While we certainly love the decorating, caroling, treats, gifts and all the sweet, special things that make Christmas such a wonderful holiday, last year we started teaching the kids the true meaning of Christmas using the Jesse Tree Advent custom.
The Jesse Tree represents the family tree of Jesus. It tells the story of God’s salvation, beginning with creation and continuing through the Old Testament, to the coming of the Messiah. The name comes from Isaiah 11:1, “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.”
Sunday marked the beginning of Advent and the first day of our Jesse Tree teachings. Each night after dinner and once we’re in our jammies, we snuggle up in the living room by the tree and read the daily scripture, talk about what it means and hang the day’s ornament on our Jesse Tree. We are using this guide for our daily devotional. I also used the drawings on that site for templates to create our ornaments. For just a few dollars, I picked up white felt, gold glitter paint and gold cording to make the ornaments. There are also ready-made sets out there if you are interested in starting this tradition but don’t want to make all the ornaments.
This has become the sweetest part of my day and something I look forward to doing for many more years!
xoxo
Amanda,
Would you consider doing a series on "event" organization…how you plan your parties, and all of the extra projects you get done? Also I would love to see your craft closet!! I love your blog….some days I will not log on FB but I love to read your blog everyday!!
Jackie
Amanda,
That is a wonderful tradition to have with your sons. Not only are you teaching them but you are creating some precious memories for all of you!
-Shelley
Precious! What an incredible tradition!
Would love for you to link up at our "Home For The Holidays" link party! ;)
http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com
Very nice! We are doing a Jesse tree for the first time this year and the kids are loving it!
Thank you for sharing your family tradition! I think I'd like to do something similar to teach my son. I'm your newest follower btw!
We have done something similar to the Jesse tree at church, but it is symbols that relate to the names of Jesus and the scriptures that go with them. If you can check out the books by Arnold Ytreeide for the Advent season. They are great stories (my almost 17 and 15 year old boys love them, as well as my 13 year old daughter) that are read each night and then they have a short devotion to go with them. They have been the most looked forward too of all the Advent things we have done. They stories are well written, interesting, thought provoking, and cliff hangers. This year he also wrote a book for the Easter season that was a wonderful addition to our Easter season. You can find the books online fairly easily now. Enjoy your Christmas season.
Visiting from Shabby Creek Cottage.
Jesse Tree Ornaments are a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas and teach your children the story of Jesus' birth! I make a felt set: http://www.etsy.com/listing/109692943/advent-felt-jesse-tree-ornaments-set-of
It's so good to find so many families celebrating Advent with a Jesse Tree.