For December Family Nights, I like to incorporate fun, traditional and Christ centered lessons and activities into our time together to bring in the reason for the season. So when I found myself with a few spare minutes in the months prior to December, I found some ideas on line and printed them out to have for reference this busy month. Here's some of the words from our church leaders, scriptures and symbols that we've incorporated before our activities the past few Monday evenings for FHE. We've also had fun decorating Gingerbread Homes and shopping for our Giving Tree Family. Traditions and family time are so important and special this time of the year. I know for me, it brings so much joy and happiness to my heart!
"The memory of that [first Christmas] night would bring Santa Claus and Frosty and Rudolph—and all would be welcome. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby—that’s how Christmas began."
Jeffrey R Holland
Greg Olsen Artwork
found on mamaofthreeboys.com
(These scriptures with the quoted text below were a bit off from our Bible but the passage and meaning is the same, we just looked them up and read them from our scriptures.)
David O. McKay
"It is a glorious thing to have old St. Nicholas in our hearts and in our homes today, whether he enters the latter through the open door or creeps down the chimney on Christmas Eve. To bring happiness to others without seeking personal honor or praise by publishing it is a most commendable virtue. . . .
Good old St. Nicholas has long since gone the way of all mortals, but the joy he experienced in doing kindly deeds is now shared by millions who are learning that true happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it. In short, the Christmas spirit is the Christ spirit, that makes our hearts glow in brotherly love and friendship and prompts us to kind deeds of service."
James E. Faust
"No one can measure the effect of an unselfish act of kindness. By small, simple things great things do indeed come to pass. Of course, gifts given and gifts received make Christmas special. For many children, Christmas Eve is a very long night as they look forward with eager anticipation to the gifts Santa brings, which is why children love Santa Claus. Let me share what someone once said about Santa Claus:
"First of all, he's a joyous individual. People are attracted to joyous individuals as filings are attracted to a magnet. Next, Santa Claus is interested in making others happy. He increases the happy moments in the life of everyone he meets. He loves his work; he gets fun out of his job. He is childlike, simple, humble, sincere, and forgiving. Finally, he is a giver. His philosophy is to give himself away in service. He is a friend to everyone. He smiles. Perhaps you and I could attain greater happiness if we emulated Santa Claus a little more, for his way is the way of the Infant Jesus also."
Greg Olsen Art Work
Boyd K. Packer
"I want to emphasize that I have no quarrel with that well-fed gentleman with the red suit and the white whiskers. He was very generous to me when I was a boy, and we are looking forward with great anticipation to his visit at our home. All of those things with reference to Christmas are appropriate and good, and all of them are for children--except, I suppose, the mistletoe."
Greg Olsen Artwork
Howard W. Hunter
"How is Christmas regarded today? The legend of Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, the decorations of tinsel and mistletoe, and the giving of gifts all express to us the spirit of the day we celebrate; but the true spirit of Christmas lies much deeper than these. It is found in the life of the Savior, in the principles He taught, in His atoning sacrifice—which become our great heritage."
Symbols of Christmas
Angel: Announced the glorious news of the Savior’s birth.
Animals: They were close to Jesus at the time of his birth.
Bell: Lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring to guide us back to our Heavenly Father. It reminds us that we are all are precious in the eyes of the Lord.
Bow/Ribbon: Represents the bonds of brotherly love. We are all children of God.
Candle: Symbolizes the Lord's light upon the world.
Candy Cane: Represents the shepherd's crook. They used it to bring lambs back into the fold and it reminds us that we are all our brother keeper.
Christmas Cards: Just as the angels proclaimed Christ’s birth to the shepherds, cards represent sending the word of Christ to all the world.
Christmas Tree: Symbolizes eternal life. Christ made it possible for us to live forever in heaven after we die.
Christmas Carols: Angels sang to welcome Jesus into the world.
Cookies: Heavenly Father did not use any cookie cutters when he creates each one of us. He makes every one of us special and unique.
Frankincense: The Three Wise Men brought Jesus presents and one of them was frankincense which is used in worship. It represents our spiritual needs.
Gift: Represents a precious gift from our Heavenly Father, he gave us his only begotten Son.
Gold: The Three Wise Men brought Jesus a present and one of them was gold. It is very valuable and it represents our temporal needs
Green: Represents eternal life.
Holly Berry: The holly leave represents the crown of thorns that were placed upon Jesus head as He was being crucified. And the berry symbolizes the blood he shed for us.
Myrrh: The Three Wise Men brought Jesus presents and one of them was Myrrh which is an ointment used on a body. It is important for us to take care of our bodies because our bodies are gifts from God. Since our bodies are gifts we must take care of them like any gift we would be given.
Ornament: Our Christmas tree wouldn’t be complete without ornaments. Ornaments represent blessing in our live. Our life just wouldn’t be complete without Heavenly Father’s blessings.
Pajamas: Represents Jesus being wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Red: Represents the blood of Christ.
Santa: Represents the generosity and kindness we feel during the month of December.
Star: A heavenly prophecy fulfilled ages ago- the shining hope of mankind.
White: The purity of Christ, He was perfect.
Wreath: A symbol of never-ending love from our Savior.
Looking forward to the rest of the season...only 12 more days before the anticipated Christmas Day to fit in all of the holiday traditions and bliss! (We actually marked our calendars at the beginning of the month and set dates to fit in all of our family fun times. We did the same thing the past few years and it worked out great with the growing fam! That way everyone knows, anticipates and plans around our family events and the season doesn't sneak by and we forget to make the time.)
