Christmas
The season of Christmas, or Christmastide, celebrates the birth of Jesus. It is a twelve-day season in which we herald the fulfillment of God’s promise of a Savior. After the long period of waiting through Advent, Christmas is for us a time of joy—traditionally, a time of “feasting”—where we celebrate the incarnate God in Jesus.
The tradition of celebrating Christmas over a period of twelve days goes back as far as the Middle Ages. The season culminates on January 5, the day before Epiphany, which is also known as the Twelfth Night.
In this season, we gather around the light—the external light of tree and fire, the internal light of faith, and the communal light of togetherness—as we celebrate the coming of Jesus, the one true Light, into the world.
—Jenn Giles Kemper
Below, you'll find an ever-growing collection of resources to help you deepen your experience of the season. Some of them were created by members of the Sacred Ordinary Days community of kindreds, and the list has been—and will continue to be—curated by our kindreds. Share your own recommendations for additional resources on the Sacred Ordinary Days Facebook page to have them added here.
Cloth for the Cradle: Worship Resources and Readings for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany by John Bell and Wild Goose Worship Group
The Day Christ Was Born: The True Account of the First Twenty-Four Hours of Jesus's Life by Jim Bishop
God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Good Dirt: A Devotional for the Spiritual Formation of Families—Advent, Christmastide and Epiphany (Vol. 1) by Lacy Finn Borgo and Ben Barczi
Sacred Space for Advent and the Christmas Season 2016–2017 by the Irish Jesuits
Taste and See: Experiencing the Stories of Advent and Christmas by Jan Johnson
The Glorious Impossible by Madeleine L'Engle
The Season of the Nativity: Confessions and Practices of an Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany Extremist by Sybil MacBeth
Christmastide: Prayers for Advent through Epiphany from the Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle
God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas by Various
Goodness and Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas by Various
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas by Various
The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas by Ann Voskamp
Preparing for Jesus: Meditations on the Coming of Christ, Advent, Christmas, and the Kingdom by Walter Wangerin Jr.
Kneeling in Bethlehem: Poetry for Advent and Christmas by Ann Weems
Christmas Spotify playlist curated by Sacred Ordinary Days
Christmastide: Music in Solitude by Eric Nordhoff and the Transforming Center
An American Christmas: Shapenote Carols from New England and Appalachia by The Tudor Choir
S1 | E3 : Christmas + Christmastide + Celebration with Jenn Giles Kemper and Lacy Clark Ellman on the Sacred Ordinary Days podcast
Why Do We Call It Christmas? by What's in the Bible?
Sacred Time: An Online Retreat for Advent and Christmas by Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts
Celebrating St. Nicholas, the Real Santa Claus by Tsh Oxenreider at The Art of Simple
The Twelve Days of Christmas: An Underground Catechism by Catholic Information Network
The 12 Days of Christmas by The e.Lib
Celebrate the Season: 12 Ideas for the 12 Days of Christmas by Joe Iovino at The People of the United Methodist Church
Orthodox Christ and Virgin with Child Icon Letterpress Prints by SkullAndSparrow
Wisdom for Advent and Christmas by Spirituality & Practice
A Liturgy for Christmas Eve by Amy Rogers Hays at Stories & Thyme
Twelfth Night by Emily Watkins at Wondering through the Year
* Some links are affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra to use them, but they support our work in gathering and sharing resources like these with you.
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