It’s Christmas again, that lovely season when we can forget for a while the troubles of the year. For Christians it is the greatest day of the year, when God broke into human history and walked among women and men. In times of war and hardship people have always found a way to remember the birth of Christ and the great love our Father has for all our children.
For the little ones in our lives, it is a magical event of snow and ornaments, treats and reindeers, fairy lights and festive-themed clothing, and of course the expectation of Santa’s arrival and there is nothing wrong with this.
However, it is principally the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus our Saviour. His is a timeless story as it is with the Incarnation our whole civilization began. Christmas is first and foremost a religious feast, but because society has become more secular, this dimension of the celebration has diminished it seems.
Keeping the Balance
It can be difficult, especially for Christian parents, to keep the balance between the real meaning of Christmas and the excitement around the giving and receiving of gifts. There is an onslaught of advertisements telling us what we must have to make Christmas a joyous occasion. The name of Jesus is hardly mentioned, but in him we have already received the greatest gift of all. This is the real reason for our Christmas festivities.
For parents and others who want to recapture what it is all about, The Moving Crib in Parnell Square Dublin 1, transmits the essential message of this season in a ‘fun’ way which will engage and enchant the young folk and indeed the older ones too. A Montage of stories, including, Noah’s Ark, King Herod’s Court, the Wise Men and of course the Nativity Scene entertain and inform simultaneously, and every visitor will come away with a sense of having ‘lived through’ the events, and with a better understanding of the Christmas Story.
The Moving Crib is a permanent memorial to the never-changing, never-ending message of hope which God gave us when he sent his son among us that first holy and blessed Christmas night. Open until 9th January, find out more on this Free Event, by visiting www.stmartin.ie/crib and book your visit.
Feature Sponsored by St Martin Apostolate