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Our Christmas Celebration

I decided I am going to share with you how we celebrate our holidays. I will do that by explaining about how we emphasis St. Nicholas Day on December 6th and Christmas on December 25th. That way the kids get their 'Santa Claus' on December 6th in honoring the Saint Nicolas and studying on how he had the heart of a giver then on Christmas the emphasis is Jesus and how He was sent to earth to be our Savior.

Several years ago when my daughters were very young, I was at their grandparents house for Christmas and realized that Jesus got lost in the shuffle. All the emphasis was on the presents and how much was spent. I didn't grow up like that, I grew up where we read the story of Jesus' birth and had a birthday party for Jesus. Yes, we received presents but they were not always extravagant. My parents bought what they could afford and there where times when we didn't get very much at all, but we always had a wonderful Christmas. It was that Christmas when I realized that I wanted my girls to realize there was more to Christmas than Santa Claus, so I started doing research on Saint Nicholas.

See, Saint Nicholas is allegedly what started Santa Claus. From what I have gathered and think is true, Nicholas was an orphan that had inherited great wealth. When he was rather young he had heard about three maidens that were of the age to be married but their father had no dowry. This meaning that the maidens would be destined to slavery. Nicholas being a compassionate soul secretly gave the maidens bags of gold. Three different times he threw a bag of gold into the house for the young maidens to find them and the story ends with the maidens being able to marry.

The legend is sweet and meaningful it gives a reason for a man to give gifts. The rest of the legend goes on to say that Nicholas gave away all of his money and belongings to follow Christ. (Matthew 19:21) He went on to serve as Bishop and then upon his death named the patron saint of sailors.

For us, on December 6th the anniversary of his approximate death we tell the kids about the legend and read a devotion about giving, then we give the kids a small gift to symbolize what Nicholas did as he honored God by sharing with others.

This works for us so that we can have a big birthday party for Jesus on December 25th. This is when the kids get the bulk of their presents but they understand that God has provided the gifts for them. There is no Santa Claus in our house only Jesus. This is because Jesus is the Reason we celebrate Christmas.

Christmas day we have our normal breakfast for the weekend of eggs, sausage, and pancakes we then spend the morning getting ready for the birthday party. This year (2005) since Christmas is on Sunday we will go to church and then when we get home we will have the birthday party. We will let the kids open a present before church so they can not fill left out. For the birthday party we have a birthday cake and read the scripture of the birth of Christ. (Luke 1:26-56, Luke 2:1-40) We sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and really have a birthday party. The kids understand that it was Jesus that allowed us to be able to purchase their presents and that Jesus is our provider.

I pray that each and everyone of you have a blessed Christmas and that you and yours bless others as well.

Submitted on : 4-Dec-2005