Journey to Christmas

Advent is a time for preparations, preparing our hearts for the coming of the

Son of God, which is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Advent wreaths are a way to help us remember. Another way, and fun for young children (and does not evolve fire) is having a journey to Bethlehem

All you need for this is a crèche. I start out the First Sunday in Advent with just our stable, the animals and the empty manger. Children will love helping you to set up this display. Then several rooms away we set up Mary, Joseph, and the donkey. Ever night after dinner we have our quiet time around the advent wreath and after we have blown out the candle we all go to the room that Mary and Joseph are currently staying in. Then one of my girls will move them a bit closer to the stable. When we move them we will talk about the birth of Christ getting closer and closer, and soon it will Jesus’ Birthday!

Crèches are a wonderful visual teaching tool. Letting them handle these items only will reinforce the message that you are teaching. Preparing the stable/manger is another way to “prepare”.

This practice can start when your children are very small and can grow with them, as they grow and understand what they are doing. When my children were older we also got out an atlas and a globe to look at how far they walked. Also we discussed the history of the time, and customs. Such as what were “swaddling clothes”, and what were they used for. It is tradition in our family that I place the baby in the manager after we go to Christmas Eve Services. When my children were little, they would check to make sure the “Jesus was born” before they would open their stocking!

This practice in our home has started several other traditions that still go on to this day. I have given my girls two different styles of crèches. When they were small they had a children’s non-breakable set. My daughters have told me that they enjoyed playing with their crèche’s and made them think about the meaning of Christmas, more then just being Santa Claus and gifts. When they grew older and more responsible I started given them a piece a years of more breakable china set. When they move out they had 2 sets’ of their own. I know have a one granddaughter and two goddaughters that for Christmas are getting pieces to their first crèche.

Christmas and families are about celebration and tradition, so please think about adding a new celebration to your family’s traditions, and try A Journey to Bethlehem.