Celebrating the Birthday of Baby Jesus-a personal story
Celebrating the Birthday of Baby Jesus
Do you remember celebrating your birthday when you were young? You may have had a party, a special meal, or a cake with your family to mark your special day. For kids especially, birthdays can be a time of great celebration, a time to enjoy the extra attention and family time. Celebrating the birthday of Baby Jesus can be just as wonderful and real for your family, too.
Jesus is born!
December 25th is the day we celebrate the birthday of Jesus. We enjoy a beautiful Mass, decorate during Advent, and try to keep a Christmas tree alive until Epiphany so we can remember that Christmas is not one day, but an entire season of our liturgical year.
But, what more can we do to celebrate? We can have a birthday party!
Celebrate Jesus’ birth
When I was three or four years old, my Grandmother and Aunt came over to celebrate Christmas day with my parents, my brother, and me. In the afternoon, the adults were busy in the kitchen getting things ready for our meal. As I looked around I noticed something was missing.
“Where is the cake?” I wondered. When I asked where Jesus’ birthday cake was I was told that no one had made a cake. I was quite upset. You have to have a cake on your birthday! Poor Jesus. I let my family know how unfair I thought that was.
Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, yet we did not have a cake for Him!? I did not understand how that could be. It just did not seem right to me at all.
My Aunt took me to church so I could apologize and explain to baby Jesus in the Nativity scene how the “mean adults” (she said those were the words I used) did not make Him a cake for His birthday. I think she took me to church to get me out of the house!
Are you looking for ways to grow closer to God this Advent? Get your FREE Advent Resource guide here: Yes, send me the Advent Resource!
Celebrating the birth of Jesus makes Him even more real to your children
I have been reminded of this story many times over the years, especially by my Aunt. 😊 I find it interesting that I had such indignation at the thought that Jesus did not have a birthday cake.
To me, birthdays were a great cause for celebration, and Christmas was a big celebration. We were celebrating the birth of Jesus! My parents taught me that it was a significant day in our faith for this reason.
As a child, I wanted a celebration for Jesus’ birthday just as we celebrated our own birthdays in my family. I wanted Jesus to have a birthday cake, too, and feel special and loved on His birthday. Thanks to my parents, this is how real Jesus was to me. This is why I was so upset He did not have a birthday cake. I thought He must have felt abandoned and forgotten since we did not have a birthday cake for Him.
A birthday cake for Jesus
While my Aunt and I were at church, my Mom and Grandmother were quickly making a birthday cake for Jesus. I can only imagine the conversation that happened when I was gone!
They did not have to make a cake. They could have told me that we would not have a cake for Jesus’ birthday. Yet Jesus was so real to me and they saw how important it was to me, that they made a cake for Jesus. ❤ I appreciate that. Thank you, Mom!
I don’t see their reason for making a birthday cake as indulging me as a child. I see their reason for making a birthday cake for Jesus is because they recognized how hurt I thought Jesus would be. They had been telling me that Christmas was Jesus’ birthday, and having a cake was what we did to celebrate birthdays in my family. They made a cake to show me how important it was to truly celebrate Jesus’ birthday.
Celebrating Jesus’ birthday
Do you make a birthday cake on Christmas? Do you celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Jesus by doing things you also do at family birthday celebrations? Doing so can help our children to truly see the reality of Christ and how important He is as a man as well as God.
You can sing “Happy Birthday,” make a cake, or play some favorite birthday games. Reading the Gospel about Jesus’ birth is always meaningful to do as well.
However you celebrate Christmas, your kids may enjoy adding some birthday games or activities to the day.
Christmas is a day to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior-God made man. May we help our children to see how real Jesus is.
Are you looking for ways to grow closer to God this Advent? Get your FREE Advent Resource guide here: Yes, send me the Advent Resource!
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