“What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of Days has become an infant. He Who sits upon the sublime and heavenly Throne, now lies in a manger. And He Who cannot be touched, Who is simple, without complexity, and incorporeal, now lies subject to the hands of men. He Who has broken the bonds of sinners, is now bound by an infant’s bands. But He has decreed that ignominy shall become honor, infamy be clothed with glory, and total humiliation the measure of His Goodness.”
St. John Chrysostom preached those beautiful words describing the mystery of the Incarnation in the fourth century. What more can I add to them?
The Feast of the Nativity of Christ has been celebrated from ancient times (St. John Chrysostom himself referred to it as an ancient feast). God himself comes down from heaven to dwell with his people, to live with them as one of them. What a great and wondrous mystery.
Following the decree of the Emperor Augustus, Joseph the Betrothed and Mary the Mother of God journey to Bethlehem. Unable to find a room, they find space in a cave used as a stable. In the presence of animals and angels, Mary gives birth to Christ, the Son of God.
Soon shepherds join them, having heard the news sung by angelic host. The heavens themselves proclaim the glory of God, and three wise men from the East answer the call. As the troparion says, “Those who worshipped the stars were taught by a Star to adore You, the Sun of Righteousness.” However, being warned by an angel, they return home by a different way and avoid King Herod.
On this feast of the Nativity, one of the most holy days for Orthodox Christians, we celebrate the Word made flesh, dwelling among us.
Ways to Celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord
1. Go to Church
One simple yet profound way to keep the focus on the Nativity this year is to attend church together as a family. In the Orthodox tradition, this means going to Liturgy at midnight. Some churches also have a Liturgy earlier in the evening to accommodate families with young children. Find out if your church is having a service on Christmas or Christmas Eve. If not, try to find one at another church to attend. There is something simultaneously solemn and joyful about the Orthodox Nativity liturgy.
2. Read the Christmas Story
Reading the Christmas story from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke is another simple way to remember the reason for the holy day. Our family reads the story from both gospels and from a children’s Bible. We sit around the fireplace and revel in this moment of quiet, pondering the deep mystery of our faith: God himself became man and dwelt among us.
3. Pray Together as a Family
Taking the time to pray together as a family in your icon corner sends a powerful message to your children. You could pause and say the Morning Prayers before or after you open presents. Or, you can come together for Evening Prayers before you have pie and coffee and play games at night. Each child can hold an icon (making sure that one holds the Nativity icon) for the adults to venerate. Whatever you do, be sure to lead your family in praying to the God who became flesh for us.
4. Greet Each Other with “Christ is Born!”
In the Orthodox Church we have responsive greetings for most feast days. Most people know the greeting for Pascha where one person says, “Christ is risen!” and the other responds, “Indeed he is risen!” There is a similar greeting for Nativity. One person will say, “Christ is born!” and the other will respond, “Glorify Him!” We taught our children this response at a very early age, and they love saying it over and over on Christmas. We can be opening presents, eating dinner, or playing with toys and someone will cry, “Christ is born!” Everyone else joyfully calls, “Glorify Him!” What a beautiful, and enthusiastic, way to remember the birth of Christ on Christmas.
5. Create a Nativity Scene
Many families also have a nativity scene in their homes throughout the festal season. This is often a scene that is purchased and (sometimes) breakable. Why not consider letting the children make their own nativity scene that can be touched and handled? This could be a simple paper scene where children draw and then cut out each figure and place it on a poster of a cave. Or, they can get creative and use other materials to make it three-dimensional. What a wonderful family project for the 12 days of Christmas!
6. Research a person from the Nativity story
Older children can study the life and story of one person from the Nativity narrative and then share their findings with the family. They could research Caesar Augustus, St. Joseph, the wise men, etc. to find out more about them. This may include looking at Scriptures, at church tradition, and on the Internet. Parents can make this a timed activity–a race of sorts– in which the parents, teens, and older children participate. At the end of the designated time (30 minutes or an hour, etc.), everyone can present what they discovered, helping all understand and appreciate the story of the Nativity even more.
For more ideas on ways to celebrate the Nativity, and the other feasts of the Church, be sure to check out my book Seasons of the Faith. You’ll find the story behind each feast, practical ways that your family can integrate the life of the Church into the home, and simple age-appropriate activities for both older and younger children. To learn more, just go here!
How does your family celebrate the Feast of the Nativity?
