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

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Advent & Christmas 2023

Begins Sunday December 3, 2023

Ends on Sunday December 24, 2023

"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.'"

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Christ the King

Sunday, November 26, 2023

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 2023 starts on Sunday December 3, 2023

Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas every year.

Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
[holy day of obligation]

Friday December 8, 2023

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 2023 ends on Sunday December 24, 2023

Advent ends on Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas, every year.

Christmas
Birth of Our Lord Jesus
[holy day of obligation]

Monday December 25, 2023

Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. continue reading

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
[holy day of obligation]

Monday January 1, 2023

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

Saturday January 6, 2023

The Epiphany signifies the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the Baby Jesus. continue reading

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Advent Calendar

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Advent & Christmas Classes

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Advent & Christmas PDFs

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Free Advent & Christmas PDFs for anyone, anywhere; Use in your Parish Church - School - Bulletin Inserts. continue reading

Christmas Gifts

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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

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