Here’s a story about my love of Christmastime: when I was a little girl, I had trouble sleeping throughout the weeks leading up to December 25th, and I was lucky if I got an hour or two of rest the night before Christmas. This pattern stretched on until an embarrassing point – not in my adolescence or teen years, but young adulthood. I often joke that by the time I was personally able to sleep a full night following Christmas Eve Mass, I had children who kept me awake throughout the night. Do you believe me when I say that this isn’t an exaggeration?! 

I love the season of Advent, I love the month of December, and I love Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Christmastide. The hopeful anticipation that fills the former and the joyful festivity that marks the latter make this time of year my favorite. I find happiness and meaning in both the religious rituals that suffuse the season – lighting the Advent wreath, attending evening vespers, volunteering with fellow parishioners at our community’s soup kitchen, reading my Advent devotional, setting up our family’s nativity while listening to O Come O Come Emmanuel – and the secular ones – watching the town Christmas parade, cutting down a fir tree, and drinking hot chocolate while watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas. 

Sometimes, though, I do find myself wishing that the nonreligious traditions could have a little bit more catholicity or spirituality woven into them, for both my sake and my whole family’s sake. I never want my children (or me, for that matter!) to forget the reason for the season, and I also know that I enjoy activities more when they are in some way tied to my faith. 

It’s with that in mind that I wrote today’s post: a list of ideas for infusing secular Christmas traditions with a Catholic twist. 

Decorating Gingerbread Houses 

I have two ideas for this one. Instead of building a classic gingerbread house, make a gingerbread stable and put a gingerbread Mary, Joseph and Jesus in it. You can still go crazy with the icing and candy! If you prefer to go with a traditional gingerbread house, say a quick prayer to St. Thomas the Apostle – patron saint of architects and builders – before wielding the piping bag!

Visiting a Tree Farm

When I was growing up, the gift my mom gave every child on their baptism was a beautiful picture book, The Tale of Three Trees. The books tells the story of Jesus’ life through the perspective of the three trees: one that becomes the manger in which infant Jesus was placed, one that becomes the fishing boat from which Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, and one that becomes the cross on which Jesus was crucified. This would be a great book to read as you are headed to a tree farm.

Christmas Shopping 

Whether you are shopping alone or with some of your children, use gift buying for your family and friends as an opportunity to consider the wants and needs of “the least of these.” This might look like shopping for a toy drive hosted by your kids’ school or your parish; it might mean choosing a thoughtful gift for a lonely neighbor; or perhaps it involves filling a box with gifts for a program like Operation Christmas Child. As you shop, pray for the people for whom you are selecting gifts, and if you are with your children, talk to them about our Christian call to generosity.

Checking out the Christmas Lights 

Many families have some sort of light-viewing tradition, such as driving around town and seeing the neighbors displays, or going to a nearby zoo or park’s more elaborate show. Considering that “light in the darkness” is one of the main themes of the incarnation, it would be easy to make this seemingly secular activity a more spiritual one. Either alone or with your family, read this blog post about Advent light before heading out to see the Christmas lights, and reflect on how it speaks to your heart this season.

Watching Christmas Movies 

There’s a whole lot of nostalgia for many folks surrounding Christmas movies. Maybe you grew up watching the claymation classics, or perhaps It’s a Wonderful Life hits the feels for you. Myself, I’m down to watch just about any Christmas media, whether directed towards children or adults, but to keep myself and my family aligned with the true spirit of the season, I’ll always make sure to include A Charlie Brown Christmas and its touching telling of the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke.

And there you have it! May your Advent and Christmas seasons be filled with peace, hope, joy and love!