Observing the holidays surrounding Christmas with a focus on Christmas family fun will create cherished memories for your children. They won't remember the presents they received as a child but these traditions will stay with them the rest of their lives. They even may pass them on to the next generation with a few embellishments.

Several days of Christmas family fun start on Christmas Eve and continue through Epiphany. In our family, we observe these feast days with cherished traditions. Because we focus on Advent before Christmas, these activities keep our Christmas spirit up long after the commercialism of Christmas dies out. But the Christmas family fun does not stop on Christmas Day. It continues beyond the New Year with the celebration of the 12 days of Christmas and finally the feast of the Epiphany.

Observe The Season Of Advent In Joyful Expectation Leading Up To Christmas

Advent is a time of joyful expectation observed during the weeks leading up to Christmas. Help your family prepare for Christmas with prayer, penance, and meaningful traditions like the Advent wreath, Jesse tree and O Antiphons. Preparing your hearts for Christmas is fun and will bring the joy your grandparents felt to you this year!

Observe The Season Of Advent In Joyful Expectation Leading Up To Christmas

Bring The Events Leading Up To Our Lord's Birth To Life With A Jesse Tree

The Jesse Tree is a symbolic way of learning and remembering the events that led up to the birth of Our Lord. Several ornaments are used to represent each important person or event and many are of the lineage of Our Lord. This tradition impresses the stories of Our Lord's ancestors on little ones' minds and keeps the stories ever fresh.

Bring The Events Leading Up To Our Lord's Birth To Life With A Jesse Tree

Celebrate St Nicholas Day With The Customary Gifts Left In Boots And A Visit From The Saint Himself

Prepare your children’s hearts for Christmas by celebrating St Nicholas day. Observing St. Nicholas Day traditions is a simple way of spreading out the celebration and emphasizing the sacrificial nature of Advent. Learn how to arrange a visit from St. Nicholas, get shoe treat ideas, and make plans for a party.

Celebrate St Nicholas Day With A Visit From The Saint Himself

Celebrate Our Lady's Immaculate Conception With Gingerbread House Decorating

The feast of Our Lady's Immaculate Conception is an opportunity to form children's interior life. On this day we celebrate Mary being conceived, by a special grace of God, without original sin. Our Lord's human nature came from Mary who was preserved from all stain of sin. Making gingerbread houses and Miraculous Medal crafts plus consecrations to the Immaculate Heart—there are many a material and spiritual custom for Our Lady’s great feast.

Celebrate Our Lady's Immaculate Conception

Don't Let The Christmas Family Fun Stop After Christmas Morning

The Christmas fun does not need to stop after December 25th. Welcome the New Year with these fun activities following Christmas and leading up to the feast of the Epiphany. Get the most out of the Christmas season with all these wonderful ways to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas with the family.

Continue The Celebration Of Christmas With The Family By
Implementing The 12 Days Of Christmas

4 GAPS Friendly Gluten Free Christmas Cookies 

Making gluten free Christmas cookies can be a challenge especially when you are using only GAPS permitted ingredients. Chocolate is not allowed on the GAPS diet but we do eat chocolate on occasion sweetened at home with honey. These recipes were adapted from the low carb gluten free dessert guru: All Day I Dream About Food and tested in the Industrious Family Kitchen.

4 GAPS Friendly Gluten Free Christmas Cookies 

Christmas Crafts For The Whole Family

Christmas crafts play a major role in Christmas traditions. These Christmas crafts will get you thinking about preparing your hearts for the coming Christ at Christmas. Here you will find our family's favorite crafts along with materials needed, resources, and instructions. Have fun crafting!

Christmas Crafts For The Whole Family

Celebrating With Color December Saints And Feast Days

Coloring pages of angels, especially of St. Gabriel and the Annunciation are great ways to celebrate the Christmas season in color. Also enjoy this Saint Adelaide coloring page, whose feast day is on December 16th.

Read A Classic Christmas Novel Aloud: The Story Of The Other Wiseman

There is something really comfortable about reading a book aloud as a family especially on dark winter evenings. This Christmas enjoy a Christmas classic novel by Henry van Dyke: The Story of the Other Wiseman. Follow Artaban in his attempt to catch up with Melchior, Casper and Balthazar with his gift for the newborn king and read about his relentless journey to find Christ. 

For a contemporary Christmas time travel adventure older readers might enjoy Peace Versus Passion by the Marsh authors.

Get Together And Celebrate The Season With A Candy Themed Party

Throw a candy party theme to celebrate the approach of Christmas or a December birthday! Can't go wrong with these decorations and activities for kids!

Get Together And Celebrate The Season With A Candy Themed Party