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As we prepare for the most wonderful time of the year, we’re reflecting on how to make this Advent and Christmas season meaningful for our family. While not all of these activities will happen every year, and some are new for us this time around, our goal is to share some ideas that can help make your Catholic Christmas season joyful, faith-filled, and memorable. This list is by no means meant to overwhelm, but rather to offer inspiration for ways to celebrate the liturgical season and grow closer to Christ. Here are some of the things we plan to do this year:

1. Set Up an Advent Wreath

Each night at dinner, we’ll light the candles of our Advent wreath while singing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. This simple, peaceful ritual will help us center our hearts on the coming of Christ, and each week, we’ll reflect on the hope, peace, joy, and love that the candles represent.

2. Set Up a Nativity Scene

On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, we’ll place the Baby Jesus figurine into the manger. This is a special moment where we often sing Silent Night and offer prayers for priests, remembering the gift of Christ’s birth and the work of the Church.

3. Wait to Place the Baby Jesus in the Nativity Scene

Instead of placing Baby Jesus in the scene right away, we’ll keep all our Baby Jesus figurines in a golden present box, treating it as a gift. On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, we’ll open the box and place Jesus in the manger, symbolizing the arrival of the greatest gift of all.

4. The Giving Manger

This year, we’ll introduce The Giving Manger. For each good deed or act of kindness, we’ll add a piece of straw to Jesus’ manger to make His bed softer. It’s a lovely way to teach our children that we can prepare our hearts for Jesus by serving others.

5. Do the Jesse Tree

Each day during Advent, we’ll read a Scripture passage and add an ornament to our Jesse Tree. This will help us reflect on salvation history—from creation to Christ—and grow in our understanding of how God’s plan unfolded.

Catholic Printable Club has a printable Jesse Tree ornament set available.

6. Follow the Blessed Mother & St. Joseph on Their Way to Bethlehem with an Advent Countdown

We’re excited to track Mary and St. Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, learning about each liturgical feast day along the way. This countdown will help us stay focused on the true meaning of Advent, honoring saints like St. Nicholas, the Immaculate Conception, and St. Lucy as we await the birth of Jesus.

This is the printable Road to Bethlehem Advent Countdown available in our shop.

7. Keep Up with Mary on the Mantel

This year, we’ll also be following along with our Mary on the Mantel and these printable props, where we can see what Mary is up to around the house as she prepares for the arrival of Baby Jesus. It’s a fun and reflective way for the children to engage with the Advent season.

8. Celebrate St. Nicholas’ Feast Day (Dec. 6)

We’ll mark St. Nicholas’ feast day by filling the children’s shoes with chocolate coins and other treats, and take time to learn about the true origin of Santa Claus, who was a beloved bishop known for his generosity and care for the poor.

9. Celebrate the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8)

On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, we’ll attend Mass and then enjoy a heavenly dessert together. It’s a wonderful way to honor Our Lady and reflect on her purity and role in salvation history.

We have these printables to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

10. Celebrate St. Juan Diego’s Feast Day (Dec. 9)

For St. Juan Diego’s feast day, we’ll enjoy Mexican hot chocolate or Mexican wedding cookies, and learn the beautiful story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It’s a great opportunity to share her story of love and miracles with the children.

Here is a link to this fun printable St. Juan Cocoa stand.

11. Present Flowers to Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12)

On this day, we’ll present flowers to Our Lady of Guadalupe, to show our devotion and gratitude for her maternal care.

We also have a printable activity where children can cut and glue paper roses around an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe here.

12. Celebrate St. Lucy’s Feast Day (Dec. 13)

We’ll celebrate St. Lucy’s feast day with cinnamon rolls shaped like an “S,” while the boys wear star boy hats and carry wands, and my daughter wears a green wreath with candles to symbolize St. Lucy as the light-bringer. It’s a fun and delicious way to remember this saint and her role in spreading the light of Christ.

We have printable candle crown wreath and star boy hat and wand in the shop.

13. Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus on Christmas Day

On Christmas Day, we’ll throw a little birthday party for Jesus! We’ll sing Happy Birthday to Him and reflect on the joy of His birth.

We have printable party decorations like a cake topper, party hats, and a birthday card for Jesus in the shop here.

14. Make Paper Crowns for Epiphany (Jan. 6)

On Epiphany, we’ll wear paper crowns as we celebrate the visit of the three kings. To mark the occasion, we’ll have an Epiphany tea party, enjoying fellowship and reflecting on the journey of the Magi.

A Merry Catholic Christmas

We know that we can’t do everything every year, and that’s okay! Our goal is to celebrate Advent and Christmas in a way that brings joy and meaning to our family without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you adopt all of these traditions or just a few, the most important thing is to keep Christ at the center of the season, and share that joy with your loved ones.

We hope that these ideas help inspire your own Christmas celebrations, and we wish you a blessed Advent and a Merry Catholic Christmas!

What Catholic traditions do you plan to celebrate this Advent and Christmas season? Feel free to share your ideas in the comments!