December 22, 2025
Christmas in Uruguay
John Bliffen tells the story of a celebration of Christmas in Uruguay, reminding us that the traditions may differ, but the message is the same.
Articles for tag: Christmas Traditions
December 20, 2025
Who’s That Guy?
Chad Broaddus tells us about reading the Christmas story with his family and how Quirinius reminds him of the authenticity of Jesus' birth.
December 19, 2025
The Christmas Gift
Italian missionary Dot Elliot shares a reminder about the greatest gift of all and tells the story of her first Christmas in Italy.
December 22, 2022
‘All Is Well’
Christmas means many things to David Empson, with most of his thoughts centering on family gatherings and music.
December 20, 2022
The Christmas Program
In the 1996 Christmas program, Margie Redford's parents included a note to family members that encouraged them to "Greet each morning with this prayer: 'Lord, what are You and I going to do together today? I’m reporting for duty.'" The Christmas programs were a family Christmas tradition.
October 26, 2021
HIU Prof Seeks to Help Readers ‘Rediscover’ Jesus at Christmas
Professor of New Testament Dr. Carl N. Toney has written academic books in the past, but with "Ruining Christmas—Rediscovering Jesus," he targets a wider Christian audience.
December 17, 2017
The Merry Makeover
This essay originally appeared in the December 2012 issue of Christian Standard. ___ By Daniel Schantz It was the worst of times for children. Charles Dickens, a handsome man of 31, trudged up the steps of Number One Downing Terrace, a tall brick house surrounded by flower beds. He was returning from his morning walk. Often he walked 10 to 20 miles a day around London. One day he would walk through the rich neighborhoods. The next day he would pass through the rookeries, or slums, where as many as 30 children lived in one room, with no bathing facilities. The
December 4, 2014
Christmas Icebreakers for Your Group or Class
By Michael C. Mack 1. Describe a time in your childhood when you were chosen for something (i.e., a team, an award or distinction, or an important task). How did it feel to be chosen? 2. What nativity-set traditions, if any, did your family have? 3. With which character in the Christmas story do you most identify? Why? 4. As a child, what were some of your family”s traditions leading up to Christmas Day? (For examples, an Advent wreath, candles, a calendar.) Do you have any traditions today? 5. As a young child, how did you anticipate the coming of
December 19, 2010
Interview with Jeff Cox
By Brad Dupray The city of Bell, California, has experienced significant demographic change over the past three decades, transitioning from the post-World War II baby boom of middle-class Anglo families to being a city primarily comprised of Hispanic immigrants. As a means of connecting to its culture, Southland Christian Church conducts Las Posadas, a celebration of Mary and Joseph”s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. This observance resonates within the Hispanic culture and has served as a means of evangelizing Southland”s community. Jeff Cox came to Christ at Southland as a teen, was hired as youth pastor in
December 12, 2007
What About a Happy Christmas?
By Mark A. Taylor As we finished putting together this issue in the middle of November, retailers were worrying about this Christmas. It seems consumer confidence in the economy is lagging, and quite a few households are planning to spend less this holiday than in past years. Since many retailers measure their profit for the whole year by the volume of holiday shopping, this was a concerning omen. And yet many would say it”s a good thing to cut back on Christmas spending. Wouldn”t we? After all, haven”t we for years encouraged folks to remember the “real” reason for Christmas?
