‘Tis the season for cozy. Snuggling up in a fuzzy blanket, grabbing a festive snack, and enjoying a Christmas movie with the family. One of our favorite Christmas movies is ‘The Star.’ Watching this movie, is a simple way our family has found to keep Jesus at the center of our celebrations.
And though we could have just watched the movie together, we decided to be a little extra and make it an event. Whether hunkering down for a winter night with the family, or planning a family ministries event, I have rounded up a list of fun Christmas foods to go with this movie (including our Nativity Snack Mix), and fun decorations and activities to really make the night special.
Nativity Snack Mix:
What movie night is complete without snacks? And how much more fun is it if they are on theme. We had a mix your own Nativity Snack Mix bar.
- Chocolate Hugs or Kisses: Mary and Joseph, and the love they had for Jesus as his earthly parents.–‘ but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.’ Luke 2:19 (NLT)
- Pretzels (traditional shape): Angels! Angels pop-up all over the Christmas story, and pretzel shapes totally look like their wings. — ‘Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven,and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ Luke 2: 13-14 (NIV)
- Popcorn: Shepherds and their sheep. Popcorn is so fluffy, it definitely passes as a sheep. –‘And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.’ Luke 2:8 (NIV)
- Animal Crackers: Manger, where animals ate and the Savior lay. –‘She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.’ Luke 2:7 (NLT)
- Peppermint Candies: The gifts of the wisemen. Frankincense and Myrrh have fairly strong smells. We can remember these gifts with some peppermint candies. We used peppermint bark. –‘Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.’ Matthew 2:11 (NIV)
- Star Sprinkles: The Star!–‘When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!’ Matthew 2:10 (NLT)
More Food Ideas
If you want to make a full-theme meal, I’ve also got you covered. I’ve rounded up a few more menu ideas from around the web:
- Israeli Foods: Another fun option is to taste some foods that Jesus might have actually ate. This list of Popular Israeli Foods can help in selecting foods that may be available in your area. Bonus if you have the opportunity to support an immigrant-owned businesses. Favorites in our home are falafel, hummus, and olives.
- Sopa de Estrellas: The movie is called ‘The Star’ so a fun menu option could be sopa de fideos made with fideos de estrellas.
- Star-Shaped Pizza: Around Christmas time, Aldi’s sells star-shaped frozen pizza! We think it’s delicious. Maybe your family will too.
- Baby Jesus in a Blanket: This is a fun take on pigs in a blanket (hotdogs wrapped in crescent rolls). Serve with a side of Farm Animal Mac n Cheese to represent the animals at the manger and round orange slices for the star.
- Star Punch: for a festive drink, mix 1 part gingerale with 1 part apple cider. Garnish with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and star anise.
- Birthday Cake for Jesus: If your crew LOVES cake, consider having a birthday cake for Jesus. You can pick up a simple pre-made cake from your local grocery, or have some fun making a box mix. And some candles and maybe a cute Nativity Cake Topper.
Decorations
Of course you don’t have to have decorations, but sometimes it’s fun to be a bit extra.
- Essential oils: Smell can really set the scene for both big parties, and small family celebrations. Add a few drops of orange, frankincense, and myrrh essential oils to a diffuser to remember the wisemen. Or if you are an oily mama, maybe look at getting the 3 Wise Men blend from Young Living.
- The Star Printable Ornaments: Mrs. Kathy King has some fantastic ‘The Star’ Printable ornaments on her website. Print some out for your tree, or use them as table decorations.
- The Star Coloring Pages: Let your littles color their own movie poster using these coloring pages from Mom Stop.
- The Star Activities, Christmas Cards, and Dioramas: The Star Movie website has some fantastic activities for littles to really get them excited for the show. From printable dioramas to Christmas cards, their are a lot of fun options.
- Be A Heart Party Supplies: I cannot get enough of the Christmas party supplies from Be A Heart Design. I didn’t order these in time for our movie night this year, but they will definitely be going in my cart for next year.
Baby Devotions 