Meanings Behind the Christmas Tradition

Many traditions surround the Christmas holiday. 

Have you ever wondered why? 

 

Below you will find one version of the meaning of the Christmas tree and candy cane. 

Children love to hear these types of stories. 

And, what a great way to weave the scriptures into the Christmas festivities!

Enjoy!

The Tradition of the Christmas Tree

 

Because it stays green all through the year, 

the evergreen tree is symbolic of the eternal life offered to Christians through faith in Christ. 

The treetop points heavenward. 

A star signifies the special star which guided the wise men to Bethlehem. 

Lights represent the Christ, the "Light of the World".

 Gifts beneath the tree are representative of God's gift of His only begotten Son,

Jesus Christ, who brings Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.

The Tradition of the Candy Cane

 

The candy cane begins with a stick of white candy.

 The white symbolizes the purity of the Christmas season.

 Jesus is the holy, sinless Son of God.  ( I John 1:7)

The color red stands for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we may have eternal life.

(John 3:16 and Revelation 1:5)

Stripes:  The large stripe reminds us of the cross on which Jesus died. 

Three small red stripes remind us of His suffering

-- the crown of thorns, the stripes from the whip on His back,

and the nail wounds in His hands and feet.   (John 19:1-30)

Three stripes can also remind us of the Holy Trinity- Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The candy is formed into a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus.  (Matthew 1:21)

The Cane is like a staff used by shepherds in caring for their sheep.

 Jesus is our "Good Shepherd."  (John 10:1-18, 27-30)

Its hard consistency represents the Solid Rock, the foundation of the church,

and the firmness of the promises of God,

and reminds us that He is strong and dependable.  (Psalm 31:3)

Peppermint flavor reminds us of the gift of spices from the wise men.  (Matthew 2:11)

When tasting the sweet candy,

we can think about our Heavenly Father's sweet love for us!

This Blog Post is inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out from the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI
Denver Public Library - Denver, CO
Pikes Peak Library District - Colorado Springs, CO

Dallas Public Library - Dallas, Texas

Match-Making Game

Match-Making Game or Lotto Game

Build children's memory skills as well as cooperation, when played with more than one child.

 

Materials Needed

Lids - from the top of frozen juice containers, or any other lid from a food container that is clean and free of sharp edges. If you have a can-opener that leaves smooth edges, lids from food cans will work.

Stickers - two of each design

Container with lid - for storage
                                                                  

 

Directions

 

Decorate one side of two lids so they match, using stickers.  Decorate the remaining lids in pairs so that each lid has a match.

 

 

To play, turn all the lids sticker side down.  Each player turns over 2 lids at a time, trying to find a match.  If they guess correctly and turn over two lids that match, they get to keep the pair.  If they guess incorrectly, they must turn the lids back over and it is the next person's turn.  The player with the most matches at the end of the game wins.

 

Smaller children can play keeping all the lids sticker side up and find the matching pairs.

 

Below is a nativity sticker matching game.

                          (2 camels, 2 sheep, 2 baby Jesus, 2 angels, 2 Mary's, 2 Joseph, etc.)

 

                                  


This Blog Post is inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out from the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI
Denver Public Library - Denver, CO
Pikes Peak Library District - Colorado Springs, CO

Dallas Public Library - Dallas, Texas

Kindle Edition of Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes now available!

JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS!

...A Kindle edition is now available of the book:

  Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share. Order from Amazon.com

for $9.99.

 Paper back copies, available for $21.95, ordered before Christmas will be signed by the author!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_15?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=miraculous+magical+moments+in+minutes&sprefix=Miraculous+magi%2Caps%2C242

 

 

 

 

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

or

as a Kindle edition  for $9.99

 

from Amazon.com

Or

This book can also be purchased from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

and Silver Dollar City's General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can be checked out from the following U.S. libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI
Denver Public Library - Denver, CO
Pikes Peak Library District - Colorado Springs, CO

Dallas Public Library - Dallas, Texas

Activities to Help Children Focus on Christ at Christmas

Christmas season is full of hustle and bustle. 

Schedules are full and consumers are bombarded with Santa and ways to indulge. 

 It is exceptionally hard to keep the focus on the reason for the season... Christ's birth.

 

In these next few weeks before the 25th as you are swamped with menu plans,

shopping, wrapping, baking and parties,

here are a few ways to make sure that Jesus' birth remains the focus of the festivities.

 

 

 

 



1.    The BEST way is to read from the BIBLE!    Luke 2 and Matthew 2   Make it a family affair!

2.    Story/Picture books - read together as a family.

3.    Put up the nativity set as a family.  Make it an event!  Let Jesus "arrive" in the manger on
       Christmas morning.

4.  Set up the manger/nativity set one piece at a time, adding to the story each night.

                                     “Snowball” Christmas Story 

To begin this activity you need a Bible and an empty manger/stable.  Hold in readiness these manger pieces:  angel, Mary, Joseph, stable animals, baby Jesus, shepherds, sheep, wise men and a few small wrapped empty gift boxes.  Add these pieces one by one each night as you read another part of the Christmas Story from the Bible. 

Additional Idea:  You may want to wrap the lid of a small jewelry size box, line it with cotton and lay baby Jesus inside the box.  This is a great memorable visual to show children that Jesus is a gift from God.

     Day 1.  A Savior King is promised – Isaiah 7: 14; 9: 6-7;  Jeremiah 23:5; Micah 5:2-5 a gold ring)

     Day 2.  The angel Gabriel and a visit to Mary – Luke 1: 26-38 (introduce angel and Mary to scene.)

     Day 3.  Joseph is visited by an angel - Mathew 1:  18-25 (introduce Joseph)

     Day 4.  Bethlehem journey/no room in the Inn- Luke 2: 1-7
                                                                                             (introduce animals, and straw, if available)

     Day  5.  Jesus is born! – Luke 2: 8-14 (introduce baby Jesus)

     Day 6.  Angels visit the shepherds- Luke 2: 8-14 (introduce angel(s))  and /or sing Christmas hymns
                 (Angels We Have Heard on High, O Little Town of Bethlehem, etc.

     Day 7.  Shepherds visit baby Jesus – Luke 2: 15-20 (introduce shepherds and sheep)

     Day 8.  The wise men travel to Jerusalem – Matthew 2: 1-8 (introduce camels and /or a star)

     Day 9.  The wise men find Jesus and worship Him in a house- Matthew 2: 9-12
                                                                                                                    (introduce wise men)

     Day 10.  The dream and trip to Egypt – Matthew 2: 13-15


5.  Give children their own nativity to set up as they wish, to play with it and act out the story.  Add
     a children's story book of the Christmas Story to "read" whenever they wish.

6.  On Christmas Day, have a birthday cake for Jesus.  Sing Happy Birthday.  Exchange gifts.

7.    Use old Christmas cards to retell the story.

8.    Help children make their own story book of the Christmas story.  Glue the old cards into a spiral
       notebook, scrapbook or old book.  Let children take  turns telling the story each night, in their
       own words.

 9.    Watch Christmas sales (especially the day after)... pick up non-breakable  ornaments that can be
        used to tell the Christmas story.

10.   Role play- acting  out Jesus' birth. Props: bathrobes and towels, old gold candy boxes, a bag of
        potpourri, a card board box with a doll , Burger King paper crowns, etc.

Christmas Story Scriptures and Suggested Story Props

First idea:   modified from Tricia@SweeterThanSweets 

           1.  Gabriel - Luke 1-26-28, 31                                                             angel wings

           2.  Engagement - Matthew 1:18                                                           gold rings

          3.  Mary’s Song – Luke 1: 46-55                                                         sheet music or music notes

          4.  Angel – Matthew 1:20                                                                    angel pin

          5.  Salvation through Jesus - Matthew 1: 21                                         cross

          6.  Jesus bridging the gap between heaven and earth – Matthew 1:  22-23 and Isaiah 7:14

                                                                                                            Piece of string or a bridge

         7.  Jesus’ genealogy – Luke 2:4                                                           chain/ house/star of David

        8.  Journey from Nazareth – Luke 2: 5                                               stuffed donkey or statue

        9.  Purple royalty and Lion representation of house of Judah – Micah 5:2

                                                                                                            Stuffed lion or purple cloth

         10.  Jesus is born – Luke 2:6-7                                                            a doll

         11.  Swaddling clothes – Luke 2:7                                                       a piece of soft cloth

         12.  The Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6                                                 a peace sign

         13.  Shepherds – Luke 2: 8-11                                                 wool stuffing or a shepherd’s hook

         14.  The manger – Luke 2:12                                                             pieces of straw

         15.  Angels – Luke 2: 13-14                                                                gold halos

         16.  Spreading the gospel – Luke 2: 15-18                                          jingle bells

         17.  Kneeling – response to Jesus as God – Psalm 95:6                      dirt or rocks

         18.  Mary pondering thoughts in her heart – Luke 2: 19-20, 33-35     heart sticker or charm

         19.  Jesus’ name – Luke 2: 21                                                             Jesus’ name printed

        20.  Sacrifice of doves/Holy Spirit like a dove in baptism – Luke 2: 22-24, 3: 21-22

                                                                                                            Feathers or 2 doves

        21.  Revelation of Jesus as Christ to Simeon – Luke 2: 25-32             googly eyes

       22.  Magi’s wisdom and knowledge – Matthew 2:1                             scroll (rolled up paper)

       23.  Jesus is King of Kings – Matthew 2: 1-2                                       crown , jewels, purple cloth

       24.  Star in the east – Matthew 2: 9-10                                                 star sticker, charm

      25.  Wise men’s gifts – Matthew 2:11                  3 small gift boxes    (filled or not… your choice)

 

 

11.   Cut apart old Christmas cards of the nativity into puzzles.  Small children- 2-3 pieces.  Use
        more pieces for older children.  Store them in an envelope - label on the outside the number
        of  pieces and resulting picture.

12.  Use old Christmas cards and yarn to make lace-up or sewing cards

13.   Encourage the spirit of giving... pick a favorite toy, wrap creatively and present to a child
        in need... shelter, mission, angel tree. 

14.  Go shopping  for  your local food pantry, homeless shelter, or animal shelter

15.  Participate in a family service project.

     I know of a family with four small children.  Every year they give each child $50 to spend
     on someone else!  This year the kids "shopped" from a Samaritan's Purse catalog (World 
     Vision is another option) and they picked out a fresh water well for a village without water
    (other options were chickens, goats, school supplies, vaccines, mosquito netting, etc.).  The
     kids did yard work, took orders for Christmas baking, participated in a living nativity and
     sold all of their match  box cars, Lego's and dress up clothes in order to raise money for this
     effort to help others.  This family is an incredible inspiration and example of the true
     meaning of the season... sharing God's love and kindness with others.

Other service project ideas to participate as a family:  thank the postal carrier with a card/small gift; cookies for firefighter/police officers; leave change in the vending machine; donate toys to charity; donate to a food pantry; thank you notes to teachers, leaders, principals; collect all the shopping carts at the store and bring them to the front; write a note to a relative; leave wipes and diapers on a changing table in a public restroom; do a neighborhood (school) trash walk; hug each family member; open the door for someone; make an unexpected play date to watch someone's children; provide wish list items for the Humane Society; write a letter/card to grandparent;  write a letter (make a picture) to a missionary or a soldier; make someone's bed for them read with a sibling; doorbell ditch a treat; smile at three people today; leave collected couch/car change in the bell ringers bucket; give up one of your Christmas presents to someone secretly outside the family by doorbell ditching them Christmas afternoon; deliver cookies to neighbors/friends/ nursing home; etc.

16.  Spend time together as a family, interacting and communicating with each other... no electronics
       allowed!

      Ideas:  pop and string popcorn garlands; make hot chocolate and add marshmallows; play with
                 Christmas stickers... make a picture; tour the Christmas lights in your neighborhood--invite
                 and elderly neighbor to join you; go to a holiday parade; pick out a Christmas tree;
                 make paper snowflakes and hang on the windows or from a ceiling light; read a Christmas
                 book; build a snowman;  go caroling; visit a live nativity; make an ornament for your tree;
                 volunteer for a part in the Christmas pageant at church or attend the children's program;etc.

 

These are just a few ideas to choose from, or springboard new ideas, for your family this holiday season in order to keep the true meaning of Christmas as your focus. 

 

Wishing you many blessings and lots of fun, memory making experiences!

This Blog Post is inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out from the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI
Denver Public Library - Denver, CO
Pikes Peak Library District - Colorado Springs, CO

Dallas Public Library - Dallas, Texas

Quick, Easy Christmas Activities

 

During the Christmas season, life can become hectic, to say the least. 

But, it is important to remember not to let the urgent things

keep you away from the important things.

Take time to play with your kids each day. 

Here are a few quick, easy, fun ideas. 

If you have older children they can make these activities. 

Smaller children will need your help to create the fun. 

Lace-Up Cards 

 

Left over Christmas cards, cards from last year, an old calendar or even the front of a cereal/food box can be turned into a quick activity.  Using a one hole punch, make a row of holes around the outside of your picture.  Then using a piece of yarn or shoe lace you can play with your new "sewing cards".  If using yarn, be sure to wrap a piece of tape around one end to make it stiff enough to push through the holes.  The tape will also prevent raveling.

 

 

 

Flannel Story Box 

 

A story box is great for travel, telling, or re-telling, a story anytime, anywhere. 

This can be used anytime of the year.

A Story Box can be used for individual child entertainment or for a group of children.

 

Materials needed: 

an empty shoebox (one with a hinged lid is preferred)

a piece of solid colored flannel and thin batting

felt pieces

small pieces of sandpaper (optional)

white craft glue/hot glue

LID

1.  Measure the shoebox lid and add 1/2 inch on all four sides. 

2.  Cut out flannel with the dimensions you measured in step #1

3.  Press under 1/2 inch toward the back with a warm iron. 

4.  Cut out a piece of batting that is the exact size as your lid. 

5.  Place the batting on the wrong side of the flannel with the 1/2 inch turn down covering the raw 

     edges of the batting.

6.  Glue the flannel and batting to the lid of the shoebox.

7.  There should be no raw edges showing.

8.  Allow to dry before using.

 

STORY PIECES

Cut out shapes and/or pictures using felt, old greeting cards, pictures from magazines or calendars. Cookies cutters and stencils can be helpful in making pieces.

 

On the back of the non-felt pieces, glue small pieces of leftover felt, or small pieces of sandpaper. This will help the pieces stick to the flannel board lid when telling the story.

 

A fun idea is to make color copies of your child's favorite story book.  Cut out the main characters and add felt or sandpaper to the back.  This will allow children to re-tell their favorite story and to create variations as they wish.

 

Create a Christmas tree from green felt, star from yellow felt and an assortment of ornaments and presents for your child to decorate a Christmas tree. 

 

 

The box in the picture below is telling the Christmas Story. 

Felt shapes, as well as old Christmas cards are used for telling the story.

 

  

Story Telling

The fronts of old greeting cards are also a great way to create stories.

1.  Creativity and Storytelling:  Present a picture and then make up a story about that picture.

2.  Sequencing and Logical reasoning:  A fun way to tell the Christmas Story (or any story) is to provide a variety of cards that include the major events of a particular story.  Ask children to place them in order.  They can then present a card as they tell the story or lay all the cards out on the floor, table or bed before telling the story.

 Puzzles

Remember ... old greeting cards can be used as puzzles.  If you have two of the same card left after sending your holiday greetings, these are perfect to make a puzzle.  Glue the front of one card onto the front of an envelope so you can see what the resulting picture of your puzzle will look like. 

Take the front of the second card and cut it into random pieces.  Remember cut fewer pieces for younger children (even as few as two pieces) and more pieces for older children.  

 

 

 

Using cookie cutters to create a few novelty pieces are great to hide hidden shapes inside the puzzle. 

 

A cereal box - inlaid puzzle



This puzzle is made from a pizza box

 Always write how many pieces are in the puzzle on the outside of the envelope.

If you do not have two of one design, simply add a description and the number of pieces to your envelope front.

This type of puzzle travels well, take little space to store and are always a hit with kids, both young and old alike!

This Blog Post is inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out from the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI
Denver Public Library - Denver, CO
Pikes Peak Library District - Colorado Springs, CO

Dallas Public Library - Dallas, Texas

Traditional Handprint Turkey

Each year when my kids were little we would make a hand print turkey. The boys would write their name under their creation and we would add the date. These fine feathered fowl would be transformed into a holiday greeting card and away it would travel over the miles to brighten the face of their Granny. Granny saved these cards for years creating a flock of turkeys of varying sizes on her refrigerator door. We didn't plan it, but it turned out to be a wonderful way to watch and remember the growth of our children.

It's that time of year again to pull out the paper, markers and maybe even paint or ink pads

to continue the tradition onto the next generation of children in our family.

I foresee a flock of turkeys being created to decorate my refrigerator!

Traditions are a wonderful component of building strong families. Spending time together, interacting, laughing and communicating helps cement the bonds of family relationships.

Why not add turkey hand prints to your family traditions?

Below seven people comprising four generations enjoy making handprint turkeys
 as an after dinner family activity.
Each person traces their hand, colors in the feathers then adds what they are thankful for somewhere on the paper. 
They sign and date their creation and it is added to the photo album.

 

 

 

 

Supplies Needed:

Paper - size and color are your choice

Markers if you want to trace your hand print

Finger paint or ink pads if you want to stamp your hand print

Crayons or markers to add a turkey beak, feet, wattle etc.

Directions:

Trace or imprint your hand print onto a piece of paper with your fingers spread out wide. The fingers become the turkey's feathers. Your thumb is the turkey neck and head. Use a thumb print for the turkey wattle. Or, use markers/crayons to add the feet, eye, wattle, feather colors, etc

Hand/Foot Print Turkey

http://www.squidoo.com/Thanksgiving-Kids-Crafts

Note:

Turkeys should be allowed to be any color, depending on your child's preference.

In reality, they DO show a rainbow of colors in the wild when sunlight hits their feathers!

When my oldest son was in kindergarten, the teacher refused to hang up his turkey because he colored it "wrong". He had made a beautiful purple turkey with green legs. His self esteem took a big hit that day, when he was not included with the rest of his class. So, no matter what color your child interprets their turkey to be, hang it up with pride and joy. Let their creativity be expressed in any form they wish to take. Let them think "out of the box" and enjoy the fruits of their efforts!

This Blog Post is inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out of the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI
Denver Public Library - Denver, CO
Pikes Peak Library District - Colorado Springs, CO

 

Catch Me If You Can!

Such a simple idea!

 

Next time you empty a milk carton, don't throw it away! 

Any other plastic carton with a handle will also work (vinegar, dish soap, etc.)

 

Cut away the front of the carton, leaving the handle to make a "catcher's mitt". 

Attach string, cording, shoelace, etc.

by tying one end to the milk carton and one to a foam ball, or yarn pom-pom.

 

This will provide fun and laughter, challenging your eye-hand coordination and coordination.

 

Make one for everyone in the family and have a contest.

It looks easy... but is it?

 

 

 

 

What else can you make from empty milk cartons?

 

 

 

 

This Blog Post is inspired from the book:

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes:

Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa

If you would like more fun ideas to share with your children

(that do not require batteries or electronics )

you can purchase this 180 page book,

full of color photos,

for $21.95

from Amazon.com

Or

from the gift shop at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO,

Silver Dollar City General Store in Branson, MO.

This book can also be checked out of the following libraries:

Scenic Regional Library - Pacific, MO

First Christian Church - Washington, MO

Hawaii State Library - Honolulu, HI

Story City Public Library - Story City, IA

Ellsworth Public Library - Ellsworth, ME

Ludington Public Library - Ludington, MI
Denver Public Library - Denver, CO
Pikes Peak Library District - Colorado Springs, CO