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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  Suggestions for a simple, meaningful Christmas

by Sr. Janet Schaeffler special to The Michigan Catholic
Published Decenber 12, 2008

For weeks (months) now, the media has been predicting that this holiday season will be one of the worst ever for the retail industry. Part of me says, "That's OK. What does the feast of the Incarnation have to do with buying things? Maybe – for once and for all – we can really focus on the gift and meaning of the season."

A few years ago there was a two-paneled cartoon. The first panel showed a gentlemen sitting in front of a Christmas tree piled high with gifts. The second panel had a few gifts and a Nativity set, and his question, as he could now see the crèche was, "Hey! Where did that come from?" A voice from the other room replied: "It's always been there."

Try one (or more) of these 16 suggestions for a simple and meaningful Christmas:

1. Spend some time each day in silence. The Prince of Peace came in the stillness of the night. The call of Scripture to us in the psalms is "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). Spending a few minutes each day roots us in our relationship to God, bringing us closer to the Spirit of Christ.

2. Plan, plan, plan. Rather than just doing everything exactly as you've done it in the past just because that's what you've always done, be intentional. Gather your family and talk about your past Christmases and your plans for this year. Ask questions such as: What do we do that you like? What would we like to spend our time on this year? Are there things from the past that are no longer helpful for us? Using everyone's responses and feelings, together plan for this year.

3. Remember those who help. Be especially kind and grateful to sales personnel during this season. Often they are tired and stressed because of working long hours and impatient customers.You can make a difference in their day by your words, your patience, your "thank you."

4. Pray the O Antiphons. In the eight days leading up to Christmas the Church prays these verses highlighting the ways Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies. We begin Dec. 17 with "O Wisdom on high" and end Dec. 23 with "O Emmanuel."

5. Go vegetarian for one meal. In many countries around the world it is customary to have a meatless Christmas Eve dinner. This is done in remembrance and honor of the animals present at Jesus' birth. They too shared in the joy of Christ's coming.

6. Forgive. And let yourself be forgiven. Find someone/a situation in your life that needs healing and make peace.

7. Pray for peace. Pray for peace everywhere; think especially of a specific place in the world that needs our prayer today.

8. Act for peace. Peace begins at home. During this season find ways to bring peace to your family, your friends, classmates, in your workplace.

9. Simplify gift giving.

Give gifts of your time (computer help; "fix-it" hours, etc.)

Homemade soups or dinners that can be frozen for future use

A monthly lunch date

Clean out the attic and wrap up the memorabilia for family members

10. Find your roots. All of us come from diverse backgrounds, so its fun to pick one cultural strand and celebrate a tradition from it or prepare a special food for the holiday dinner. If you're Irish, you can decorate your home with holly, which grows wild in the south of Ireland. Or you can head to the library or go online to look up the meaning of the Mishumaa Saba (the Seven Candles) of Kwanzaa. You can also appreciate the customs of others by researching different cultural traditions with your children. For links to other ethnic holiday traditions, go to http://www.familytreemagazine.com and search "holiday traditions."

11. Play "one for me, one for you." Start this tradition: Whenever your child adds something to his own wish list, have him think also of a gift for someone less fortunate. Then help him find it, make it, give it.

12. Christmas questions. Take time at dinner (or before bedtime) to share some thoughts with your spouse or family on these questions:

What is your happiest Christmas memory?

If you could start a new Christmas tradition what would it be?

Do any of our Christmas plans include reaching out to people in need?

Think of all the "characters" in the Scripture story. What presents did they give to Jesus? Are our presents anything like the presents that were given at the first Christmas?

13. Blessings. Pray a simple prayer of blessing when you put out your Nativity set, turn on the tree for the first time, before you open your family presents.

14. The magi's gifts. To help combat consumerism at Christmas, some families limit the number of gifts to three in honor of the gifts of the Magi. Consider giving children one gift that is their heart's desire, a piece of clothing that is not just sensible, and one gift that will help them grow (a book or sports accessory).

15. Christmas card prayers. Take a different card you have received each night (until the end of the Christmas season). Pray for the sender during dinner; share memories about that person/family.

16. Twelve days of giving. On each of the 12 days of Christmas, beginning Dec. 25 and ending on Jan. 5, pick an activity you/your family can do for someone else. Bring groceries to the food bank, serve at a soup kitchen, donate toys to a local drive, call someone who is grieving, collect coats for the homeless – there are endless ways to give.

Sr. Janet Schaeffler, OP, is the archdiocesan associate director for adult faith formation for the Office for Faith Formation/Catechetics.