Understanding Christmas: A Simple Explanation

How can we explain the essence of Christmas in straightforward terms? Discover how in this article.

"Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise." - Deuteronomy 6:6-7

To be ready when our child asks about the meaning of Christmas, we should remember that this holiday, with its traditions, decorations, and gifts, is a magical time, especially for children. We can explain that we gather as a family to celebrate our love for each other and the joy of being together for another year. Additionally, we commemorate the birth of Baby Jesus.

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." - Isaiah 49:15-16

This is why celebrating Christmas with our child is important, to help them feel connected to their social environment. We should explain who the baby in the manger represents. His story is a part of our civilization and culture, conveying a valuable message of peace, forgiveness, understanding, and love—values we should instill in children from a young age.

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." - Hebrews 12:11

As faithful followers of God, we will likely pass on to our little ones the profound meaning these celebrations hold for us: the joy of celebrating the birth of Jesus as the Son of God. We can tell them that Jesus was a kind person who loved children, sharing his story in a simple, story-like manner: His parents, Mary and Joseph, were poor and found shelter in a stable for his birth. When Jesus was born, many came to see him, bringing food.

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure." - 1 John 3:2-3

To make the memory of Christmas even more special, take your child to see the lights and decorations in the churches around your city. Similarly, involve them in decorating your home and setting up a beautiful Christmas tree.