Keeping Christ in Christmas–Green Eggs & Moms Style!

From the archive. This post was first published on the original Green Eggs and Moms blog and is kept here as it was.

I’m participating in the Keeping Christ in Christmas Blog Carnival, hosted by Raising (& Teaching) Little Saints, Truly Rich Mom and Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families. We’ll be sharing different ways, tips, stories and real-life experiences that will help us focus on Jesus as the Reason for the Christmas season. Please scroll down to the end of the post to see the list of carnival entries.

Ah, yes. We’re a few days shy of celebrating Christmas.

And as you know, calls for imparting the season’s very essence to children is the battle cry of most parents. It’s mine as well. So, I’m going to show you how to do just that.

But, of course, we’re going to do it a little differently. For those who’ve been following Green Eggs & Moms for a while (I know you’re out there!), you know that I love putting fun twists on things.

Let’s get started then!

While I love books, educating children doesn’t always require having your nose inches away from a book. Now, let’s get off the cozy reading chair and on to our feet for these two activities that are packed with learnings for your little angels.

Candy Cane

History: Candy canes emerged into the Christmas scene when a German choirmaster from the 1700s bent hard sugar candy sticks, which then formed a shepherd’s crook. He handed these all-white candies to children during drawn-out nativity services, most likely to keep them behaved.

Lesson: Jesus is our shepherd; He guides us to the right path. Explain to your child that whenever he sees a candy cane, he ought to remember how we are called to follow Jesus.

But don’t stop there. Let’s pound in the lesson more in a fun way:

Activity: Pick up a few candy canes form the grocery store and help your child distribute them to other kids: cousins, friends, and classmates. While doing so, ask him to recount the candy cane’s history to each kiddo he hands the candy to.

Bonus: You have a little soldier helping you shift the focus of Christmas back to Christ.

Advent Wreath

History: The use of this now ubiquitous decor dates back to the 1600s. But, it is Johann Hinrich Wichern who is credited for using the advent wreath as an educational tool to help children understand the meaning of Christmas, as well as mark its arrival.

Starting from the fourth Sunday before Christmas, Johann Hinrich Wichern placed a white candle on the wreath signifying each Sunday that passed. To mark the days in between Sundays, red candles were used. The evergreens, which make up the wreath, represents the everlasting life Jesus gave us, while the circular shape symbolizes God, who has no beginning and no end.

Lesson: Jesus gave us eternal life; God is eternal.

Activity: Make at least one wreath for someone your child deeply cares about. Then, just like the the candy cane, have him explain the advent wreath’s history upon gifting it.

Bonus: As your child gives this to the person whom he chose, he is leading the latter closer to God. The same way a shepherd guides his flock. Oh, and, isn’t this a fun craft? (Here are several creative wreath ideas.)

One Last Thing…

I’m posting this 5 days before Christmas. So, if you’re pressed for time and won’t be able to do any of the activities above before the 25th, you can still do so them after. Christmas doesn’t have to end after the coming Tuesday.

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Keeping Christ in Christmas–Green Eggs & Moms Style!

Candy Cane

Advent Wreath

One Last Thing…

Other Blog Carnival Posts You Should Visit:

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