Too often, we make Christmas all about us. We forget that Christmas is actually supposed to be a celebration of Jesus’ birth – it’s Jesus birthday party!
We host Christmas parties, decorate our homes, buy gifts for friends and family, and generally get caught up in the chaos of the season. Unless we’re intentional, we often put the real Reason for the season on the back burner of our holiday plans, only bringing Christ into Christmas when it’s convenient and fits into our over-stuffed holiday schedules {like on Sundays at church or just before we dive into the piles of presents under the tree on Christmas morning}.
In our home, we’ve chosen to be intentional about the Christmas season – bringing Christ into the forefront of our celebrations, rather than allowing Him to fall to the wayside.
A holiday tradition that my parents started with my siblings and me was to throw a birthday party for Jesus each year.
We’re not talking about a quick round of “Happy Birthday” and then diving into our Christmas presents. No.
We’re talking a full-fledged birthday party. With cake, presents for Jesus, and a true celebration of the One who the season is really all about.
And we’ve carried on the tradition with our kids, extending it a bit, even.
Each year, we start planning Jesus’ birthday party around the time of Thanksgiving…
We pick out what we’re going to give Jesus for His birthday, count our coins, and make a trip to the bank.
One year we gave money to some missionary friends so they could have a better Christmas. Another year, we collected coins for the homeless shelter in town. This year, we’re buying farm animals to donate to a family in a third-world country. It’s never about the money, though – it’s always about blessing others in Jesus’ name.
We buy a cake mix and frosting, and we clear our calendars for the Wednesday before Christmas. The anticipation builds as the party gets closer – the kids can’t wait to celebrate Jesus’ birthday!
Honestly, if I had to forgo all the other Christmas traditions – decorations, gift exchanges, etc. – in order to celebrate Jesus’ birthday every year, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
After all, without Christ, it’s not Christmas!
Happy Birthday, Jesus!!
love this! we celebrate Jesus' birthday with a party, too. and we are all so excited it's just 2 days away! 🙂 thanks for sharing how your family celebrates.
We do a Birthday party for Jesus on Christmas Eve we have done this since my son's first Christmas. Everyone comes over after the Christmas Eve service and we all continued celebration of his birthday. We make a cake that comes w/ a story that tells the story of Jesus birth. I like your idea of presents for Jesus. We might have to include that into our celebration!
Lil Momma is that Crazy Homeschooling mom of 3 who is happy mowing grass, vacuuming, and even do windows…just don't ask me to be my kids' creative writing tutor check out our family adventures at Five in Training for HIM
Thanks for chiming in, ladies! I can't wait for Wednesday night!!
I love this! We are being very intentional about Christmas also! And having a birthday cake! It's funny because i wrote about this yesterday on my blog. 🙂
I love this. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Saviour it's only right he should have cake and all our love x
Love this! I never thought of it that way. My kids would really enjoy doing something like a party for God. Thanks!
Ashley, I love these ideas so much … I almost wish our nest were not empty so we could do these with our kids! BUT, I am excited about one thing: When we asked our college son what his girlfriend might like for Christmas, he said they had been talking about donating toward their Bible study leader's upcoming mission trip.
By George, I think he's got it!!
Thanks for sharing, ladies! I love that we're able to share ideas on how to celebrate the season with the true Reason for the season at the center of our festivities! 🙂
Ashley, I love this idea, although we've never done it. They are older now and I don't know how my bigger kids would be with a birthday party now… but we do our gift giving on Christmas Eve and spend Christmas day just loving on each other and relaxing, with the commercial part out of the way. I love it that way. If we were starting over again we'd do the birthday party!
What a great idea! I think this just may be our new tradition next year!