the secular and commercial side of Christmas actually begins even before Thanksgiving Day. Many people are already frantically shopping for those last minute gifts, the stores and schools are decorated to the fullest and sign of Christmas are everywhere! Online you’ll find Ten Ways to help keep Christ in Christmas. The activities cost very little and the rewards are priceless!

activities, Christmas, family , +2 ideas kids

Have yourself a drama-free Christmas

Can you have a drama-free Christmas? Ever since Cory Bussee’s mom and dad passed, family holidays have taken on a very weird flavor. He and his wife, and his siblings and their spouses and kids, all struggle with family identity now that the keepers of their shared history and traditions are gone. So, the family decided to host a “Drama-Free Christmas.” To pull it off, they made three, simple rules. Discover what they are online.

advent, Christmas, drama , +3 family stress tradition