Today I’m sharing both a picture book, that you can read alone or as part of a Christmas Picture Book Advent series, and a NEW-for-me set of family traditions I’m doing this year. Both are based on this book for adults, shown below.

I was so thrilled to find the picture book last year while thrifting! It is a beautiful picture book as well as an invitation to start a simple new, week-long Christ-centered family tradition. Why is it simple? Because it uses something you probably already have, a Nativity set. I love this! It connects to some Easter traditions I’ve already written about. One of the posts here on my blog that gets the most traffic is the one with the week-long Christ-centered Easter traditions from Emily Belle Freeman and David Butler. It’s over here. We’ve used it for at least five years now, and I love that each activity is so simple. Well, did you know that Sister Emily and Brother Dave also have a week-long countdown of activities to Christmas that is similar in its simplicity and meaningfulness?

I’ve got it all outlined below! It’s all based on the books shown above. I show the book being read aloud in the video below.

I love that these activities are so Christ-centered and so adaptable depending on your time, energy, and money. Each day has a story for a piece of the Nativity, a question for discussion, and then a simple activity. I just love that they are simple! Nothing you have to buy and no outings to make. If you can’t afford the book yet, you can watch the video above! Combine this with breakfast, dinner, or bedtime routine. I’m going to piggyback it onto our Immanuel Wreath ritual, which we do at dinnertime. If you miss a day, no big deal, just combine it with another activity the next day. If you don’t have a Nativity set, you can draw one or print one out, and tape the figures to the wall or fridge. You can use figures here or here.

Day 1: The Stable. “This is the stable, shelter so bare…” (words from “The Nativity Song” by Patricia Kelsey Graham, in Children’s Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over here. Other words in quotation marks below are also from that song.)

Invitation: Display an empty stable. Discuss this question: “How can you make room for the baby Jesus as part of your Christmas celebration this year?” Every time you walk by the stable, ponder that question.

Day 2: Joseph. “Joseph who guided the donkey with care…”

Invitation: Do a secret act of kindness. If you have time/money, and want a tangible reminder to help you remember to do it, put a jingle bell in your pocket or tie it on your wrist. The story that Sister Emily shares in the above video about her daughter saving up money to buy a pair of shoes for a friend brought tears to my eyes. So sweet! Discuss this question, “What secret act of kindness can you do for someone?” When you have performed the act, place Joseph in the Nativity scene.

Day 3: Mary. “See the sweet mother, Mary so fair…”

Invitation: Ponder the miracle of Mary’s participation as the mother of Jesus. It could involve something that represents her love, like making heart-shaped cookies, especially if you have young children. (Although making cookies with young children can be stressful, I get it. Maybe buy premade cookies and premade frosting and have the activity be frosting the cookies. Or just buy them already frosted and eat them. :-)) An alternative could involve looking at little artifacts that represent the baby’s birth: a piece of wool from the sheep, a piece of fabric to represent the swaddling clothes, a piece of straw from the manger, sample objects that represent gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Place Mary in your Nativity scene.

Day 4: The Angel. “This is the angel proclaiming the birth…”

Invitation: Fill your heart and home with carols. Go caroling, or if that’s too cold and awkward, play Christmas carols in your home while you drink hot cocoa. Place the Angel in your Nativity set.

Day 5: The Shepherds. “These are the shepherds, humble and mild..”

Invitation: Share your testimony of Jesus. Gather your family in a circle with a candle for each person. (Use battery-powered candles for small children.) One by one, share one feeling about Jesus/ how that person has seen Jesus recently, lighting each candle in turn. After you are done, add the shepherds to the Nativity.

Day 6: The Wisemen. “These are the wise men who followed the star…”

Invitation: Journey closer to Jesus Christ. Ask yourself, “What is one way you can seek Jesus?” Discuss an activity, tradition, or habit for the new year that you can do to bring you closer to Jesus Christ. After the discussion, add the wisemen to the Nativity scene.

Day 7: The Christ Child. “See the dear baby of Bethlehem, Little Lord Jesus, the Savior of men.”

Invitation: Give your heart to Jesus. Write down on paper what you will give to Jesus, put it in an envelope, and put it somewhere for safekeeping (like Mom’s Christmas stocking) or with the Nativity set. Then review how you did next year when do the same tradition. When you have written down your gift, put the baby Jesus in the manger.

That’s it! I just love all of this!!!! Can you see how society would be revolutionized if every Christian family took quiet moments to ponder these questions every year and acted on them? So amazing!

You can go to Sister Emily’s website here, to print out the matching ornaments to hang on your tree or make a garland for the wall or mantelpiece to remember each day’s lesson/tradition.

May we truly let Jesus into our hearts this Christmas, and all year round! “Come, Lord, Jesus, come!”

May we all know that even if we are unfaithful and broken, we can let Him in.