What Christmas Is All AboutHooray!

It’s December! That’s right.

The Christmas season is here.

Mom, what is Christmas all

about? And why do we celebrate it?

Those are good questions. Why don’t you try to

guess what the Christmas season is all about?

Is it about decorations, and making everything

look pretty?

Is it the about the gifts that we give

and receive?

Or maybe the colored and twinkling lights?

Is it about the Christmas trees and wreaths?

Or the Christmas carols, stories, and crafts? Is it about the tasty

treats and delicious food?

Well, those are ways that we celebrate Christmas. Let me give you a hint as to what Christmas is about:

Christmas is when we celebrate someone special. …

…We are celebrating His birthday at this wonderful time of

year. Can you guess who that is?

JESUS!

That’s right! Christmas is the time when we celebrate

Jesus, God’s Son!

But why do we celebrate Jesus’ birthday

with Christmas trees, decorations, lights?

And why do we give presents to each other?

The ways we celebrate Christmas are ways that we can remember

Jesus and show our happiness for Jesus’ life on earth.

When we see the beautiful Christmas lights, we can remember that Jesus is the light of the world. He brings light and love into our lives

and hearts.

When we give presents to others, or we give of our time to make someone happy, we can celebrate the wonderful gift Jesus brought to us—salvation and

forgiveness for our sins.

Oh! And when we sing Christmas carols together, we are singing our happiness as we remember

Jesus’ birth.

Exactly!

1 “Joy to the World”; lyrics by Isaac Watts (1674–1748) and music by George Frederick Handel (1685–1759)

1

But what about the decorations and the Christmas tree? Why are they a part

of Christmas?

Well, apart from being a wonderful way to bring a special Christmas

feeling into our homes, many of the ornaments and decorations also remind us

about Jesus and the miracle of the very first Christmas

long ago.

The star at the top of the Christmas tree can remind us of the star that led the

wise men to Jesus.

That’s right.

In olden days, the city or church bells were rung in celebration when something wonderful had taken

place. Jesus’ birth was a marvelous event, and the bells remind us that we can tell others the good

news about Jesus, God’s gift of love.

The shape of the

candy cane makes me think of a

shepherd’s staff.

Yes, it does. And we can remember

that God is like our caring shepherd who

looks after us, His little sheep.

He can use the shepherd’s staff to rescue a lamb that

is stuck.

Exactly.

These angels remind me of the angels that God sent to tell the shepherds the good news of Jesus’

birth.

Yes. And God also sent angels to tell Mary and

Joseph about the gift He was giving to them…

What about the wreath, Mother?

The wreath is shaped as a circle, and has no beginning or end. This gives us an

example of God’s love for us, which is eternal and never-ending.

That means He’ll love us forever

and ever!

Absolutely!

Daddy, look!It’s

beautiful!

…The baby Jesus!

Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus together as family

and friends. It’s a time of year when we remember Jesus’ great

love for us, and then we in turn can be a reflection of God’s love and

kindness to others too.

I love Christmas!

Me too.

What makes Christmas, do you know? Is it pretty gifts and shiny toysAll wrapped up so nice and bright

For little girls and boys?

Is it pretty mistletoe, cheery lights, And a sparkly Christmas tree?

No, these do not Christmas make;I am sure it’s more than these.

Christ was born on this glad day, And that’s what makes Christmas.Christ was born on this glad day,

And that’s what makes Christmas.Yes, that’s what makes Christmas!

—Author unknown

Authored by Devon T. Sommers. Illustrations by Zeb. Design by Christia Copeland.Published by My Wonder Studio. Copyright © 2011 by The Family International