Every autumn, I see parents asking questions like “what Christmas traditions do you do with your little ones?” “Does anyone have suggestions for something more meaningful to replace traditional Advent calendars?” “Do you have an Advent devotional you’d recommend for young kids?” “What are some good daily Advent Scripture readings for families?” “Do you have any fun traditions that point your kids to Christ during the Advent season?”  So…here are some ideas for some meaningful Christian Christmas traditions to start.

You probably won’t want to do all of them, because that might be a bit much!  But I’ll share the traditions our family enjoys at this time of year, as well as as few other options I’ve seen around the web or community at large, that help focus specifically on Jesus and on Scripture.  (Please note that I’m not in any way disparaging traditions that are “just for fun”!  Those just aren’t what this post is about.)

1. & 2. Daily Advent Scripture Readings & and Unfolding Advent Calendar

This tradition is sort of two-in-one.  This is one of our family’s own Christmas traditions, and we do these two things together as one, but you could also choose to separate them and do only one or the other.

First of all, we read a Scripture verse or passage each night of December leading up to Christmas — the same way you’d open up a door on an Advent calendar every night.  These verses, starting from Genesis, are all verses that prophesied the coming Savior, so that our daily Advent Scripture readings are a tiny microcosm of what the Israelites experienced anticipating Messiah all those many years.

Simultaneously, we use an Advent calendar I designed.  It’s essentially a large nativity that starts out covered up — and with an empty manger — and which is progressively uncovered each night until Christmas.  On Christmas morning, we put the baby in the manger.

So between these two things, we’re experiencing on a small scale, the anticipation of Christmas as the coming of Christ as a baby.

Variation: If you’re looking for a slightly different approach to daily Advent Scripture readings, one family reads the book of Luke throughout the month.

3. Other Advent Calendar Options

Others also use Advent calendars, but fill each day with either a fun family activity or with an act of ministry/service — or a combination of the two.  These ideas can be incorporated with an actual Advent calendar similar to ours, or with any number of other calendars that are set up in such a way that you can add your own content.  (Looking for DIY options?  This slideshow has a good variety of ideas.)

4. Scripture Ornaments

One of the earliest Christmas traditions we started in our home was giving our children an ornament each other.  Many people do this; it’s a way of building a child’s collection gradually over time, so that when they eventually leave home they aren’t starting from nothing.

But I’ve taken that a step further and select the ornament each year to represent a Scripture verse.  There isn’t anything super-spiritual about these connections; the ornaments are merely reminders of the Scriptures.  For instance, one year a silver-colored spiral was paired with Malachi 3:3 (“He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver…”) and a small signpost with Jer. 6:16 (“…Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it…”).  You’ll find other examples of Scriptures that we paired with particular ornaments here.

5. Our Christmas Tree

Our most significant Christmas tradition, though, is our Christmas tree.  At first blush, that probably sounds either obvious or baffling, but there’s more to it than it may seem.

The placing and decorating of our Christmas tree is almost an Advent celebration in itself.  We put it up in stages: first the bare tree, then the lights, then a red layer of ornaments and tinsel, then silver, and then, finally, gold.  Each layer has its own significance, and we have a little devotional, with Scripture reading, some discussion, and the singing of carols.

The kids love it, it keeps us the most important things the primary focus of the season, and it provides us an opportunity to present theological concepts (even to the young ones), like redemption and glorification.

If you already have a tree and don’t want to co-opt it for red, silver, and gold ornaments, you can use a smaller, second tree for this — even a tiny tabletop tree — or even use something like a felt tree on the wall or a popsicle stick Christmas tree project to follow along.

(By the way, if you’re just starting out, I strongly recommend shatterproof ornaments.  We’ve had littles interpret this type of ornament as “balls” and throw them before we could react to intervene.  This is far less disastrous with plastic than with delicate glass!)

6. Shepherd on the Search

Shepherd on the Search is essentially a Christian alternative to Elf on a Shelf.  Rather than a creepy-looking elf who gets into mischief, it uses an adorable shepherd, searching for Christ, who can just be placed in fun environments from day to day, or can be used to inspire ministry and kindness throughout the month.  Or mix it up.

(If you like the idea of this, but it seems like a little too much to handle for December, it could be fun to use the shepherd all year long, and just not worry about moving him every day.)

7. Nativity Sets

In different-but-similar fashion, some families set up their nativity sets at the beginning of the season, but keep the shepherds and/or wise men far away, and move them closer and closer each night until Christmas.

You can also invest in child-friendly nativity sets that are meant to be played with (and/or Christmas stories that are pulled out, special, just for this time of year).  Fisher-Price makes one.  There are also various wooden, stuffed, and similar options made from child-friendly (non-breakable) materials.  If you’re looking for something like this, you might take a look at Etsy or similar source of handcrafted products.

8. The Giving Manger

The Giving Manger is something of a variation on a nativity set and an Advent calendar filled with acts of kindness.  This product makes use of an empty manger that you seek to fill throughout the season by adding a piece of straw each time you complete an act of kindness.  This tradition seems especially well suited to young children who benefit from plenty of reinforcement and tangible signs of progress.

9. Christmas Breakfast to Bless Others

My folks have a tradition they’ve adopted since I left home (I think they read about it in a magazine) of Christmas morning breakfast.  They save up their change all year, and then convert it to dollars before going out to eat on Christmas morning.  They use this saved-up money to leave an extra-large tip for their waiter or waitress.  It’s usually a particular blessing for those who have cause to work on Christmas Day.

This tradition may work best for those who do not have very young children, who may get antsy being out to eat on Christmas morning when they’re looking forward to presents.

Variations: Alternative options could include going out of your way to serve those who serve in other capacities on Christmas Day — like taking goodies to the local rescue squad or the doctors & nurses at the local hospital.