The Nativity Tree: 25 Days of Christ

Forced into Isolation for 3 MONTHS. Starting 1-week prior to Thanksgiving. It was a Life or Death SITsheATION. Unable to go anywhere, or have visitors…..I was the “Girl in the Bubble.”

I almost died MAN – of boredom. Until…

my Mom got a 3-foot tree for me to decorate. She put it on the fireplace and then I made EVERYTHING on that tree. I did coloring, Popsicle sticks, Perler beads, kits from the crafts store, and my first popcorn garland. I stayed busy.

I went from boring “empty stuck-at-home” days to “busy” days. I did crafts, watched Christmas movies & cartoons, read Christmas books, listened to Christmas music, and helped Mom in the kitchen with Christmas cookies and a Gingerbread House.

Turns out it was one of my best Christmases ever. What do you think?

Would you have survived being stuck at home…not able to go shopping, play outside, go to school/work? Those days become pretty long with the same 4 walls closing in on you.

Focusing on Christmas

In my previous post, Advent: Preparing for Christmas, I mentioned how it seems as if our society is searching for peace & simplification. If you could “simplify” your holidays, what would you do? or, not do? What traditions would you keep or toss out the window? Who would you spend the holiday with vs. feeling obliged to make an appearance somewhere? Would you be OK with pizza or Chinese food? Or, do you have to have a turkey & ham…with all the trimmings?

Would Christ fit into your Christmas?

My Mom has us read the Nativity Story each year, even though they do it at church too. When I was finally able to read, we started to slowly read it starting on December 1. Each day we would read a few more verses and talk about the details and what we thought the people were thinking or feeling. What if you had been there in the fields as a shepherd? What if Joseph had knocked on your door looking for a place to sleep? If you were traveling with the Wise Men, would you have noticed anything different about this particular baby when you saw him?

Nativity Tree

I think by slowing down, we’re able to dwell on the verses and what was actually happening. Making a Nativity Tree is a fun way of slowing down and focusing on the daily story. It is like the Jesse Tree, but doesn’t start with Creation. It is also a wonderful Advent activity. I think it is a great way to help teach your children the Nativity Story as well.

As you can see, it doesn’t have to be anything fancy; just something that has meaning to you and your family. You can create new ornaments each year or you can buy them from the store. You can do all 25 ornaments, or just one a week. You can dedicate a smaller tree for this, or add your ornaments to your family Christmas tree. I think, as long as you focus on Christ, you can’t go wrong.

Free Nativity Tree Scripture Garland

25 Days with Christ

To help you with this journey, I’ve gathered some ideas for each day. I’ll post a new topic for all 25 days. I’ll include the scripture reading, a Christmas carol link, links to a variety of crafts, & extra project ideas for the day.

I would suggest:

• Read the daily scripture as a family
• Add the scripture links to your paper chain
• Play Christmas carols while…
• Making your daily tree ornament
• Place the ornament on the tree as a family
• End with a prayer of praise & thanksgiving

Here is a listing of all 25 Days:

	Scripture	Keyword	Ornament	Carol / Song
Day 1	John 1:1-5	Light	Candle / Light	Candlelight Carol
Day 2	Isaiah 1:1	Stump	Tree	O Christmas Tree
Day 3	Jeremiah 33:14-16	Branch	Branch / Twig	Deck the Halls
Day 4	Luke 1:5-10	Incense	Cinnamon / Dried Fruit	Like Incense
Day 5	Luke 1:11-17	Angel	Angel	Angels from the Realms of Glory
Day 6	Luke 1:18-25	Silence	Snowflake	Silent Night
Day 7	Luke 1:26-38	Mary	Mary	Mary, Did You Know?
Day 8	Matthew 1:18-21	Joseph	Joseph	God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Day 9	Matthew 1:22-25	Immanuel	Immanuel	O Come, O Come Emmanuel / Glory (Let There Be Peace)
Day 10	Luke 1:39-45	Relative	Relative	I’ll be Home for Christmas / There’s No Place like Home for the Holiday
Day 11	Luke 1:46-56	Glorifies the Lord	Worship: Tambourine	El Shaddai / Ding-Dong Merrily on High
Day 12	Luke 2:1-5	Travel	Donkey	It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Day 13	Luke 2:6-7	No room in inn	Stable	Good King Wenceslas / Make Room
Day 14	Luke 2:8-11	Shepherds	Candy Cane	The First Noel
Day 15	Luke 2:12	Lying in a manger	Cow	Away in the Manger
Day 16	Luke 2:13-14	Singing	Bells / Harp	Ring the Bells / Carol of the Bells
Day 17	Luke 2:15-18	Shepherds	Sheep	Little Drummer Boy / What a Glorious Night
Day 18	Luke 2:19-20	Glorifying & Praising	Worship: Horn	Hark the Herald Angels Sing / Joy to the World
Day 19	Micah 5:2-5	Bethlehem	Bethlehem	O Little Town of Bethlehem / While you were Sleeping
Day 20	Matthew 2:1-2		Wise Men	We Three Kings
Day 21	Matthew 2:3-6		Camel	O Come All Ye Faithful
Day 22	Matthew 2:7-8	Star	Star	Do you Hear What I Hear? / Hope was Born this Night
Day 23	Matthew 2:9-12	Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh	Gifts	What Child is This? / He is the Gift
Day 24	Isaiah 9:6	Government, Prince	Crown	Noel / His Name Shall Be
Day 25	John 1:14	Word became flesh	Jesus / Happy Birthday Jesus Cake	O Holy Night / Jesus Born On This Day / Hallelujah (Light Has Come)

I hope you are able to create some wonderful Christmas memories with your family, while focusing on Christ.

• Related – Advent: Preparing for Christmas
• Related – December Bible Verse Bookmarks
• Related – December Handwriting
• Related – The Nativity Tree: Day 1 – Light