Christmas Traditions – Gift Giving

Gift giving is probably the most well known of all Christmas traditions in both Eastern and Western cultures. Moms and Dads have the opportunity to share with their children important truths about giving during their family’s Christmas celebration. While a good deal of focus will be placed upon purchasing safe, fun, and educational children’s toys, parents may also take this time to let children experience the joy of giving to others.

Several months after Jesus Christ was born, wise men came and presented gifts to Him. “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh" (Matthew 2:1-2, 11).

* Just as the wise men gave costly gifts to the Holy Child without hope of anything in return, parents can lead sons and daughters to purchase gifts for elderly loved-ones and neighbors who may be less fortunate. These gifts need not be costly, but they should be given with thought, care, and love.

* Children who receive a lot of gifts might be encouraged to give a few of them to children in homeless shelters or children’s hospitals. This is the true spirit of Christmas gift giving.

The custom of giving to the needy was one of the legendary traditions of Boxing Day which is celebrated the first weekday after Christmas in many countries. On Boxing Day, employers gave their servants boxes of food and other necessities and public workers such as mailmen were remembered by the people they served. Some traditions hold that money was taken from church collection boxes and distributed to the disadvantaged.

The giving of gifts is a wonderful expression of the love and good will that surrounds the Christmas season. Ultimately, gift giving at Christmas should be done in remembrance of the greatest gift of all -- Jesus Christ the Son, the gift of the Father. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Christmas Traditions – Celebrating Jesus’ birth
Parents can redirect the festivities of the Christmas holidays to reflect the true meaning of the day – Jesus birth in Bethlehem.

* Families can attend worship services, singing Christmas songs and listening to the recitation of the Christmas story.

* Read the Christmas story together as a family. The story can be found in Luke 2:1-18.

Christmas Traditions

Christmas Traditions – Santa Claus
Santa Claus, that jolly, rotund bringer of presents, is a controversial Christmas tradition for mothers and fathers. Though he is clearly a character from folklore, many parents go through great lengths to keep alive their child’s belief in Santa Claus. Instead of taking credit for the expense and effort of producing gifts for their children, parents lead children to believe that their toys are a result of a Christmas Eve visit from Santa. The character of Santa Claus, as he is depicted today, is derived from two very old legends: Saint Nicholas, a bishop who gave generous gifts to the poor and was considered to be the patron saint of sailors and children and Father Christmas, who was considered to be the spirit of good cheer.

The original bishop’s garb worn by Saint Nicholas was replaced, after many evolutions, by a bright red costume fitting snugly across an ample midsection. (Both Saint Nicholas and Father Christmas were described as plump.) The horse used for getting to and fro was replaced by reindeer; the servants, by elves. These elves assisted Santa Claus in his duties which were to provide toys for children; all were to be hand-made. To receive gifts, children had to behave well all year long.

* Share the stories of Saint Nicholas and Father Christmas with your children.

Parents must thoughtfully consider how they will present Santa and the receiving of gifts to their young ones. Ironically, the necessity to be good enough to receive good things becomes part of the unlearning process which we must undergo when we accept Jesus Christ as Savior. God gives us good things according to His loving grace, not because of anything that we have merited, or because we are good (Romans 5:17).

Christmas Traditions – Christmas Day
Christmas Day is traditionally celebrated on December 25 in most of the Western world. Theologians have not agreed on the actual date of Jesus’ birth; calculations based alternately on the reign of Herod and the time of the census as recorded in the New Testament book of Luke have created discrepancies. The ancient celebrations of the day have their origins in neo-paganism. Despite its godless origins, parents are encouraged to celebrate the greatest gift of all -- Jesus Christ.

The earliest Christmas traditions coincide with the observance of Yule, the birth of the new sun god. It was believed that Holly King died at Yule; Holly King was the old year and shortened sun. Oak King was born at Yule; he was the new year and growing sun. The celebration of Christmas on December 25th also corresponded to the Winter solstice. Solstice means “the sun stands still.” The Winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year. This meant that the height of the sun at noon appeared to be static from day to day. Both Yule and the Winter solstice were marked by celebrations. Inasmuch as a new year was beginning, revelers feasted and wished for good luck in the days to come.

The Christian designation of Christmas as a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ is more recent than the celebrations of Yule and the Winter Solstice. The Christian ceremony coincided with the Feast of Epiphany which proclaimed the shining forth of God in human form. This was believed to be a fulfillment of the Jewish Festival of Lights which the Jews celebrate as Hanukkah.

There is no commandment in the New Testament to celebrate Christ’s birth. Moms and Dads have the privilege and responsibility to teach their children about Jesus’ miraculous birth and advent into the world. We as Christians believe and know that God came to earth in human form and did, indeed, show forth the glory of the Father: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Christmas Traditions

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Christian Christmas Poems

Christian Christmas Poems

A is for Angels, appearing so bright, telling of Jesus that first Christmas night. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host." Luke 2:13

B is for Bethlehem, crowded and old, birthplace of Jesus by prophet foretold. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel." Micah 5:2

C is for Cattle, their manger His bed, there in the stable where He laid His head. "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger." Luke 2:7

D is for David and his ancient throne promised forever to Jesus alone. "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David." Luke 1:32

E is for East, where shone the bright star which Magi on camels followed afar."Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" Matthew 2:1-2

F is for Frankincense, with myrrh and gold, brought by the Wise Men as Matthew has told. "And when they had opened their treasurers, they presented unto him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Matthew 2:11

G is for God, who from heaven above sent down to mankind the Son of His love. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

H is for Herod, whose murderous scheme was told to Joseph in a nocturnal dream. "The angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt ... for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." Matthew 2:13

I is for Immanuel, "God with us," for Christ brought man back to the Father's house. "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

J is for Joseph so noble and just, obeying God's word with absolute trust. "Then Joseph being raised form sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife." Matthew 1:24

K is for King. A true king He would be, coming in power and authority. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, they King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation." Zechariah 9:9

L is for the Love that He brought down to earth; that night in the stable in lowly birth. "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." I John 4:9

M is for Mary, His mother so brave, counting God faithful and mighty to save. "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." Luke 1:38

N is for Night, when the Savior was born for nations of earth and people forlorn. "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." Luke 2:8

O is for Omega, meaning "the last;" He's eternal: present, future and past. "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Revelation 22:13

P is for Prophets, when living on earth foretold His redemption and blessed birth. "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel." Numbers 24:17

Q is for Quickly, as shepherds who heard hastened to act on that heavenly word. "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." Luke 2:16

R is for Rejoice. The sorrow of sin is banished forever when Jesus comes in. "And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth." Luke 1:14

S is for Savior. To be this He came; the angel of God assigned Him His name. "She shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

T is for Tidings related to all, telling of Him who was born in a stall. "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10

U is for Us, to whom Jesus was given to show us the way and take us to heaven. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

V is for Virgin, foretold by the sage, God's revelation on prophecy's page. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23

W is for Wonderful, His works and His words, the King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given ... and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Christian Christmas Poems
Christian Christmas Poems
Christian Christmas Poems
Christian Christmas Poems

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Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards

The first known Christmas card is printed on the front cover with a date of 1843. The original was in muted colours, hand painted, printed and sold for 1/- each (5p) - a lot of money in those days. Despite the date on this card, encyclopaedias say that Christmas cards were first sold in 1846!

By the 1860s the idea of sending cards had caught on as they were able to be produced much more cheaply with the invention of less expensive colour printing. The first Christmas cards had lace and flowery borders, but then they changed to more familiar designs.

Christmas Cards

Christmas CardsChristmas Cards
Christmas Cards
Christmas Cards
Christmas Cards
Christmas Cards
Christmas Cards

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Christmas clip art

Christmas clip art
Christmas is celebrated throughout the Christian population, but is also celebrated by many non-Christians as a secular, cultural festival. The holiday is widely celebrated around the world, including in the United States, where it is celebrated by 96% of the population. Enjoy this Christmas clip art.

Christmas clip art
Christmas clip art
Christmas clip art
Christmas clip art
Christmas clip art
Christmas clip art
Christmas clip art

Christmas clip art

Christmas clip art

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Christmas Computer Wallpaper

Christmas Computer Wallpaper

Christmas, also referred to as Christmas Day or Christmastide, is an annual holiday usually falling on December 25 that honors and celebrates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. His birth, which is the basis for the transcultural Gregorian calendar, has been determined by modern historians as having occurred between 7 and 2 BC, and is traditionally believed to have taken place in a stable within the city of Bethlehem. The specific date of celebration for Jesus' birth is traditional, and is generally believed to have been influenced by the dates of pre-Christian festivals—particularly the Roman festival of Dies Natalis Solis Invicti—rather than having been based on historical data or reference. Source: Wikipedia.

Christmas Computer Wallpaper

Christmas Computer Wallpaper

Christmas Computer Wallpaper

Christmas Computer Wallpaper

Christmas Computer Wallpaper

Christmas Computer Wallpaper
Christmas Computer Wallpaper

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Christmas Crafts

Christmas Crafts

Christmas Crafts
Christmas Crafts
Christmas Crafts
Christmas Crafts
Christmas Crafts
Christmas Crafts
Christmas Crafts
Christmas Crafts

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Christmas Decorations

Christmas Decorations

* You can display some cute teddies in a group of three or four in your showcase. Make them wear different colored Christmas dresses and place some exquisite gifts around them. It would surely make for an elegant display during Christmas time.

* Make use of Christmas print ribbons for making colorful bows and then pin them up to your curtains. These bows would definitely give a festive look to your house and would make for an ideal Christmas decorative piece.

* You can also hang some graceful Christmas stockings on your mantle or a high wall.

* Make use of red and green colored 3-dimensional fabric paint in order to design colorful Christmas patterns on your tablecloth.

* Attach beautiful Christmas decorations on a plastic shower curtain. Make sure, not to use breakable ornaments; use only plastic or wooden ornaments to adorn the curtains.

* For decorating your lawn, hang small colorful Christmas ornaments on your houseplants

* You can also hang Christmas cookie cutters along with ribbons for quick decorations on your trees or on the window sills.

* You can also embellish plain candles with different colors and then use these candles for adding a tinge to your Christmas decorations.

* You can also wrap indoor lights on a railing and secure them with the help of a tape for making perfect Christmas decorations.

* You can add color to your Christmas decorations by adorning your room with fragrant flowers.

* You can also make use of pliers for bending coat hangers into wire framed tree shape. Further, wrap the string of Christmas lights on the frame by attaching them with the help of electrical tape.

* Decorate your surroundings by hanging mistletoe everywhere. Mistletoe is reputed to bring along good wishes and blessings for the season.

* Get a glass plate, paint it with golden colored craft paint and let it dry. Next place this bowl on a showcase and keep different colored candles all around the plate.

* You can also prepare sugar cookies and use them as perfect Christmas decorations. Before baking, make a hole towards the top part of each cookie. You can hang these cookies through strings on the Christmas tree.

* You can also string together food products like cereals, beads, popcorn, cranberries etc and hang them as garlands everywhere.

* Pictures from old Christmas cards can also be glued together in the form of a beautiful collage for decorating that favorite wall of yours.

* Take five to six cinnamon sticks and tie them together with the help of red colored ribbon. You can even create a bunch of these sticks and place them in a bowl or on a plate.

* Try to display varied colored glass decorations in round shaped vases or bowls, instead of hanging them around.

* A large exquisite glass plate can be used for preparing an elegant centerpiece. Take different shaped vases, bowls, candle holders and flower pots and fill each of them with different types of nuts and candies.

* Adorn the door knobs by tying different colored bows around them.

* Embellish your computer screens with beautiful Christmas wallpapers and screensavers.

* You can even wrap your plant pots with red or green colored foil wraps.

* You can get some automatic timers from the market and plug the Christmas lights in. The timers can be set to let the lights go on before dark and go off when your family goes fir goodnight sleep.

* Replace those plain candles placed in your candlesticks with colorful, scented candles.

* You can even place some table scarves on the four ends of the tables. These holiday scarves can be found easily in the markets nowadays.

Christmas Decorations

Christmas Decorations

Christmas Decorations

Christmas Decorations

Christmas Decorations

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Over the Top Christmas Decorations

This should get you into the Christmas spirit!

Check out these over-the-top Christmas decorations (the lights on this house are synchronized to music!) in this YouTube video.

And remember, celebrate Christmas with an authentic-looking Santa costume from anniescostumes.com.