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Celebrate with Joy: Epiphany and Reflections on Transforming our Christmas Celebrations

christmas joy

I found this year to be one of our most meaningful Christmas seasons so far. It has been such a blessing to begin implementing even a few new things into the way that we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Here are some of the things that we did this year:

  • Daily Advent devotions through the month of December (we learned about the many names of Jesus)
  • Made a “Names of Jesus” Garland with Abbie and Caden
  • Made shortbread cookies cut into shapes and symbols that remind of us the significance of Christmas-wreaths (symbols of God’s everlasting love), hearts, a little boy (Jesus, who came to earth), stars (like the star over Bethlehem, and also to symbolize Jesus, the bright and morning Star), and the cross (because ultimately that’s why He came to earth at all)
  • Made star ornaments for the tree, because Abbie particularly liked learning about how Jesus was the bright and morning Star.
  • Supported and watched Daddy take part in a beautiful Christmas performance at our church, focusing on the meaning of Christmas, from the manger to the cross.
  • Participated in putting together for a Christmas hamper for needy families in the community
  • Did a nativity version of an Advent calendar- one new fridge magnet each day (a stable, Mary and Joseph, wise men, sheep, etc.) until Jesus arrives on Christmas day!
  • Watched the movie, The Nativity Story, as a family for the second year in a row on Christmas Eve. Our new tradition.
  • Gathered on Mommy and Daddy’s bed on Christmas morning to pray and thank God for sending Jesus, before opening our stockings together.
  • Ate a wonderful breakfast and then Daddy read the Christmas story out loud, before we gathered around the tree to open presents (keeping Jesus first, and presents secondary!)
  • Will be celebrating Epiphany tomorrow, Jan. 6th…

Epiphany and the 12 Nights of Christmas

One thing that I learned this year is that the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (you know the one… a partridge in a pear tree) is actually referring to the 12 days from the day after Christmas up until January 6th, a holiday known as Epiphany. Epiphany literally means “manifestation” and is a celebration of the fact that God became man and manifested Himself on earth in the form of Jesus, His son.

In the book Celebrate with Joy, Sondra (the author) includes an entire chapter with ideas for celebrating these 12 nights of Christmas. Each night include a Christmas carol to sing, along with activities and a devotion to go along with that carol. She also suggests that this can be an excellent opportunity to complete any Advent activities, special trips or events, gifts to give or ways to serve others, etc. that you had hoped to do before Christmas but were unable to get to.

I felt that this year, I couldn’t completely jump in and actually celebrate these 12 nights. Our family really needed some time to just rest, and that meant that Mommy couldn’t be working to pull together any more activities, events or devotionals! Instead, I have opted to do something only for the actual day of Epiphany, as a way of starting out small this year. In the book, there is a focus on the wise men during these 12 nights and on their gifts to the Lord. So tomorrow we will take Sondra’s suggestions of learning about what each of the gifts (gold, frankincense and myrrh) symbolize, and I will be putting on a treasure hunt for the children, using various decorations, coins, etc. that will look like “treasures” in my little kiddies eyes. After we’ve found the hidden treasures, we will do a devotional on giving all of our treasure to Jesus!

Some Reflections on Transforming our Family’s Celebrations

To be honest, there was more that I had hoped to do. Even what we did still felt a bit minimal over the course of 5 weeks. It’s hard to find the time to pull it all together with 3 young children and a busy husband. A few times I felt frustrated that I wasn’t doing more or doing all that I had wanted to, but I finally had to rest in what I was able to do and let it be enough.

It takes time and effort to begin to implement these wonderful ideas and traditions in our Christmas celebrations. Though I was keen to do as much as I could, I had to recognize my limitations and accept the season that I am in… a season where each small child needs me so very much, in many different ways, and sometimes Mommy gets stretched too thin because all of the everyday stuff, so that adding in “extras” can be very challenging. I have decided that I need to trust the Lord to help me do what I am reasonably able to do, offering it up to Him as a feeble but hopefully precious gift in His eyes, as we all learn to honor Jesus more and more in our holiday traditions. I pray that He will grant us the ability to continue to build on what has been begun. I trust that He is faithful to reward our acts of obedience, no matter how small, as we learn to transform our celebrations to become more God-glorifying and I believe that over the years we will see the fruit of that obedience!

Preparing for Next Year

celebrate-with-joy-coverPersonally, I didn’t begin my Advent and Christmas preparations early enough this year. Not until basically the end of November, which is right when we needed to be beginning. Knowing this now in hindsight, I will be prepared to put some effort into my preparations in early November instead, because having a plan will help to ensure that my list of hope-to-do’s actually turns into reality!

I spoke with Sondra about it a little while ago, and she said that she thinks January is actually the perfect time to begin thinking about next year. Perhaps this year didn’t go the way that you hoped it would, or you were quite disappointed by the Christmas season and its lack of meaning, its busyness, etc. Or maybe this year was a more special year that drew your family closer to the Lord as you began to focus your celebrations and traditions more on Him, and you’ve been inspired to add even more meaning to next year’s holiday season. Either way, now is the time to begin thinking and preparing for next year, while it’s still fresh in our minds and hearts.

This is the last opportunity to purchase Celebrate with Joy from Keeper of the Home. It is available for $24.95 US (including shipping) and you can read more about the contents of the book in this previous post.




Celebrate with Joy: Epiphany and Reflections on Transforming our Christmas Celebrations

As well, Sondra has a number of copies that have become slightly damaged in storage, that she is willing to sell at a discount. The types of damage include small scratches or scuffs to the cover, slightly damaged corners, etc. They are completely readable and usable, just not in perfect selling condition any longer. These books are being sold for $19.95 US including shipping.




Celebrate with Joy: Epiphany and Reflections on Transforming our Christmas Celebrations

(Use this button for discounted copies, and the button above for regular condition copies)

As the holiday season winds down, what are your reflections on how it went? What new traditions did your family add? What added special meaning and purpose to your celebrations? What would you like to change for next year? Celebrate with Joy: Epiphany and Reflections on Transforming our Christmas Celebrations

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15 Comments

  1. this season we did lots of advent things (compared to previous years). I pretty much skipped things we didn’t have time for, such as organizing a caroling group from church and making cookies/lots of other baking. I concentrated on taking some time each day in December to remember God’s gift to us with the kids, and not going crazy. We also didn’t travel which made it easier too. I think that this was the smoothest year since I have become a mom and I, like you, hope that next year I can incorporate more about God into this holiday.

    some of the things we did included advent scripture reading off of a countdown calendar, and taking the time to read our Christian Christmas storybooks.
    .-= Sarah S. Chicken´s last blog ..A long, lovely day =-.

  2. Also this year our church passed out a “read thru the bible in a year” plan and instead of just doing the plan myself I am going to try to do it with the whole family. 2-5 chapters doesn’t take that long and our whole family will benefit.
    .-= Sarah S. Chicken´s last blog ..A long, lovely day =-.

  3. This is the first year that we truly turned our focus on what the true meaning of Christmas is….JESUS!

    I knew that if I had a list a mile long that it would never get done, so I decided to set some reachable goals. I also know that regardless of how minimal they may seem in my eyes, that the Lord is smiling because of them! I think making the best effort we can make is pleasing to God, not necessarily the amount of “things” we accomplish. I hope that makes sense.

    So this year we added to our traditions a weekly Advent Family Devotion Time. We read scripture, did a craft and a coloring page in theme with the topic we were talking about….the birth of Jesus, the Wisemen, Angel Gabriel talking to Mary etc.

    We also did an Advent Calendar of sorts where each day we had a Christmas themed activity to do. Some days were as simple as enjoying a delicious cup of Hot Chocolate and thanking Jesus for it, other days were spent putting together shoe boxes with treats for needy children.

    I like you, started preparations far to late in the game. I might start putting together some ideas in March which is a slow month around here, no birthdays etc.

  4. Hi,
    I want to order a slightly imperfect book for 19.95, but when I click on the link, I am not directed to purchase the book – I’m taken to the general pay pal site, and I couldn’t find the book there. Can I still purchase the book??

      1. Hi Stephanie,
        Thanks for the reply. I ordered the book and I can’t wait to receive it!!! Do you know approx. how long it will take for me to receive it? I live in the US. Thanks! Have a great day!

  5. This was a stressful Christmas season, for some reason. We simplified the trimmings (we baked fewer cookies, for example), but the holiday seemed difficult anyway. I think part of that is because it’s hard to keep the focus on Jesus when our extended family is all about presents and candy.
    .-= Melissa´s last blog ..DaySpring After Christmas Sale =-.

  6. I’m the mom of three little ones, too (ages 6, 4, and 2) and there is so much to do on a daily basis…it really is tough to fit in the extras. You did a lot!
    .-= Tamie´s last blog ..Christmas Eve =-.

  7. Happy Epiphany!!! Thank you so much for sharing this info. I read this post yesterday and from there did some more research and started planning a little celebration for my husband and I. 🙂

  8. Stephanie, I am also interested in purchasing a discounted copy of the book, but also had issues with the link. Could you let me know, too, when you have it up and running? Thanks!

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