During Advent, our local
supermarket put out their magazine with recipe ideas and of course how we
can spend our money at their store in preparation for Christmas. One of their
articles the 12 days of Christmas disappointed me because they had used the carol'
The Twelve Days of Christmas' and used it to mean the twelve days before Christmas.
Not the twelve days after Christmas- Christmastide. Obviously, there is
more money to be made before Christmas than after for a supermarket.
In my twelve days of Christmas
series, I quote from the article 'Fresh Food Kids' and then add a spiritual
connection to help us remain in the season of Christmastide. Christmas
is not just a day as the shops would like us to believe.
Jesus is the reason for the season.
DAY
3: CARDS AND THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS
ACTIVITY: TO MAKE CARDS
" You need a green
scouring pad, scissors, glue, a set of plain cards or cardboard, a pin, a
bracelet making set with letters and star stickers. Draw the outline of a
Christmas tree onto a scourer and cut out. Stick scourer onto a card. Using a
pin, make 4 holes, on one side of the tree, about 1cm apart (one on top of the
other) and then do the same on the other side. With the bracelet making
kit, thread the letters ’Merry ' onto the string and thread the ends
through the top set of holes. Secure by twisting the ends together inside
the card. Now make the word 'Christmas' and thread through the lower
holes. To finish, add a start sticker at the top of the tree."
Instead of a Christmas tree,
you may wish to encourage to design their own religious theme card- a manger
scene for example. The custom of sending Christmas cards started in Britain in
1840 when the first 'Penny Post' public postal deliveries began. (Helped by the
new railway system, the public postal service was the 19th century's
communication revolution, just as email is for us today.) As printing methods
improved, Christmas cards were produced in large numbers from about 1860. They
became even more popular in Britain when a card could be posted in an unsealed
envelope for one half-penny - half the price of an ordinary letter.
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT: THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS
Either before or after the
children make their cards, help them to reflect on why traditionally, Christmas
cards showed religious pictures - Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, or other parts
of the Christmas story.
Although there are plenty of
other pictures on cards, it is better to keep Christ in Christmas since
Jesus is the reason for the season.
You also may wish to discuss
the importance of sending a card with an appropriate Christmas message A
homemade card is unique and it helps the card maker think about the person for
whom the card is made. It helps them focus on what the important themes of
Christmas are and what is in our hearts.
As the children read out
their Christmas message, you might like to offer the following prayer or a
spontaneous one of our own on the message of Christmas.
Jesus,
as we read our card, we desire Peace, Joy and Good Will to all
in this
season of Christmastide, help us to give it to all we meet.
May
the message of Christmas stay with us throughout the whole year.
You might like to finish Day 3 with your favourite Christmas Carol
which
expresses the message of Christmas to you.
No comments:
Post a Comment