How to Celebrate Christmas

Christmas has become a very
commercialized holiday. In the rush
to buy presents and outdo last year's
gift giving, many people tend to
sumberge the true meaning of
Christmas beneath busyness and
consumerism. Aside from big dinners
and expensive gifts, there are other
ways to celebrate this important
event in the Christian calendar that
reflect the true meaning of the
holiday, and give the gifts to the One
whose birthday it is! And even if you
aren't a Christian, you can still
celebrate the festive season in your
own way, without the attendant
commercialism. Reflect on the reason for
Christmas. If you're not sure
about it or you're rusty on the
background, do some research.
In the Bible, you can find the
Christmas story in the Gospel
according to Luke, Chapters 1
and 2, as well as the Gospel
according to Matthew Chapters
1 and 2. Consider reading these
chapters aloud as part of your
family's holiday. Ask members
of the family for their own
impressions of the stories given,
to personalize their
understanding.
Talk to children regularly
about the meaning of
Christmas and tell them the
stories about Christmas. Find
beautiful illustrations to
accompany the Bible stories,
to capture their interest.
Choose some activities that
you and your friends or family
will enjoy and which fit with
the meaning of Christmas .
Consider preparing some special
foods for the poor and needy,
visiting people who live alone or
have no family close or dropping
in to see the sick in hospital.
You might even give handmade
gifts to people who aren't likely
to get much this season.
Spend time with others to
celebrate . Gather together at
the homes of friends and family,
and spend some time in
fellowship with others who
believe as you do during this
special time.
Wish others a Merry
Christmas. You don't have to
worry that you will offend them.
If they want to wish you a
Happy Chanukkah, in response,
thank them and wish them the
same. Wishing others a Merry
Christmas helps spread the
cheer.
Give to others. Whether to
your family and friends, or to
others less fortunate, spend
some time this Christmas in
giving. We give in remembrance
of the gifts of the Magi to the
Savior, but at the very heart of
it all, recall that we are to give
because He first gave to us.
Spend time quietly being
thankful for the gift of Jesus
to the world that we
celebrate on Christmas . This is
the day that Christians have set
aside to celebrate the beginning
of the greatest gift mankind has
ever received. Coming into the
Christmas season with a grateful
heart is essential if you really
want to make the extension
from Jesus's giving of His
amazing gift to your giving and
receiving.
Invite God to come and
celebrate the day with you.
Some people choose to do this
by attending a Christmas Eve
service. Some do it by sitting
before the Christmas tree and
silently inviting God to just be
with them. However you decide
to do it, for the Christian,
making God a part of your day is
vital.
Taking the Commercial out of
Christmas
Choose ritual and tradition
over gift giving . Establish
family rituals and traditions that
honor the spirit of Christmas
and involve all family members.
It might be attending church as
a whole family, it might be
giving a meal preparation task to
each member of the family,
however young or old, or it
might be writing heartfelt
letters to one another
describing how their acts of
kindness have helped you
through the year. Whatever
your ritual (or set of rituals),
place more emphasis on caring
and sharing than trying to outdo
one another with gift giving.
Avoid spending money you
don't have . Don't go into debt
for the sake of one holiday. You
don't have to give expensive
purchased gifts; instead, you
can make a gift. Many people
feel a homemade gift is better
because it shows thought and
consideration for the recipient.
gifts. Give within your means,
people will understand and you
set an excellent example that
liberates others from the
consumer treadmill.
Gift ideas include:
bookmarks, framed family
photos you have taken over
the year, holiday cookies or
breads, or "cookie kits" (the
flour, sugar, baking powder,
chocolate chips and other
spices are layered in a plain
Mason jar, and instructions
attached to a piece of raffia
or a ribbon letting them
know what to add, whether
it's water, oil, egg, or
whatever). See How to make
your own Christmas gifts for
more ideas.
Learn some of the non-
commercialized Christmas
songs. There are some beautiful
carols that you can sing
together––maybe someone in
your family or circle of friends
can play the piano or guitar; if
so, encourage them to play, and
have a sing-along. Consider
carols like "O Come All Ye
Faithful," "Joy to the World," and
"The First Noel." You can find
the lyrics online if you don't
know them.
Mute the ads ! Seriously, stop
the "buy this, buy that for
Christmas" ads from invading
your home life. The consumer
economy has its place but it's
not in your living room during a
sacred season. Teach kids to
mute the ads and do it yourself.
Or, record your favorite shows
and fast forward your way
through them. Everyone will
feel greatly more at peace for it
and there is less incitement to
go shop till you drop.
Avoid blindly obeying the
encouragement of retailers
to make Christmas all about
consumerism , as that is far
from the true meaning,
regardless of whether you're
religious or not.
Secular Celebration
Being a national holiday in many
nations, Christmas tends to be
celebrated even by those who do
not follow Christianity, in the spirit
of caring about others, coming
together and spreading cheer.
Spread cheer. When you hear
Christmas songs, instead of
being grumpy and resenting all
of the commercialism, smile and
whistle along. Being cheerful
during the Christmas season
really will help in spreading
Christmas spirit to those around
you, plus it helps you enjoy it
more in the bargain.
Join up with friends and
family. Many people celebrate
the holiday without dwelling on
religion. Much of the celebration
is secular in nature. The day is a
national holiday and most folks
get a day off work. Take
advantage of this time to
reconnect with friends and
family, and enjoy the fellowship.
Create your own traditions or
celebrate with the traditions
that have been passed down
in your family. Decorate with
family heirloom ornaments or
try something new by
decorating a tree with Star Trek
or superhero themed
ornaments, or with little trains,
or with Disney characters for
example. Or have a movie night
during which you invite friends
over and serve hot apple cider
and popcorn or cocoa and
cookies. Show "A Christmas
Story" or "The Family Stone," or
any number of other seasonal
movies.
Have a sing-along . Either have
it at your home, go door to
door, or go to an old folks'
home and do it. Learn some
Christmas or seasonal songs,
and sing! It's fun, and even if
your voice isn't great, hopefully,
you won't be singing alone––
you'll get some cover from your
more talented friends! Try songs
like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed
Reindeer," "Frosty the
Snowman," "Holly Jolly
Christmas," or "Silver Bells."
Do a generous act . This is in
the spirit of spreading joy,
kindness and beauty during the
Christmas season. Maybe you
can volunteer at a homeless
shelter, or maybe you could
help with a local toy drive or
food drive for those who have
less than you do.