Several years ago I was asked by a friend if I celebrate Christmas any differently as a Catholic as opposed to when I was Protestant.
It’s an interesting question.
Like most Protestants, we didn't really follow a detailed liturgical calendar. In my experience, everything was mostly all about Christmas day.
There was little preparation.
Frankly, I think this is one of the reasons that Christmas almost always disappointed.
I'm certainly not speaking for everyone (and I'm sure others were focusing more than I did in my youth), but there was all this "build up" centered on this one day and it just always seemed kind of empty.
Yes, we'd go to a Christmas service, maybe read a passage from the Bible before we ate, people would come over, we'd open some presents, watch some tv...and it’s over.
And while some of that "emptiness" or lack of satisfaction was certainly my fault, the lack of real Advent preparation was also to blame.
It made it more difficult for me to focus in on what was most important.
The truth is that the Church's liturgical calendar really helps us prepare.
Just like Easter is sweeter when you fully embrace Lent, Christmas is more glorious when you dive into Advent.
So here are 5 ways to help you and your family prepare for Christmas:
1. Bring out a creche and hide baby Jesus.
This helps the little ones understand that we’re awaiting Jesus’ coming into the world. (A couple of years ago, my then five year old Benedict - while looking at the creche - worriedly exclaimed, "Hey! Where's baby Jesus?" This gave my wife a chance to explain that Advent is a time of expectation.)
Of course, the younger kids like to play with the figures. So if you haven’t bought one, get one that’s not breakable. (We love the Fontanini set.)
2. Pray around an Advent wreath every night.
This is one of my favorite Advent traditions. In our family, we sing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and pray a Hail Mary. The kids love it. Candles, mystery, darkness and light. If we forget to do it for some reason, they remind us. (They also fight over who gets to blow out the candles.)
3. Advent calendar with chocolate.
It makes the days of Advent fun and special. (And provides another opportunity to fight over whose turn it is to open the little door to eat the chocolate:).
4. Every year we really celebrate St. Nicholas' Feast Day (Dec. 6).
My wife sets it all up with stockings full of candy and other little presents. It’s a great day of fun that helps make Advent exciting and reminds us that St. Nicholas isn’t some rotund figure in velour you pay money to talk to for 30 seconds in the mall.
5. A few times we’ve had the kids each pick a charity for us to donate to.
This teaches them that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). (Yep...that's not just a Hallmark card. It's scripture!)
Of course, the point of all of this is that the reality of Christmas starts before December 25th.
In fact, December 25th itself isn’t even the end. Don’t forget that we go on to celebrate the entire octave of Christmas. Christmas day is just the beginning, both of the celebration and our salvation!
Have a blessed Advent!
Matthew
P.S. Want to continue the celebration even beyond Christmastide? Check out my Marian Pilgrimage, taking place from March 9-18, 2026!
