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10 Simple Ways to Celebrate Catholic Feast Days with Young Children
Easy and Fun Ideas to Celebrate Catholic Feast Days with Kids
This post contains affiliate links. You can read more about that here.
If you’re a Catholic mom like me, you’re always looking for ways to teach your kids about the faith. But with a busy schedule, it can be hard to know where to start. I’m here to tell you that it does not have to be complicated or overdone. Here are some practical ideas you can implement today:
1. Plan Ahead
This is first because it is most important. Plan your celebrations at the beginning of the month. Know when the feast days are and write down what you want to do for each one. This way, you can add special items to your grocery list and set aside time for each feast day you desire to celebrate.
Be sure to grab the freebie that I have attached to this post. It will have a liturgical calendar for the whole year along with a monthly planner to set you up for success. If you’re new to living liturgically, start by planning for one to two feast days a month.
2. Read About the Saint or Feast Day
Start by reading about the saint of the day or the significance of the feast day in the church calendar. Be sure to adapt them according to the age of your kids and their understanding. I’ll share various resources on where you can learn more about the saint of the day.
Books
- “Lives of the Saints” by Fr. Alban Butler
- “Picture Book of Saints” by Rev. Lawrence Lovasik
- “Illustrated Lives of the Saints” by Rev. Hugo Hoever
- “Through the Year with Tomie de Paola” by Catherine Harmon and John Herreid
Websites
- Catholic Online – Extensive database of saints with biographies and feast days.
- EWTN – Offers articles, videos, and other resources on saints.
- The Vatican – Official biographies and canonization information.
- Franciscan Media – Daily saint profiles and reflections.
Apps
- Laudate– Comprehensive Catholic app with a section dedicated to the lives of the saints.
- Catholic Saint of the Day– created by Shining Light Dolls includes saint of the day posts, a calendar of feast days, and podcasts
- Hallow: Prayer & Meditation– With a free trial you can hear short biographies and words from the daily saint
3. Watch or Listen
Watch a show or listen to a podcast about the saint of the day.
Podcast
Watch
- My Catholic Family by EWTN on Youtube
- The Saints and Heroes Collection on Formed
- Saint Stories by Christian Family TV on Youtube
- Animated Stories of Saints for Kids by Jesus Wonder Animations on Youtube
4. Study Sacred Art
Look at a piece of sacred art related to the feast day and discuss it. For younger kids, ask simple questions like, “Do you know what this picture is?”
Books
- “A is for Angel: The Alphabet in Sacred Art” by Arienne, Katie, and Jaimee Keogler
- “Let’s Look at a Masterpiece” by Madeleine Stebbins
Websites
5. Say a Prayer
You can light a candle in front of an image or statue of that saint and say a prayer together, asking for the saint’s intercession.
6. Perform a Kind Gesture
Do a kind gesture related to the saint, such as making a card, writing a letter, gathering unused toys to donate, preparing a meal for another family, or bringing flowers to someone in need.
7. Print Out Activities
Use printable activities related to the saint, such as coloring pages, playdough mats, dot activities, or sorting activities. We have a treasure trove of resources in our shop!
8. Make a Special Meal or Dessert
Prepare a special dinner or dessert that ties into the feast day celebration. I’ll share some Catholic blogs to get you started:
Blogs
9. Decorate Together
Use banners, flags, flowers, and statues to decorate your home in honor of the feast day. Be sure to check out what we have available in our shop to help you do this.
10. Feature a Themed Tea Time or Play Date
This is probably my favorite way to celebrate the saints. Have a special but very low-key tea time with snacks themed around the saint or feast day. During this time, you can read about the day’s significance, enjoy crafts or do coloring pages related to that saint.You can make the day even more special by inviting friends over to share in the festivities.
Grab your FREE Liturgical Calendar and Monthly Planner
We want to set you up for success so we’ve made a calendar that you can go through. It has a saint or feast day for each day of the year! Then with the monthly planner, you write down what feast days you will be celebrating and how you’ll be celebrating them.
Recap:
- Plan Ahead
- Read About the Saint or Feast Day
- Watch or Listen
- Study Sacred Art
- Say a Prayer
- Perform a Kind Gesture
- Print Out Activities
- Make a Special Meal or Dessert
- Decorate Together
- Feature a Themed Tea Time or Play Date
By incorporating these simple and engaging activities, you can make Catholic feast days special and memorable for your young children. You’re doing the Lord’s work!