Family Christmas Traditions: Service Elves/Angels with FREE Activity Printables
Embracing Christ-Centered Christmas Traditions: The Heartwarming Tale of Service Elves/Angels.
In my childhood, our family held dear several cherished Christmas traditions, and one that stands out fondly in my memories is the tradition of the Christmas Service Elves.
As December approached each year, our family would gather for a special lesson about the true meaning of Christmas—the celebration of the gift of the Christ Child. My mother emphasized the importance of preparing a place for Him, and what better way to do so than by serving others? After all, isn't serving each other a way of serving God?
At the conclusion of the lesson, my mother would unveil a small wooden manger, a carefully wrapped baby Jesus, a mound of hay (crafted from cut lengths of raffia), and a stack of service elf printables.
The baby Jesus found his place on the far side of the mantle, amidst the various Christmas nativities my mother had collected over the years. Meanwhile, the manger, the pile of hay, and the stack of service elf printables took center stage in our now enclosed fireplace.
A unique twist to this tradition involved each family member writing their name on a separate piece of paper, placing them in a hat, and then drawing a name. The chosen name represented the family member whom we would secretly serve throughout the week. Each act of service was accompanied by leaving behind a small service elf printable. Once discovered, the person served would return the printable to a pile next to the manger and add a piece of hay to it.
The ultimate goal was to serve one another so wholeheartedly that, by Christmas day, the manger would be filled with enough hay to create a comfortable bed for the baby Jesus.
In my attempt to share this heartwarming tradition, I searched for Christmas service elf printables online without success. Determined, I enlisted my mom's help to unearth our old stack of printables from her boxes of Christmas decorations. Now, not only have I recreated these printables but have also designed service angel printables for those who prefer to keep this activity entirely Christ-centered.
Click Here for the Free Service Elf/Service Angel Printable Cards
I'm eagerly anticipating introducing this cherished family tradition to my own children. Given their personalities, I am confident that this will become a treasured tradition for them, just as it was for me during my upbringing. Now, all that remains is for me to craft a small wooden manger, create a wooden swaddled baby Jesus, and gather a bag of raffia for the upcoming holiday season.
What is your most beloved Christ-centered Christmas tradition? Share your stories with us!
I think this is a great tradition. Kids seem so self-centered these days, so anything that gets them to think of others is always a good idea.
I totally agree! any tradition or activity that helps us to focus on giving and serving are a great thing. I am glad you like the tradition 🙂