DAY 1:

Family Christmas Puzzles

Taking time to slow down and spend quality time with your family and friends is a special part of the Christmas season. Working a puzzle as a family is a great way to involve everyone in an activity.

Create your own family Christmas puzzle tradition. Shop Sonlight’s selection of games and puzzles here.

DAY 2:

Create Pipe Cleaner Ornaments

Enjoy a detailed look at our 2022 Advent Unit Study and download a free printable with instructions for one of the included crafts—homemade pipe cleaner ornaments! These fun and easy-to-make ornaments are a fun way to get the whole family involved in making ornaments for your Christmas tree.

DAY 3:

Focus on Giving

Christmas should include a focus on giving and reaching out to those in need. Check out some creative ideas to get the entire family involved in blessing others this season. Tune in as Sonlighter Tender shares easy ideas that will bring a more Christ-centered meaning to your annual Christmas traditions.

Here are a few more examples to exhibit a servant's spirit at Christmas.

DAY 4:

The History Behind Gingerbread Cookies + FREE Recipe

Everyone thinks of food when they think of the holidays. Enlist your kids with cookie baking this season and add a new recipe to your collection. As an added bonus, learn some interesting history behind this Christmas favorite.

Download the free gingerbread cutout cookie recipe below. Record more "must-have" recipes with Sonlight Recipe Cards.

DAY 5:

RECIPE: A Shrimp & Grits Tradition

Christmas Favorites are different in every region or area we live. Exploring different recipes is a great way to explore different regions without traveling. Try Shrimp & Grits as a different recipe this Christmas season. Tune in as Sonlight Mentor & Marketing Coordinator, Johna Lawrence shares how this recipe has become a cherished tradition in her family.

Download the free shrimp & grits recipe below. Record more "must-have" recipes with Sonlight Recipe Cards.

DAY 6:

Traditional Christmas Food

Christmas has so many different food traditions. Does your family have special foods that you eat every Christmas? Tune in for this episode of the InquisiKids podcast where we explore three foods that have a special connection to the Christmas season.

Try incorporating new foods into your family traditions during the holiday season. Include the kids in making a scheduled menu plan to incorporate these new food traditions. We’ve included a blank meal plan template to get you started.

Don’t forget to post pictures of your favorite new food tradition in either Sonlight Connections or the Sonlight App too! #sonlightstories

DAY 7:

Christmas Dining, Jammies, Lights, and more!

Tune in as Sonlight Community Manager, Sunny shares the traditions that her family celebrates every Christmas Eve. From special matching Christmas pajamas to a unique Christmas dining tradition, spending time together light spotting, and more… You're sure to walk away with a fun new tradition to introduce to your family.

DAY 8:

Who was Scrooge?

Have you read A Christmas Carol? If so, you know who Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge is. Tune in for the latest episode of the InquisiKids podcast where we’ll learn all about Mr. Scrooge—and about one of the first books about Christmas ever written... A Christmas Carol.

What a great time to add a classic story to your Christmas Traditions. Shop A Christmas Carol and other delightful Christmas reads here.

DAY 9:

The History Behind Almond Shortbread Cookies + FREE Recipe

If you’re of Scottish heritage, or just enjoy new recipes, here’s a deliciously simple treat to add to your Christmas Cookie Collection. This one dates back to the 12th century!

Download the free almond shortbread cookie recipe below. Record more "must-have" recipes with Sonlight Recipe Cards.

DAY 10:

Who was St. Nicholas?

Discover the history of St. Nicholas—who he was, where he came from, how Santa has changed through history, and more.

*Note, this podcast is intended for older children. Parents with younger children may want to listen prior to sharing with them.

DAY 11:

Create Salt Dough Ornaments

One Christmas as a child, Sonlight Mentor & Marketing Coordinator, Johna Lawrence had just moved, and all the family Christmas ornaments were lost. The solution? Her mom put together salt dough for the family to shape, paint and make ornaments for their tree. Johna’s family had some very traditional and untraditional ornaments, including a plate of meatballs and spaghetti. For over 40 years, her family looked forward to seeing those ornaments on the tree. Her family moved often, so typical traditions were difficult for the family to keep. But the salt dough ornaments were one of the best parts of putting up their family Christmas tree each year.

DAY 12:

The Origins of Jingle Bells

Is there a song more synonymous with the Christmas season than Jingle Bells? Every adult remembers singing the festive song at a school Christmas concert, and you can not shop in a store without hearing the tune. But where did the song come from, and what inspired the author to write it? Tune in for the latest episode of the InquisiKids podcast to find out.

Singing and music are very much a part of Christmas. Create your own musical instrument (or ornament) using our free Jingle Bell Wreath template.

DAY 13:

Helpful Tips for Mom

Sonlight Curriculum Consultant, Rhonda Helmreich shares some of her family's favorite traditions along with a couple of helpful tips & tricks for a busy mom during the holiday season.

DAY 14:

The 12 Days of Christmas Song—Explained

If you were asked to choose the most annoying Christmas song, which would you pick? I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas may come to mind. Or perhaps you think of Grandma Got Runover by a Reindeer or All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth. Sorry if any of those are on your favorites list! Today we are going to find out about another popular yet somewhat maddening Christmas song—The Twelve Days of Christmas.

The Twelve Days of Christmas is a song that has a long history. But did you know that the twelve days actually come after Christmas and not before? Tune in for this episode of the InquiskiKids podcast as we explore the history of The Twelve Days of Christmas song.

Whether you love this silly song or not, it is a fun part of a traditional Christmas season! While you listen to the 12 Days of Christmas podcast, download these FREE printable 12 Days of Christmas Coloring pages.

DAY 15:

A Book-Worthy Christmas Tradition + GIVEAWAY

Tune in and listen to Sonlighter Amy describe a book-themed Christmas tradition that her family has enjoyed for years. What better way to launch the season than with precious stories.

Want to start this tradition with your family? Sonlight can help. Enter to win a Christmas Book Bundle!

Shop Sonlight’s collection of Christmas books here.

DAY 16:

Why do we have Christmas Trees?

There is something peaceful about the soft glow of the lights from a decorated Christmas tree. But why do we have Christmas trees? Who started the tradition?

Learn the history behind the Christmas tree in this episode of the InquisiKids podcast. Carry over that theme by creating Christmas tree cards to share with your family.

Do you have a Christmas tree up at your house? We would love to see a picture of you and your family in front of it! Be sure to tag us and include #sonlightstories

DAY 17:

History of the Nativity Set + Finger Puppet Printable

Tune in as Sonlight Community Manager, Sunny, explains the history behind the Nativity set.

Download and color these Nativity Finger Puppets to engage young children and bring the Christmas Story to life.

DAY 18:

Low-Stress Christmas Eve Traditions + FREE Recipe

Begin now to plan for a low-stress day before the excitement of Christmas arrives. In this blog, you’ll find fresh and practical ideas for a fun-filled Christmas Eve with your family. PLUS, download a FREE savory soup recipe and charcuterie board suggestions.

Download the free soup recipe below. Record more "must-have" recipes with Sonlight Recipe Cards.

DAY 19:

The History Behind the Nutcracker Ballet

Just listening to the music from The Nutcracker Ballet makes you think of Christmas. Tune in to learn all about the history of this ballet. You’ll learn about the story, the music, and how it came to be so popular.

BONUS: Download a free Nutcracker coloring page!

DAY 20:

Where did Rudolph come from?

We all know of the big eared, blue eyed, bright red nose reindeer named Rudolph. But how did he come to be? In this episode of the InquisiKids podcast we’ll dive into the origins of the story, how Rudolph came to be a song, and the longest-running Christmas special in history!

BONUS: Make your very own Rudolph Gift Bag!

DAY 21:

RECIPE: Homemade Hot Chocolate

Who doesn’t enjoy a steaming hot mug of creamy hot chocolate on those crispy, cold days in December? Check out this creative way to share your love for chocolate, and learn how one Sonlight mom incorporated hot cocoa into their family Christmas traditions.

Download the free hot chocolate recipe below. Record more "must-have" recipes with Sonlight Recipe Cards.

DAY 22:

The Origins of Good King Wenceslas

Do you ever hear a Christmas song and have no idea what it is about? Some songs are easy to decipher. O Little Town of Bethlehem and Silent Night are both about the night Jesus was born. Other songs are harder to figure out.

In today’s InquisiKids episode learn a little more about the origins of the popular Christmas song, called “Good King Wenceslas.”

Download the free King Wenceslas coloring page to color while you listen. After you color your page you will be able to tell the story too? What can you do to bless someone today?

DAY 23:

Bonus Christmas Traditions

After the cookies are eaten and the wrapping paper is discarded, what will your kids remember about this year's Christmas? In years to come what will stick in their memories are the cherished, long-standing family traditions where you enjoyed time together.

Tune in for a few more holiday traditions below. We hope these easy ideas will bring more Christ-centered meaning to your family celebrations.

BONUS TRADITION: Make paper snowflakes! Just follow the steps in this easy tutorial.

DAY 24:

Storytime: ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas

At Sonlight, we love stories. Perhaps one of the most beloved Christmas stories of all is The Night Before Christmas. Tune in for a special episode of the InquisiKids podcast as we explore the origins of this famous story and enjoy storytime with Luke as he reads ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas for us all to enjoy.

DAY 25:

A Christmas Blessing

As hectic as this season can be, when we pause to try and wrap our minds around the idea of Emmanuel, God with us, heaven come down to earth, our family gets the best gift we can offer: a sense of wonder and awe.

Imagine with me the scene from Luke 2: the shepherds have told everyone what they witnessed in the stable and ...
All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,
But Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
Luke 2:18-19

What an amazing thought and a wonderful gift: Jesus come to earth. He became man to show us the Father.

May you be blessed and grateful for this season, and for the reason that we celebrate. May your time with family be filled with celebration and joy.

Merry Christmas!