How To Make Lent Fun For Kids

Lent officially begins next week on Ash Wednesday (March 5th); this gives us six weeks to prepare for the celebration of Easter. This solemn time in the liturgical calendar can oftentimes be difficult to explain to kids and so it is an opportunity for us adults to shed some light on this period of preparation. Lent is observed by the majority of Christian denominations during which we use prayer, penance, almsgiving, self-denial to get ready for Easter. Because explaining the passion of the Christ is so gory and solemn, it is important to find a hands on approach to introducing the information to young children. These are a few suggestions that could easily work for bible school or at home with your own kids. Continue reading

How To Make Christmas Birthdays Special

I’m not a Christmas baby, but I have a sister, a nephew, friends and a cousin who have birthdays the day before and the days after. They’re not crazy about their birthdate and with good reason.It’s important to make Christmas birthdays special, especially if they are for friends and family!  It’s commonly heard that if your birthday lands on any of these critical days, then more than likely a.) you’ll get one gift that counts for Christmas and your birthday, b.) you’ll get a birthday gift wrapped in Christmas paper, c.) your friends are busy spending the holidays with family, d.) your family temporarily forgets it’s your birthday, and the list goes on. Just as we get one day of the year that’s all about us, they deserve one as well.

birthday cake

birthday cake (Photo credit: freakgirl)

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Feast of the Epiphany

The Feast of the Epiphany is celebrated in the catholic church on January 6. It’s traditionally the day commemorated as the day on which the three wise men visited baby Jesus.This religious holiday is regarded as part of the Christmas festivities and it is celebrated largely in the Latin culture.

Brioche of the Magi (King cake), with fruits c...

Brioche of the Magi (King cake), with fruits confits, from Toulon; this kind is kings’ cake is more common in the southeast than the northern-kind galette (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Parties are usually planned around 6th of January or the weekend closest to the actual day. The main entree is “King’s Cake,” a round cake decorated with fruits, and sweets for decorations. Some people keep the tradition of inserting a random baby doll, symbolizing baby Jesus, in the cake somewhere. Whoever “finds” or gets the doll in their slice of cake is required to throw a party for those present at the party.This day is also the day on which many children get their actual Christmas presents, as it is the same day on which Jesus received his gifts from the three magi. Children leave one of their shoes out the night before with hay and carrots, for their animals and the following morning they awake to find their gifts.The epiphany holiday is one celebrated with joy and much anticipation.So, gather around because the Christmas season isn’t over yet!

Serve the tasty treats (which, you can find at your local bakery right around this time) on our colorful plastic plates and plastic serving trays. :-)

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