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My husband and I went to the 10:30 Mass on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas morning, our family read the story of the first Christmas from Luke's Gospel before opening presents. When I was growing up, all the cousins and our families got together on Christmas Eve and had a birthday cake for Jesus. Mrs. Hanson

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This was a new tradition we started this year on Christmas Eve at our family gathering, the kids read the birth of Jesus prior to opening presents. We all went as a big family to the Christmas Eve mass. (Grandparents, great aunt/uncles, cousins etc).

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The kids love to help light the advent wreath candles during advent.

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When my daughter and I were coming home from just grabbing a bite to eat, we rolled down the window and gave a man some cheese and crackers and a couple dollars

at the stoplight.

YSIC

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My husband and I celebrated Christmas Eve mass at our new parish, College Church on SLU’s campus. We brought our families, and it was so great. 🫶🏼

-Mrs. OToole

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Our other tradition is the Jesse Tree. We’ve done it every year since Jillian was 2.5 years old. We take turns each day doing the reading and placing the symbol on our felt tree.

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We went to midnight mass as a family for the first time this Christmas. It was special mass and we all felt the Holy Spirit in us. It was a great way for us to focus on why we celebrate Christmas. We will continue this tradition as long as we can.

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We kept Christ in Christmas by going to Christmas Eve Mass at my in-laws church that is getting ready to close. It was so heartwarming to see so many gather at Immaculate Conception-Maplewood to celebrate the birth of Christ, knowing it would be the last time.

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Each Sunday during Advent we read the weeks readings for the Jesse tree that we got at the family advent night and colored/cut/glued as a family.

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We decorate our Christmas tree on December 23 as a reminder that the Christmas season actually starts on Christmas. Another tradition is the kids serving the 10:00 a.m. Mass on Christmas morning.