Christmas Eve

CHRISTMAS EVE

Christmas Eve is a special day in our home. It's the day we get ready for Christmas. In order to get ready for Christmas, we focus on the Savior. Perhaps, my favorite tradition on Christmas Eve is the tradition of acting out the nativity. I love that it reminds of the first gift of Christmas--the Savior. I love that my children are reminded of our Savior. I also love how adorable and funny my family is when the try to act out the Nativity.
After we act out the Nativity, we watch a Bible Video on the Nativity, we talk of Christ, and the true meaning of Christmas. We then prepare to give a gift to Jesus--each of us determine what we want to do for the Savior the following year, and then we wrap it in a present that stays nearby throughout the year. It is our hope that as we see the gift, we will be reminded of what we would like to do throughout the year. This year, I promised to pray with more connectivity--connecting my morning and evening prayers. I also promised to study from the scriptures in the morning, and learn from good books in the evening. I promised to be patient, and to fulfill my callings. I was going to list what each of us promised; however, I felt it was sacred to my family--each of us promised something near and dear to our hearts. 

I learned a lesson this year from Jacob that surrounded his gift to Jesus. This is what I wrote in my journal: I can't believe Christmas has come and gone. I can't help but contemplate this year and the holiday itself. This morning while Jake was looking at his gifts from Santa, he said, "I didn't know if I would be on the good list or not." It broke my heart. I asked him why he would ever question his goodness. He said it was because he knew how much he struggled to listen. Last night he wrote a gift to Jesus saying he was going to listen to his teacher, and to his parents more. It's obvious my little man needs to know how appreciated he is. Despite our many compliments, it's easy for him to see his struggles rather than his strengths. Aren't we all a bit like that? This Christmas opened my eyes to the good. Christ gives us a light and as we love those around us, we let that light shine. As we take the time to build another person (even the little people in our homes), we share His light. I hope I can be more sensitive to my children this next year. I hope I can be less busy, and be more aware of when they need a hug, and when they need mom's affirmation. My heart broke today as I heard Jake question his goodness, which makes me question my mothering; however, I resolve today to give a gift to Christ by loving a little deeper, and by next Christmas--I hope there will be no question in Jake's mind, because his mother took the time to build him up. 

This year for Christmas Eve, we invited an elderly man in our ward to participate. My children were so excited to have Bob join us in our traditions. (I think he enjoyed himself too.) I loved that Bob came. I love that he participated. I hope my kids remember this year as a treasured experience as we shared our traditions with someone else.

Christmas Eve Pajamas

Cookies for Santa

The Tradition

This is how our Nativity looks when we have completed all of our traditions on Christmas Eve. Every night leading up to Christmas, we celebrate Christ by focusing on a different piece to the Nativity. As we celebrate that piece, we set out a card representing that celebration. We have often waited to put out the pieces of the nativity until we have discussed that piece in particular; however, this year we didn't. I'm not sure which way I like best.
Christmas Eve was in celebration of the Christ-child. Each day leading to Christmas we do something different. A lot of the ideas we do, we have taken from a book by Emily Freeman called, "A Christ Centered Christmas". I have added my own twist and my own traditions to her ideas. I have taken many of her questions, and have used them with my family.

Christmas Eve Tradition:

The Tradition:
THE CHRIST CHILD~BELIEVE
A Christmas Hymn: “Joy to the World,” no. 201
Read: Luke 2: 11-12
The greatest Christmas gift ever given was wrapped in swaddling clothes. How has your life been blessed because of the birth of Christ? What are some gifts He gives?
*Watch Luke 2
*Read & Act Out The Christmas Story
*Puppet Christmas Story
*Spend a moment pondering your gift to Christ

Other Traditions Leading up to Christmas Eve:

The Tradition:
MARY~PONDER
A Christmas Hymn: “Silent Night,” no. 204
Read: Luke 1:26-56 & Luke 2:5-7, 19
Spend an evening learning about Mary and what she might have pondered in her heart. Set aside time to reflect on your thoughts of the night of Christ’s birth. If you could be anyone present on the night of the first Christmas, who would you choose to be?
*Bake Heart-Shaped Cookies, or Make Heart-Shaped Ornaments

The Tradition:
JOSEPH~SERVE
A Christmas Hymn: “Away in a Manger,” no. 206
Read: Matthew1:18-25 & Luke 2:1-7
Take a moment to consider what it must have felt like when Joseph realized that there was no room in the inn. What would you have offered Joseph and his family if you had been there? How can secret acts of service help to make room for the Savior in our hearts today?
*Read: “A Gift from the Heart”
*Carry a small bell as a reminder & pass a large service bell & start a tinkling bell journal

*Play Santa for the evening

This year for this tradition, I asked a neighbor to turn my kids away from a "supposed" party. Two of my neighbors were willing to participate. My children were blown away. They couldn't believe that a neighbor and friend would treat as they did. When we came home, we watched the Bible Video depicting Joseph and Mary being turned away. I then asked them the questions, adn asked them if they had ever felt similiar. Understanding dawned on their faces as they realized how they felt just moments before. I loved this experience! I loved how it brought a small understanding of Mary and Jospeh's experience. I hope it will remind them to make "room" for the Savior.

The Tradition:
THE ANGEL~ SHARE THE JOY
A Christmas Hymn: “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” no. 208
Read: Luke 2: 9-14
What was the great joy and good tidings that the angels brought? What would the news have meant to you if you were there? Talk about some of your favorite carols that testify of Christ. Why are they so dear?
*Spend an evening listening to Christmas Carols. Let the joy and good tidings of the season fill your home and your heart.
*Go Christmas Caroling; end by enjoying a steaming mug of cocoa.

The Tradition:
THE SHEPHERD~ TESTIFY
A Christmas Hymn: “Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains,” no. 212
Read: Luke 2: 15-18
Talk about the lessons of the shepherd. Talk about the importance of turning to Christ now, and with haste. What can we learn from the shepherds’ relationship with each other when they spoke “one to another” and went as a group to find the Lord? Consider the significance of bearing testimony of the Savior.
*Make Candy Cane Cookies or Munch on Candy Canes representing the shepherds’ staff.
*Candle Testimony Meeting

The Candle Testimony Meeting has always been a favorite tradition. We love it so much that we do something similar on Easter. For Christmas, we surround our dining room table while sitting in darkness. One person starts by lighting their candle, and that person then describes how they are going to share the Savior's light, or how they can be a light for the Savior. We also welcome the bearing of testimonies about the Savior. Once the first person is finished sharing their thoughts, they turn to the person sitting next to them, and then lights that person's candle with their own candle. When all of us have had a chance to share, we explain how when we testify of Christ, we share His light, and His light with build within us. We talk about how the room was once in darkness, but now how it is full of light.

The Tradition:
THE WISE MEN~JOURNEY ANOTHER WAY
A Christmas Hymn: “With Wondering Awe,” no. 210
Read: Matthew 2: 1-12
Discuss the lessons of the Wise Men. Focus on the privilege of the search and their ability to be spiritually sensitive. Talk about their journey and what it means to journey another way.
*This Christmas season try to discover a way to protect your belief in the Savior—one that will allow that belief to grow.
*Do something that represents “journeying another way”…Christmas Jar

I absolutely love the tradition of the Christmas Jar. Here is an experience we have had from this tradition: 

Family Home Evening blesses our lives. It provides an opportunity for us to bear testimony, and to lift one another in our understanding of Christ. We laugh together, we cry together, and we build lasting family relationships. When speaking about family home evening, President Joseph F. Smith said, “If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed…and they will gain power to combat the evil influence and temptations which beset them” (James R Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ, 6 vol.). For Christmas, my family has a series of Family Home Evenings that center on Christ. One of those traditions includes giving a Christmas Jar to a family in need. We work all year to fill a jar with change, and then during the Christmas season we deliver it to someone. Last year my children were disappointed when it came time to deliver our Christmas Jar, because it only held $40. To them—it just wasn't enough. My husband and I reassured them that the person receiving the jar would be grateful, but they were still disappointed.  After Christmas, my children were inspired by an article in the FRIEND, and they approached me with a plan. To understand their plan, I must explain another tradition in our home. In our home, we also have a rock jar, and every time I catch them doing something good, I place a rock in the jar. Once the jar is filled, we go on a family activity of their choice. The budget per jar is $20. Because of their disappointment at the lack of funds in our Christmas Jar, my children decided to give the amount of what we would have spent on an activity for the rock jar to the Christmas Jar every other time. Throughout the year, our children worked at filling our Christmas Jar.  In August, we felt that there was someone in need of our Christmas Jar. We met as a family and discussed the need, and decided that it was okay to give our Christmas Jar early. We carefully counted the jar’s contents, and to their joy, we had nearly doubled the amount of money from the previous year. Although we were excited that we were able to give the jar to someone in need, I had little hope of having a substantial amount for Christmas; however my kids were undeterred. They worked all the more at earning money for the new jar. By the time Christmas arrived, they had replenished the jar in just four months.  The anticipation was real as we delivered that jar that night. Our hearts beat in our chest, and we knew we had accomplished a great task. As we drove away; we felt the spirit bear testimony of the importance of giving. My oldest daughter asked if the spirit could feel excited and happy. We told her that it could. She said that her heart was happy for what they had done. I know that when we take time to plan and hold family home evening, we are preparing every needful thing. I know that these moments, will fortify our families as President Smith has said. 

The Tradition:
THE LAMB~GIVE THANKS
A Christmas Hymn: “Prayer of Thanksgiving,” no. 93
Read Luke 2: 25-38
Consider the lessons of Simeon and Anna. How can we prepare our hearts to recognize the Lord? What are some ways that would help to make our recognition instant and our gratitude immediate? How does becoming a true follower of Christ help us to become one of His sheep?
*Create a Tender Mercy Tree
*Recognize the Tender Mercies in your life, and say a prayer of gratitude