Kids Corner

Week One — Hope:
The virtue of hope is much more than wishing upon a spiritual star, even the Star of Bethlehem. As you light the first candle of Advent, ask each family member what they are hoping for. If the hope is more of a wish (I hope I get a new American Girl doll), take time to explain the difference between wishing for material possessions and hoping for the great gifts that only God can give us — like peace, wisdom and forgiveness.
Week Two — Peace:
Use this week to make peace in your own life. Is there a family member with whom you’ve had a disagreement? A co-worker you don’t get along with? Make an effort to mend the rift between the two of you and, if your approach meets with rebuff, forgive that person anyway. When you light this week’s candle, pray the Peace Prayer attributed to St. Francis that begins: “Make me an instrument of your peace…”
Week Three — Joy:
Christmas has almost become synonymous with stress for many families. This Sunday — Gaudete, or Joy, Sunday — we are reminded that joy doesn’t come from what we do, but from who we love. Set aside some time this week to do at least one thing with those you love just for the sheer joy of it. Look at the Christmas lights. Watch a favorite movie. Make a batch of decadent cookies. Listen to carols. Whatever it is, do it as a family and simply enjoy your time together.
Week Four — Love:
“I love you.” On the last Sunday of Advent, we are reminded that with the Incarnation, love became a person. While actions may speak louder than words, it’s always good to say the actual words out loud now and then. As you light the final candle, share some sign of love and peace with your family members — including saying the actual words out loud.

Seeking inspiration to limit the kids’ early onset secularism and consumerism? Let you kids ask for whatever they want, but to someone else: St. Andrew.
The St. Andrew Christmas novena consists of one short, simple prayer, prayed for any single intention you’d like: health, finding work, healing, whatever.
Have the kids think about the thing for which they really wanted to pray. They can tell you what it is or keep the intention within their hearts. Tradition claims that St. Andrew will intercede for you if you pray the prayer 15 times a day for 25 days, starting on Nov. 30 (St. Andrew’s feast day) and ending on Christmas Eve.  
St. Andrew Christmas Novena
Pray 15 times a day from Nov. 30 (the feast of St. Andrew) until Dec. 24
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires [here mention your request] through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of his blessed Mother. Amen.

One partridge in a pear tree = The one true God
Two turtle doves = The two Testaments, Old and New
Three French hens = The three Persons of the Trinity
Four calling birds = The four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Five golden rings = The five books of the Pentateuch (in the Bible)
Six geese a-laying = The six jars of water at Cana (Jesus’ first miracle)
Seven swans a-swimming = The Seven Sacraments, or the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
Eight maids a-milking = The Eight Beatitudes
Nine ladies dancing = The nine choirs of angels, or the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
Ten lords a-leaping = The Ten Commandments
Eleven pipers piping = The eleven faithful apostles
Twelve drummers drumming = The Twelve Tribes of Israel 

Take advantage of liturgical colors - The Church celebrates with gold and white, colors which symbolize joy and triumph.The weeks before Christmas (Advent) are marked by violet or purple, and rose. During Christmas we use happy colors, because we are happy that Jesus is coming to be with us. So in addition to the red and green this year, jazz up your tree with white and a lot of gold! 
Read and watch stories about the true meaning of Christmas - Read stories about the Nativity, St. Nicholas, and other things that are related to the faith. Here are 35 Favorite Christmas Picture Books for Children. Even A Charlie Brown Christmas gets at the real “reason for the season.”  That’s not to say that your child can’t enjoy Rudolph or Frosty, but don’t let them eclipse the real stories of a Catholic Christmas.
Sing (and listen to) Christmas carols! - Some of our most beloved Christmas carols have very catechetical messages: “O Holy Night,” “Silent Night,” “Away In a Manger”—all tell the story of the Nativity in a way that will be easy for kids to remember.
Give gifts—but explain who the real Gift is -  Your explanation might go something like this: “God gave the gift of his son on Christmas, and we are happy and grateful! When we are thankful we like to give back. That’s why we go to Church on Christmas (that’s our gift to Jesus) and it’s also why we give gifts to others.”
Remember to party! - At Christmas, the Church wants us to celebrate.
Make your celebration of Christmas more meaningful by celebrating Advent fully: bless and light your Advent wreath, sing Advent songs, and perhaps even refrain from putting up Christmas decorations until Christmas Eve.

Listen to Advent music - Use Spotify and search Advent playlists. Pro tip: use quotes around “Advent” or you’ll get Adventure music thrown in (which may not be such a bad thing…).
Pick one Advent devotion - Do not make this a “one more thing for this busy time of year” Advent. Instead, why not pick one Advent devotion? Just. One.
Maybe it’s an Advent wreath. Maybe it’s the Jesse Tree. Maybe it’s an Advent calendar with devotions. Maybe it’s reading the Nativity story together and reflecting on it. Maybe it’s a prayer before or after meals. Pick just one thing! 
Celebrate the saints of Advent - Advent has some great saints! St. Nicholas comes right to mind, but how about St. Lucy, St. Juan Diego, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and St. John of the Cross? December 8 is a Holy Day of Obligation celebrating the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Celebrating, may just mean that you pause to pray for their intercession, that you read and reflect on their lives, or that you color a picture together.
Smile - Because, really, we’re getting ready for a baby! And babies bring joy and happiness! This Baby, in particular, brings something special. Snuggle up with a hot drink and a comfy companion and enjoy the twinkle.

St. Lucy was a fourth-century martyr, whose name and feast day are associated with light. In Norway, children light candles and bring pastries to their parents on the morning of St. Lucy’s feast day. In Sweden, girls dressed as St. Lucy carry cookies in a procession as songs are sung. It’s believed that celebrating Saint Lucy’s Day will help one live the long winter days with enough light. In Hungary, there is a tradition of planting wheat seeds in a little pot on the feast of St. Lucy. Children watch the wheat grow and use the sprigs in the manger of their family’s Christmas crèche. 
St. Lucy is the patron saint of the blind, and is one of the most famous martyrs of the Church. 
Prayer to St. Lucy
O, St. Lucy, preserve the light of my eyes so that I may see the beauties of creation, the glow of the sun, the color of the flowers and the smile of children.
Preserve also the eyes of my soul, the faith, through which I can know my God, understand his teachings, recognize his love for me and never miss the road that leads me to where you, St. Lucy, can be found in the company of the angels and saints.
St. Lucy, protect my eyes and preserve my faith. Amen.
 

St. Nicholas lived in the fourth century and is best known today as the living model of “Santa Claus.” St. Nicholas Day is Dec. 6. A tradition holds that children who leave their shoes by the door on the eve of this day wake up to find them filled with candy and treats in honor of this generous saint. Did you know . . .

1. Before he became the model for Santa Claus and the patron of children, St. Nicholas was the patron saint of sailors and fishermen.

2. In 2005, the mayor of Demre (St. Nicholas’ hometown) had a large plastic Santa Claus statue erected on the square in front of the medieval church of St. Nicholas.

3. His name means “victory of the people.” Because of the many miracles attributed to him, he is sometimes called Nikolaos the Wonderworker.

4. Historians believe Nicholas was barely 5 feet tall and had a broken nose.

5. St. Nicholas is one of the most popular saints in Eastern Orthodox iconography. Many Eastern churches display his portrait along with Jesus, Mary, Peter and Paul.

Instead of talking about … How much to spend.
Talk about … How much to give.
“So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth” (Jb 5:16, RSV). Instead of having the tiresome conversation about how much to spend on white-elephant gifts for the office party, let’s talk instead about how much of a difference $5 or $10 could make to someone who really needs it.
Instead of talking about … Whose family’s “turn” it is to have Christmas.
Talk about … How to spend time with those who need us most.
“Turn to me, and be gracious for me; for I am lonely and afflicted” (Ps 25:16, RSV). In all the bustle, we often forget that some of our friends and family members are alone at Christmas. Who has lost someone this year, or last year, or even years ago? Who are recent empty nesters? Who simply doesn’t have anywhere to go or anyone to be with? The gifts of time and your presence are far more worthy discussions than keeping score of who “had Christmas” last year.
Instead of talking about … The people you’re dreading seeing at Christmas.
Talk about … The people who most need your love.
“I said, ‘I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; / I will keep a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence’” (Ps 39:1, RSV). Instead of rehashing the grudges of Christmases past, talk instead about forgiveness and reconciliation. Instead of complaining about those who rub us the wrong way, seek out those who bring out the Christmas spirit in us. Generosity of spirit is infectious; and it starts with the words we use.

1. Gather around the nativity set - Read the story of the Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-20). Discuss the people and animals that were in the story and the environment in which Jesus was born.
2. Put some molding clay on a table - Ask the children to mold some of the animals that may have been present at Jesus’ birth, such as donkeys and sheep. Display for family and friends to enjoy.
3. Adopt a Family or Pick up a Sharing Tree Tag - Click here for information.
4. Go to a grocery store - Ask the children to pick out some can goods to buy for the Little Flower Food Pantry.
5. Create some Greeting cards - Fold small pieces of red, green or gold construction paper in half. Use Christmas stickers to decorate the front of the cards. 
6. Go Christmas caroling - Join us at Christmas is Calling You Home and sing along!
7. Make a Sweet Tree - Place red gumdrops or small white marshmallows on toothpicks. Stick them in a green Styrofoam cone. Give it to someone who lives needs a Christmas lift!
8. Google it! - Look up information on Christmas customs in various countries. Try a craft or recipe at home.
9. Make Holiday sandwiches for lunch - Cut bread in Christmas symbols. Put your favorite sandwich spread on the bread. Serve on a tray, placing lettuce under the sandwiches. Ta Da - Sandwich Wreath!
10. On Christmas Eve, make a “Happy Birthday Jesus” cake - Use your favorite sheet cake mix. Invite the children to cover the cake in white icing and use a small black tub of icing to printed the words, “Happy Birthday Jesus.” Serve the cake after Christmas dinner!

Epiphany is an ancient feast celebrating the appearance or manifestation of God to the whole world. Epiphany was once a more prominent celebration; not only was it the preferred day for gift-giving (in imitation of the Magi), but Christians originally celebrated Epiphany as all the manifestations of the divinity of Jesus prior to the start of his public ministry: his birth (with the visit of the Magi), the presentation in the Temple, the finding in the Temple, his baptism in the Jordan, and even the miracle at Cana.

Today, Roman Catholics focus on the manifestation of Christ’s birth to the entire world, represented by the magi and the star. (Birthday announcements don’t get more public than hanging a new star in the sky.)

Here are six ways you can celebrate Epiphany with your kids this year.

1. Bless your home and household on Epiphany - It is traditional to bless your home and household on the Feast of the Epiphany. Pick up your Blessing Bag at Mass January 3 and 4. 

The Epiphany blessing involves using blessed chalk to write the letters C, M, and B, plus the year, above the main entrance to the home, 20 + C + M + B + 26. The letters are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.

2. Send the magi on a journey through your house -  If you have a manger set, bring out the three kings on Christmas Day—but instead of placing them at the manger right away, put them somewhere else in your house so that they can journey to the manger over the twelve days between Christmas Day and the traditional date for the Feast of the Epiphany.

3. Hold a procession of the Magi - On the Feast of the Epiphany, read the Gospel account of the visit of the three wise men (see Matthew 2:1-12), then have your children march through the house holding the figures of the three kings and singing “We Three Kings.”

4. Eat King’s Cake - A popular Epiphany tradition in many cultures, the King’s Cake (or King Cake) is a sweet cake in which a small figure of the baby Jesus is hidden. Searching for the baby Jesus in the cake imitates the Magi’s search for the baby Jesus. You can find great recipes for King’s Cake, along with some cultural background, over at Catholic Cuisine.