Christ-Centered Christmas Traditions: How To Keep Christ the Focus of Christmas

This Christmas family tradition will help you focus on Jesus Christ throughout the Christmas season. Keep your Christmas focused on the Savior throughout December with this Christ-centered Christmas family tradition.

Hey y’all, Tiffany here, and I’ve got a fantastic idea on how you can keep Christ as the center of your Christmas through the entire month of December with a special family Christmas tradition.

What’s your favorite Christmas tradition? Something that you or your family does every year that just embodies the spirit of Christmas? Do you keep Christ in your Christmas?

Christmas Traditions

In my family growing up, we would go out to dinner at a new restaurant as a family on Christmas Eve. I’m the oldest of 10 kids, so going out to eat was a rare treat for us!

After being at the restaurant, we would drive around and look at Christmas lights while singing Christmas carols.

There was one house in Denver that we stopped at every year. The homeowners had turned their entire backyard into a Santa’s workshop, full of trains and lights, and even a sleigh. They also passed out free hot chocolate to anyone brave enough to get out of their snug, warm cars into the frigid air.

This is something that I continue to do with our family, although we usually eat out on December 23rd – we call it Christmas Adam dinner. (Get it? Because Adam comes before Eve?)

Another Christmas memory I have is of my father’s wooden Nativity set being brought carefully out of storage. It was hand-carved in Ecuador, and my father purchased it when he was a missionary there for two years at age 19.

I purchased a similar set on my mission in Puerto Rico about 10 years ago. We leave it up all year round, to try to remember that Christ’s birth should be celebrated all year.

Since we don’t do Santa in our home, we try to make Christ the focus of our December and keep Him in our Christmas.

One tradition we do each December is something I also gained on my mission, and it has made all the difference for me.

Keep Christ in Christmas

This one simple Christmas tradition will completely change how you and your family view the Christmas season.

It’s the simplest tradition. And I got it from one of my companions in the Missionary Training Center in the Dominican Republic. It’s something she and her family did each year:

Read the book of Luke throughout December.

You see, most people read Luke 2 on Christmas Eve: many families with young children even act out the Nativity. There’s a tremendous focus on His birth, with tons of activities like these Nativity sequencing pictures.

However, Christ is so much more than His birth! We need to keep Christ in Christmas….

Because He lived a perfect life, to show us how we should live.

Because He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, and He died on the cross.

And because He was resurrected and came forth from the tomb.

How we celebrate Christ in our family

As we celebrate His birth, we also should remember the reason it’s such a big deal! And we should teach our children that as well. Every Christmas, we make sure we are celebrating Christ-centered Christmas traditions, but we also remember that Christmas is so much more than just a birthday party for a great man.

The book of Luke has 24 chapters in it – isn’t that perfect? You can read a chapter each day from December 1st, ending on Christmas Eve! This way you keep Christ in Christmas each day leading up to the holiday.

No matter where we are in our family scripture study, we pause it when we hit December 1st, and we resume it again on Christmas morning.

We also like decorating for Christmas with these “keep Christ in Christmas” reminders. Although we enjoy gazing at the Christmas tree and listening to Christmas carols and Christmas songs, the whole family and extended family members are moved by the Christmas story, where Baby Jesus is at the center.

I can’t tell you what a tremendous blessing it has been in our family to have this Christmas tradition. Being able to discuss the life of Christ throughout the month of His birth with the highlight on Christmas Eve and with our children brings a reverence and awe that is sorely lacking during this commercial-centered time of year.

What are some of your favorite ways to make sure you keep Christ in Christmas and focused on our Savior, and what do you do on Christmas Eve?

How the season is meaningful to us

As a mother with four kids who adore our family traditions and the joy of sharing, celebrating Christ’s birth holds an incredibly special place in our hearts. Here’s why this season is so meaningful for us:

Sacred Family Time:

Christmas is more than just a date on the calendar; it’s a sacred time when our family comes together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We cherish the moments spent in reflection, prayer, and the sharing of our faith.

Traditions Passed Down:

Our family traditions, passed down through generations, make this season uniquely ours. From decorating the Christmas tree adorned with Christmas lights to baking special treats, each tradition is a thread that weaves our family Christmas story and connects us to the broader tapestry of Christmas day.

Teaching the True Meaning:

As a mom, it’s essential for me to teach my children the true reason behind our celebrations. We delve into the biblical Christmas story of Jesus’ birth, emphasizing the significance of God’s love and the hope and salvation that Christ brings into our lives.

Acts of Kindness:

Christmas is a time when we focus on acts of kindness and generosity. We encourage our kids to think beyond their wish lists, emphasizing the joy of giving and sharing with those in need. It’s a lesson in compassion that goes hand in hand with the Christmas spirit.

Creating Lasting Memories:

The joy of Christmas is etched in the memories we create as a family. Whether it’s the excitement of unwrapping presents, singing carols together, or the warmth of holiday meals, these moments become cherished memories that bind us together.

Unity in Diversity:

Unites us in our diversity. Our family, like the wider world, may have different traditions and ways of celebrating, but the essence of love, joy, and togetherness is a common thread that connects us all during this season.

Expressing Gratitude:

Christmas is a time for us to express gratitude for the blessings we have. As a family, we take stock of the year, appreciating the moments of growth, challenges overcome, and the love that binds us together.

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, these personal reflections remind us that Christmas is not just a day but a beautiful journey of traditions, sharing, and love. They create a tapestry of warmth and meaning that defines our family’s unique celebration of Christ’s birth.

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One Comment

Shelly M. says:

December 3, 2019 at 9:05 am

The “simple” traditions are always my favorite. Oldest of 10 — wow! That is quite an experience all in itself! I love the idea of reading a chapter of Luke every night from December 1st through the 25th. Growing up, my holidays were primarily chaotic, to say the least. My mom tried to raise my brother and I under a Christian roof; but my biological father had opposite plans. He was often missing or late for holidays and we lived our lives on his mother’s terms. Since having my own family, I have been determined to break that viscous cycle. My husband is an amazing man who was raised in a full-Christian home and regularly went to church. We have what I consider “basic” traditions but I would love to instill some deeper traditions that are rooted in Christ to pass on to my boys. Wonderful post!

Christ-Centered Christmas Traditions: How To Keep Christ the Focus of Christmas

Christmas Traditions

Keep Christ in Christmas

Read the book of Luke throughout December.

How we celebrate Christ in our family