Christmas is known as the “most wonderful time of the year” – but what does it really mean to us? We have gathered resources to help your family dig deeper into the meaning of Christmas and what the Christmas traditions of today mean to our faith and the celebration of Jesus’ birth.
We have gathered up videos, blog posts, and activities that will help your family navigate the “tricky bits” of Christmas so you’re not caught off-guard when your children ask you why their friends celebrate another holiday, or about Santa and Christmas trees!
Christmas Videos
Watch videos about Christmas, including clips from the Christmas DVD Why Do We Call It Christmas? plus see Clive & Ian’s 12 Questions of Christmas, in which they answer questions like “What do Christmas trees have to do with Jesus?” and “What is Hanukkah?”
Featured Video: Who Is Emmanuel?
In the DVD Why Do We Call It Christmas?, we learn who Emmanuel is. “Emmanuel” is one of the names for Jesus because it means “God with us.” The world says Christmas is about lots of commercial things, but as believers, we know that the holiday is about Jesus, which is why it’s called Christmas. We’re encouraged to resist the temptation to think of Christmas as being about presents, or sales at the mall, and focus on Emmanuel – that God is with us! Watch this video, then as a family think of ways you can remind each other that Christmas is about Jesus! Also, think about other names for God and what they mean to you.
Christmas Blogs
Christmastime is such a wonderful time to spend with family and to reflect on the birth of Jesus and what His birth means to us today. It can also be a confusing time, as our children try to put together what Christmas trees, Santa Claus, little elves and reindeer have to do with the birth of Christ all those years ago! Our Christmas blogs give the context you need to help explain to your children what all the traditions of today mean and how they tie back to Jesus’ birth!
Featured Blog: Who is Santa Claus?
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Santa! Who is he? Where did he come from? It turns out our beloved Christmas icon comes from a bishop in the church in the 300s. Legend says that Saint Nicholas gave money to the poor, and later the church declared December 6th to be Saint Nicholas Day. In the early 1800s, Saint Nicholas – now known as Santa Claus, from the Dutch “Sinter Klaas” – became popular in the United States. Many of our modern traditions around Santa come from an anonymous poem published in 1823 called “A Night Before Christmas.”
Christmas Activities
Christmas Coloring Pages
Download and color scenes from the What’s In The Bible? Christmas DVD Why Do We Call It Christmas? In this DVD, Buck Denver feels a little overwhelmed by questions about all the traditions of Christmas. His friends step in to help him understand what modern Christmas traditions mean and how they relate back to the birth of our savior, Jesus! Color scenes from the DVD including Pastor Paul singing Christmas Hymns, Sunday School Lady and Marcy baking Pepparkakor, a group gathered around a campfire to talk about Emmanuel, and more!
Featured Coloring Page: Buck Denver’s Christmas Cabin
What are some of the questions you have about Christmas? Chances are the DVD Why Do We Call It Christmas? can help answer those questions! In this coloring page scene, Buck Denver stands outside his family cabin in Indiana and reflects on Christmas and what it means to us today.
Christmas Popsicle Stick Theater
Our friend Chester Wigget is known for his wonderful popsicle stick theater skills in the What’s In The Bible? DVD series. You can always count on Chester to share the stories in a humorous and…unique way!
Featured Popsicle Stick Theater: Luke 2
Chester Wigget shares the true meaning of Christmas through popsicle stick puppets in the DVD Why Do We Call It Christmas? You can download the popsicle stick puppet images and make your own popsicle stick theater to re-tell the story of Luke 2 at home! Watch a clip of Chester Wigget acting out Luke 2, then download and make your own to finish the story!
Christmas Ornaments and Cards
Download and make Christmas ornaments and Christmas cards featuring some of the cast of What’s In The Bible? and Why Do We Call It Christmas? The ornaments feature Agnes & Winnifred, Chester Wigget, Captain Pete, Monkey, Pastor Paul, Clive, Ian, Marcy, and Sunday School Lady. You can also download and print Christmas cards featuring Sunday School Lady, Clive, Chuck Waggin, and Buck Denver!
Featured Christmas Card: Buck Denver Christmas Card
Everyone’s favorite “man of news” – it’s the Buck Denver Christmas Card! Featuring Buck Denver bundled up in a scarf in front of a lovely snow scene, the inside reads “Breaking news! It’s Christmas!” Share What’s In The Bible? with your friends and family by printing out this Christmas card and passing it out!
Why Do We Call It Christmas? DVD
In the Why Do We Call Christmas? DVD, Buck Denver attempts to understand what Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and the other modern Christmas traditions have to do with the original Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ! In true What’s In The Bible? fashion, Buck Denver and friends set out to understand complicated concepts through funny songs that point us to timeless truths.
Marci in Louisiana said, “We want to show our children the truth about Christmas and how each tradition has a strong attachment to history. This was a great way to help them see that!”
Download a free family discussion guide to begin new conversations in your family after watching Buck Denver Asks … Why Do We Call It Christmas?. Discuss 5 big questions about Christmas and the special ways we celebrate it.
Why Do We Call It Christmas? Church Edition
The Why Do We Call It Christmas? Church Edition is the perfect Christmas Sunday School curriculum for your busy children’s ministry. Featuring rich video content from VeggieTales® creator Phil Vischer, the curriculum brings the modern traditions and timeless truths of Christmas together in one unforgettable ministry tool. From stockings to Santa Claus, from Christmas trees to angels heard on high, this 4-week Christmas curriculum will have your children’s ministry laughing, singing and learning through the whole month of December.
Everything you need to know about the Why Do We Call It Christmas? Church Edition can be found here!
Everyday Emmanuel
Christmastime can be such a busy time and it can be difficult to take time out to really appreciate the days leading up to Christmas. Transform your Advent celebration with Everyday Emmanuel, our Christmas Countdown Experience that will help your family create meaningful memories together this December. Download a free sample of Everyday Emmanuel here.
Erin of HomeWithTheBoys.net says:
Everyday Emmanuel is not just one more thing to complicate your holiday season. It is a fun AND meaningful way to bring your family together this Advent. And who wouldn’t want to spend Christmas with Buck Denver?!
Read the rest of her review of Everyday Emmanuel to see how they used it with their family.
