How to Bless Your Christmas Tree and Nativity Scene: Simple Catholic Family Prayers

For many families, putting up the Christmas tree and setting out the Nativity scene are the moments when Christmas really begins at home. The Church has a lovely tradition of blessing both, turning a busy afternoon of decorating into a moment of prayer. You do not need a priest for this: parents can lead these blessings themselves.

When to set them up

Many Catholic families set up the Nativity scene at the start of Advent, but leave the manger empty. Baby Jesus is placed in the manger on Christmas Eve or after Midnight Mass. The Christmas tree often goes up later in Advent, and some families wait until Christmas Eve to light it for the first time. Whatever your family's rhythm, you can pray the blessings on the day you set things up.

Blessing the Nativity scene

St. Francis of Assisi is remembered for setting up a living Nativity scene at Greccio in 1223, so that people could see with their own eyes how humbly God came to us. Every crib in our homes carries on that tradition.

1. Gather around the Nativity scene and make the Sign of the Cross.
2. Read Luke 2:1-14, the story of the birth of Jesus. Children can place the figures as the story is read.
3. Pray together:

Heavenly Father, bless this Nativity scene and all who gather around it. As we look at the stable, the shepherds and the Holy Family, help us to remember how humbly Your Son came into the world. Make our home a little Bethlehem this Christmas, a place where Jesus is welcomed with love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

If you leave the manger empty during Advent, let a child place the baby Jesus in it on Christmas Eve, and sing "Silent Night" or "O Come, All Ye Faithful" together.

Blessing the Christmas tree

The evergreen tree reminds us of the tree of life and of Christ, the light that came into the darkness. Before you switch on the lights for the first time, gather your family and pray:

Lord, bless this tree and all who gather around it. As its branches stay green through the winter, may our faith stay alive in every season. As its lights shine in the darkness, may Christ, the Light of the World, shine in our home and in our hearts. Amen.

Then switch on the lights. Younger children love being the one to do it.

A prayer for Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, before dinner or before leaving for Mass, light a candle in the window or on the table, a sign that your home is ready to welcome Christ, and pray:

Lord Jesus, You came to us as a little child. Be born again in our home tonight. Bless our family, those who are with us and those who are far away, and all who are alone this Christmas. Amen.

More traditions to try this year

• A Christmas card insert: tuck a small prayer card into each Christmas card you send. Our guide on adding a prayer card to your Christmas cards shows how.
• A card on the branches: hang a prayer card for each family member on the tree, with a ribbon, and pray for one person each evening of the Christmas octave.
• The St. Andrew Novena: pray the St. Andrew Christmas Novena from November 30 until Christmas Eve.
• Bible verses at the crib: read one of these Christmas Bible verses each night of Advent.

Our most loved Christmas card

Our Secret of Christmas prayer card shows the Madonna and Child with a Christmas prayer by Pope St. John Paul II on the back. It is our best-selling Christmas card, and many families order a set to tuck into every Christmas card or to place by the Nativity scene. Find all our designs in the Christmas & Advent collection.