Amy Welborn: Gift Ideas and Tips for Establishing Catholic Christmas Traditions
Nov 18, 2024
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In this engaging discussion, Amy Welborn, an insightful author known for her work on Catholic family traditions, joins Rose Trabbic. They dive into the importance of establishing meaningful Christmas customs, like St. Nicholas Day and Bambinelli Sunday, to create lasting memories for children. They explore the role of children's literature in these traditions, highlighting new book releases that enhance the festive spirit. Additionally, they thoughtfully debate the inclusion of Santa in family celebrations, emphasizing a Christ-centered approach to the holiday season.
Establishing Catholic Christmas traditions, like Advent wreaths or Bambinelli Sunday, fosters family bonds and deepens children's connection to their faith.
Building a Christmas book collection not only enhances literacy but also creates cherished memories and enriches children's understanding of the season's narratives.
Deep dives
The Importance of Family Traditions
Building family traditions is essential as they help embody the incarnational aspect of the Christian faith, making it tangible for children. Traditions connect families to their past and provide a foundation that can endure throughout their lives, even if they stray from their faith later. Memories created through these traditions, such as Advent wreaths or specific holiday ceremonies, contribute to a sense of identity and belonging. By engaging the senses through images, smells, and actions, families can make faith more memorable and relatable to younger generations.
Celebrating St. Nicholas Day
St. Nicholas Day serves as a delightful way to celebrate the advent season and introduce children to the legend of St. Nicholas through simple traditions. Common practices include placing shoes out for St. Nicholas to fill with treats, traditionally chocolate coins and a mandarin orange, which symbolize the gifts of the feast day. As families evolve, they may incorporate new ideas, such as including books with the treats or small toys, enhancing the excitement around the tradition. Emphasizing the simplicity of the tradition allows families to foster joy and anticipation while instilling the values of generosity and giving.
Bambinelli Sunday and Its Significance
The tradition of Bambinelli Sunday has gained traction in American parishes, where children bring their baby Jesus figures to be blessed, promoting a deeper connection to the Christmas story. The book 'Bambinelli Sunday,' inspired by the Italian custom, highlights the significance of this celebration and incorporates a charming narrative and illustrations for children. Families can further engage with this tradition by creating their own Bambinelli figures, enhancing the joyful anticipation surrounding the Christmas season. This hands-on activity connects children to their faith, enabling them to experience the meaning of Christmas in a personal way.
Creating a Christmas Book Collection
Building a Christmas book collection serves as a captivating way for families to explore diverse aspects of the holiday season while enhancing literacy and love for reading. By adding one or two new titles each year, families can gradually develop a meaningful collection that reflects their faith and traditions surrounding Christmas. Engaging children to help select and read these books can create cherished memories and establish excitement as the collection is brought out each Advent season. This tradition not only emphasizes the importance of storytelling but also nurtures a deeper understanding of the Advent and Christmas narratives.
Advent and Christmas are quickly approaching, and families will soon begin their favorite traditions. In this special edition of the Ignatius Press Podcast, join Rose Trabbic, Ignatius Press Publicist, and Amy Welborn, author of “Bambinelli Sunday” who discuss several new Ignatius Press children’s book releases that would make great Christmas presents.
Rose and Amy also discuss the importance of establishing Catholic family Christmas traditions and suggest several engaging customs that you can start with your family this year! Finally, they deliberate about whether or not you should tell your children about Santa. Kickstart this Advent and Christmas right by considering how to make this season memorable and integrally Catholic.