Archives: Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? #16Family Fun |
Table of Contents
Getting a Clear Picture of the Spirit of Christmas
Uncovering the true spirit of Christmas can be difficult because of all the media hype and consumerism. Also, each person will find something just a little bit different in what Christmas means, usually because of upbringing and personality. Taking time to share feelings and thoughts in our families helps us to celebrate what we all believe about Christmas.
Here's one fun way of helping our families to find and share the spirit of Christmas!
Step #1
Between December 6 (the Feast of St. Nicholas) and the day after Christmas (Kwaanza) each family member is to find and take "pictures" of the "Spirit of Christmas" whenever and wherever they see it. Encourage them to approach the task as creatively as possible. Though capturing the "Spirit" may not be simple, it is fun.
Each person's media might include:
- a brief story or essay
- painting and drawings
- clippings
- an easy-to-use disposable camera
Step #2
After December 26th, take the cameras to a photo developer and have them all developed at the same time. Schedule a family meeting on Holy family Sunday (that is the Sunday between Christmas and New Year) at which each person will be given the opportunity to share their photos, stories and other creations.
Step #3
At the family meeting, each person takes a turn holding up their creation, then passing it around, after they have explained how it symbolizes or is "the Spirit of Christmas." The listeners have the task to listen. They can ask questions of clarification, but are strongly encouraged not to offer any other comments. Everyone takes turns sharing all their creations and the stories that go with them. Discuss why each person chose their particular media.
Step #4
After all the creations are shown, the family can then explore several options.
- Create a collage of photos, drawing, clippings, stories, etc. on a wall that describes what Christmas means to your family.
- Choose one of the creations to be the family Christmas card for next year. Save it in a special folder in your computer. The message on the card comes from words that were used to paint the spirit of Christmas.
- Write two or three sentences that describe Christmas for your family to use as a mission statement to guide next year's Christmas activities!
- You might decide to mail the creations to friends and relatives with stories of your discovery!
-Tom Rinkoski, Diocese of Green Bay
WHOSE Birthday? Contest
Each year we try to show in art the tension between faith and culture. Faith is symbolized by Jesus and culture by Santa Claus and credit cards.
We initiated this "contest" to ask, "What does this picture mean to me?" as a way of getting people to talk about what Christmas really means to them.
People have a hard time testifying to simpler living, even in a Christian context, so we try to provide tools. We offer greeting cards and bumper stickers to help "Send a Simple Message!"
Use this new art for discussions this year. Send us your responses to share.
Discussion Questions
- What objects do you see? What names do the credit cards have?
- How do you feel about bills overflowing a Christmas stocking? What does that symbolize?
- What caption would you give this drawing?
- What do you think this picture means or represents? Do you agree or disagree with that meaning?
The art is on page 25 in the 2003 booklet or in Alternatives' Spirit of Simplicity: Quotes & Art for Simple Living and Global Justice #3A-530.
Word Finds
These word finds are meant to be challenging so children and adults might work on them together. They aren't the same. Read the rules. Circle each word when you find it, then check it off the list to find them all.
Some of these words may be unfamiliar to your child(ren), so be ready to discuss their meaning and their relation to Christmas. The brief definitions are meant to provoke discussion.
What We SEEK at Christmas
Hidden words are horizontal, vertical, diagonal and backwards (right to left and bottom to top). Two or more words may share a letter.
Word List
Advent: The four weeks before Christmas, a time of preparation
Angels: heavenly beings that announced Jesus' birth to the shepherds
Bethlehem: Jesus' birth place,"house of bread"
Candles: the lights on the Advent wreath
Carols: Christmas songs
Changes: doing something differently for the better
Charity: giving time and money to needy people and worthwhile causes
EarthFriendly: living to help - not harm - our home, the Earth
Friends: people you can count on
Generous: giving more than what we have to spare
Giving: not expecting something in return
Happiness: what makes life worth living
Hope: living as if life has meaning and purpose
Jesus: our Savior
Joseph: Jesus' Earthly father
Joy: Wonderful experience� having� Jesus, Others and Yourself in a balanced relationship
Justice: changing government and corporations to help the needy
Magi: the wise ones that brought Jesus gifts
Manger: Jesus' bed at his birth place
Mary: Jesus' mother
Moderation: just right, not too little and not too much, enough
Peace: Personal and world-wide harmony
Relatives: People who are in your extended family'- naturally or by adoption
Relax: Doing nothing or something to reduce stress
Rituals: ways to strengthen ties and help us remember
Sharing: giving so we and others have enough
Shepherds: People who tend sheep, some of the first to visit Jesus after his birth
Simplify: to reduce stress, debt and possessions, using only our fair share
Sing: Using our voice to express feelings musically, different than speaking
StNicholas: a holy man from history that is a model of generous giving
Star: a bright heavenly object that pointed the way to Jesus
Thanks: Ritual or feeling in response to a welcome gift
Traditions: Usefulways of doing things
Volunteer: working for love instead of money
Worship: a ritual that honors God
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What to AVOID at Christmas
Hidden words are either horizontal or vertical, none are diagonal or backwards. Two or more words may share a letter.
Word List
Advertising: urging us to buy something, whether we need it or not, whether it's good for us or not
Arguing: disagreeing rather than discussing, usually negative and unhelpful
Beg: To ask for something over and over, even after a decision� has been made
Busy: Always doing something, little time to relax
Charging: buying with credit cards, going into debt carelessly
Credit: borrowing then repaying with interest
Debt: owing someone else money or time
Excess: too much
Greedy: wanting more than our fair share, more than enough, overconsuming
Insincere: pretending to like or care
Malls: Cathedrals of the religion of Consumption
Overspending: using more money, energy or time than we have, carelessly
Rushing: moving faster than necessary, using more energy than needed
Santa: (short for Santa Claus) St. Nicholas' evil twin, an advertising symbol that seems to portray generosity but tends to instill greed in children
Selfish: More concerned with self than others, out of balance
Shopping: spending time looking for and buying stuff
Stress: tight muscles and short tempers brought on by unrealistic expectations of self and others
Stuff: things that are wanted but not really needed
Television: the biggest way to advertise; it seems to be for entertainment and news
Waste: using more than is really necessary; not reusing and recycling
Whining: using our voice and body in an annoying way to get what we want
Worry: Over concern about real or imagined problems
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This page last update 25 October 2015
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