Christmas in the Agui Home

Christmas is a time of traditions in so many homes and families.  Here at the Agui house, we do some things similar to mainstream American families and some things quite differently. 
As a Christian,  attempting to raise children who place Jesus (not themselves) at the center of their lives, I've had to make changes.  Changes to what my family traditions had been as a kid.  Changes to what society tells us should be our traditions.  Changes to my own ways of thinking sometimes. 
You see,  I love to spoil my kids.  I love buying presents for them.  I think a Christmas tree with a bazillion gifts underneath looks a lot better than one without.  But is that what is best for my kids?  Should I teach them to expect a lot of material items?  Should I be teaching them to want, want, want?

 
As a new mom,  I struggled with this.  As a Christian mom,  my heart was perplexed when thinking about Santa and the focus society puts on him this time of year.  So many movies and commercials have Santa as the theme.  Do you see a Target commercial with a family giving thanks to God for sending His son (after all,  isn't that why we have Christmas)?  Do you see Old Navy characters bundling up in performance fleece to go to Mass? If you've seen commercials like this, please bring them to my attention.  I will make an effort to shop there more.

 
The commercials I always see have the jolly man in a red suit,  elves,  snow,  sledding, etc. 
It literally devastates me that this is what my kids see over and over and over.  And they are never exposed *by the media or society* to the Truth.  So that's where I stepped in.  And I got all crazy and eliminated Santa in my house once and for all.
The last night of November,  my kids and I sit around the kitchen table while making a paper chain of 24 rings.  We discuss that Christmas day is Jesus' birthday.  I ask them "what do we do for friends when it's their birthday?" I got some crazy answers (typical) but the general answer was we give them presents.  So I tell them that beginning Dec 1, we will be gifting Jesus.  Every act of kindness is a gift for Jesus.  Those are the things He loves.  If I witness it,  they will receive a coin in a burlap pouch with their names on it.  On Christmas day,  we will pool our money  together and purchase an even bigger gift for Jesus.  Last year,  they chose to purchase chickens out of the World Vision catalog for a struggling family in another country.  Jesus delights when we take care of those less fortunate than us.  We call this tradition Shepherds Pouches. 
We hang our Advent chain, and each day, as we tear one ring off,  I tell them something new about Jesus.  (Keeping Him the theme all season long)  Christmas Day, we always have a birthday cake made for Him as well. 
But that fat,  bearded man never makes it into this home.  

I know this will inflict some harsh feelings from readers, but it absolutely drives me bonkers to click on my pinterest and view 423 ways to stage your Elf on the Shelf.  It's a cute idea with the wrong purpose.  We are counting down the days to Christ's birth...NOT the night where an imaginary,  cookie eating man delivers a mound of gifts to many (undeserving) children.  Grr... Some will say it is just part of the Magic of the Season.  But my kids are just as excited for Christmas as your Elf on the Shelf loving tots. It's a magical time without the hype driven by the media. 

Our kids aren't deprived.  There are SOME gifts under our little tree.  But not a million.  Each child receives three gifts.  Jesus received three for His birth.  Our children are not more worthy than He. In fact,  the gift of Him is all that they need... But I like to buy presents! :)