“See Christ in Christmas”
Our family loves to celebrate the many quirky and unique elements of Christmas, from shopping mall Santas to sugar cookies to Kenny G. But amidst all the fun, we make sure not to lose sight of the true meaning of the season. Christmas is a time to honor the birth of Jesus, who came to live among us and eventually die to save us from our sins. To help our kids understand this, we dedicated an entire day to celebrating the book “See Christ in Christmas.”
“See Christ in Christmas” is a children’s book by Melissa Sunday that illustrates twelve symbols of Christmas, transforming everyday holiday items into teaching moments about the true meaning of the holidays. The symbols include an angel, candle, snowflake, star, candy cane, poinsettia, and more. We incorporated each symbol into a food, craft, or activity throughout the day.
For breakfast, we made evergreen-shaped pancakes. The kids loved their festive shape and learning about the evergreen tree's symbolism of eternal life. Later, we baked poinsettia cookie blossoms, discussing how the red poinsettia reminds us of the blood Jesus shed for us. Our craft time included making paper plate doves and snowflakes. The dove, symbolizing peace, was a reminder of the peace Jesus brings into our lives. The snowflakes highlighted the uniqueness and beauty of God's creation.
For some extra entertainment, we had a blast with several themed activities. “Finding Jesus” is a “Where’s Waldo” type of book that the kids enjoyed, searching for Jesus in different scenes. We also played a Christmas-themed “Spot It” game. In addition, we played a Christmas anagram game to see how many words we could find in “CHRISTMAS,” reinforcing the focus on Christ. But our favorite games might have been some of the present-themed and candy cane-themed Minute to Win It games that had us rolling on the floor in laughter.
For dinner, we created a turkey wreath, a nod to the wreath symbolizing God's eternal love. And we wrapped up our day by watching the 2017 animated film “The Star.” This movie beautifully retells the Nativity story from the perspective of the animals that witnessed it, bringing us back to the true meaning of the holiday. By the end of the day, our hearts were full, and our spirits were lifted as we had not only enjoyed the festive activities but also deepened our understanding and appreciation of the true meaning of Christmas. It was a wonderful way to “See Christ in Christmas” and ensure our kids remember why we celebrate this special season.
ACTIVITIES:
Guess the Count of "JINGLE BELLS"
“Christmas Tree ANGEL” Song
Christmas Scented CANDLE
SNOWFLAKE Paper Crafts
"The STAR" Movie
Minute to Win It Games: CANDY CANES, PRESENTS
Hide the Baby STOCKINGS
FOOD & DRINK MENU:
EVERGREEN Cookie Cutter Pancakes
