$450 billion. Americans spend about $450 billion on Christmas each year.
Way back when we started our family, we didn’t know this number. But, we knew we wanted to “do gifts” a bit differently for our family.
We decided we wanted gifts to mean something.
When we were pregnant with our first child who is now almost 10 (gasp!), we decided we’d use gift giving as a teachable moment for our children.
And, so, we give them 3 gifts. That’s it. 3 gifts. From us. Not from Santa. From Mom and Dad.
These three gifts symbolize those of the wise men. And, each year, before we open gifts, we read the story and remind the children about the wise men and the gifts they brought to baby Jesus, the incarnate God.
The wise men brought Jesus myrrh.
Myrrh was a valuable gift of practical use–it was used medicinally for all sorts of ailments from coughs to open wounds. It was a good gift to bring a mother of a new baby. And, in addition to daily use, it was used for embalming and anointing the dead. And, so, it was a prophetic gift, already setting up the Gospel story from the beginning. God’s son would have to die.
Our children’s first gift is a practical gift, something they need and can use daily–a piece of clothing, some sheets for their bed, something like that.
The wise men brought Jesus frankincense.
Frankincense is the purest form of incense and was primarily used in worship. When burned, the white smoke and sweet smell it produces is a symbol of our prayers going up to heaven and creates a meaningful experience for everyone present. It’s a symbolic gift, pointing to Jesus fully being God, Emmanuel, God with us, the only one worthy of our worship.
Our children’s second gift, likewise, is an experiential gift, something not tangible but something meaningful to us as a family–tickets to a theater show, a coupon for a night out with Daddy for ice cream sundaes, a night out at the ball park, something like that.
The wise men brought Jesus gold.
Gold was as valuable then as it is now. It was a precious gift, one that some say financed the family’s trip to Egypt. But, it was also a very symbolic gift in that gold was given to princes when they were born. And, that is what Jesus is–royalty, a King in the line of David, King of the world, King of our hearts. When we become a follower of Jesus, we are adopted into God’s family and we too become princes and princesses, heirs to the throne. We don’t deserve it; no matter how good we are, we won’t ever be good enough to deserve it. But, because of Jesus, God sees us like He sees His own Son. And, we become like Him.
Our children’s third and last gift is a gold gift, something they really really want. Sometimes these gifts are a little more costly–like a lego set (shhhh….). And, sometimes, they really aren’t costly at all, but just something we know they really want, something that is like gold to them. And, we just want to give it to them because we love them and want to bless them.
Of course, they have grandparents, all of whom dote on our children. And, now that they are older, we let them choose small gifts for each other that they pay for with their chore money (which is a teachable moment in an of itself). So, yes, they do get more than 3 gifts. Deprived they are not.
And, we know we are doing what we can to set them up to understand that Christmas is not simply about Rudolph, sparkly trees, cookies and milk, and boxes wrapped up with fancy bows.
It’s about Jesus.
I love this idea! Thank you so much for sharing!
LOVE this. LOVE it.
Aaaaand, I love reading about the creativity that each gift brings out in the gift givers too :) Big props to you guys on lottsa levels!
What a beautiful post…
Great idea! Love the symbolism of the 3 gifts. We only do 2 per kiddo. But with this many kiddos, it’s LOTS!
Love the symbolism behind the three gifts. Perfect!
I actually read about this in a guest post on Money Saving Mom earlier this year. I remember thinking, “What a great idea!” Brad and I have hardly bought anything for our kids at this point because they are so young, and their grandparents and other relatives spoil them rotten. But as they get older, I think we may adopt a similar philosophy of gift-giving. Thanks for sharing!
Here’s the article. The comments below also give a lot great examples and variations on the same idea. :) http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/09/save-money-and-simplify-things-by-setting-a-limit-on-christmas-gifts.html
Love Love Love Love Love :)
I had a Church friend that does the three gift idea. But I love that you extend it into the purpose of the gifts you choose as well. I am going to bookmark this idea for when we get our little one home. Thanks!
I love the way each gift is symbolic. Our kids have always received three gifts on Christmas morning, and they are usually not expensive. They get two gifts from Mom and Dad, and Santa brings a small gift and stuffs their stockings. I have always been grateful that we did this because in lean years, they still received approximately the same Christmas experience. Of course the aunts and uncles and grandparents do indulge the kids quite well.
Thanks for sharing your family’s tradition! This is special!
We are doing three gifts for our kiddos too! I love your explanation of the gifts though…thanks for sharing!
Wonderful…love the symbolism. We’ve been enforcing a one-gift rule (and trust me, my kids are not deprived either!), and so want the kids to understand the beauty and truth of Christmas…all the things you said.
Kelly! I love, love, love the way you do Christmas at your home. I remember linking it on my blog–as we waited for our Izabella to come home–I’m a practical girl–and always feel like Christmas is over dose on STUFF–which is NOT a priority to me ever really. So..with good intentions in hand–we did a very small Christmas her first Christmas home–she was only home 7 weeks and had no idea why there was a tree suddenly in our house. Then last year–she started to get it more–but still didn’t understand enough to share your gift idea. And now this year–I see your post again and love it–and I think–I SHOULD do this–but–I am here to confess–after almost 40 years of no children at Christmas–I am lovin’ doding on her–not overly so–but still having fun with it. I do think we will implement it like another comment person mentioned in her pre-teen years on.
We do make Jesus a very big part of Christmas–obviously it is the reason. But as a little girl Santa was so magical for me–and I love the creative magical parts of Santa. So I am leaving this in place as well.
Thanks for letting me confess. I will try again in a couple years.
It is amazing isn’t it, how much american’s spend of gifts and really forget the main gift, Christ. I love your family tradition. :-) We are making lots of gifts this year.
I love the idea of the 3 gifts! I guess we’ll have to up the 1 gift/kid to 3 because I’m totally stealing this idea. Great post!
Such and amazing way to bring Christ back into the Christmas craziness. Thanks so much for sharing!
I am showing my husband this tonight. I love that your 3 gifts have so much meaning!
We Celebrate one gift each year from St. Nick ~ on the 6th (I should get wrapping). We do it separate so that they know Christmas is about Jesus, yet can experience “santa”.
I love your intentional gifts :)
Kelly, I just LOVE this. Zach and I implemented a bit of our own Advent Conspiracy this year by asking relatives for donations to causes and we cut back on the kids quite a bit. But this, THIS is a wonderful idea and I adore the meaning behind it. So, so wonderful. It’s too late for this year, but I’m thinking it’s already in the works for next year :-)