Keeping Our Family's Christmas Tradition Alive

The Christmas and New Year holiday season is a joyous time for the majority of people in North America. There are so many things to do with friends and relatives to reconnect and visit.

With our children all grown up, working and living outside of Canada, at times, it's not easy for us to keep all our family traditions. This year, with Mom being hospitalized, our 45 year big family Christmas dinner was interrupted.

However, there is one family tradition we insist on keeping within our own family no matter what happens.  Attending the Christmas Eve service has been a tradition in my own family for a long time. We have been fortunate that no matter how far our children live away from us, one of them always makes it home and spends Christmas with us.

We attended the Christmas Eve Service at St. Paul's Church in downtown Toronto

With whatever has been happening in the U.S., our son's flight was delayed and he had to hang around at the airport for two extra days before coming home for Christmas. We were glad that he could make it and not missed the most important part of our family tradition, attending a church service together and spending time in a worship service as a family.

We attended the 10p.m. service at St. Paul's Church on Christmas Eve in downtown Toronto.


It was a nice crispy winter evening. The church looked beautiful, warm and welcoming with the lights and decorations inside.

The choir sings from the balcony of St. Paul's Church

We were there early and listened to the choir singing from the church balcony.

Though it was late in the evening, the church was packed and the service was well attended.

St. Paul\s Church is a church with beautiful architecture.

We listened to the lovely Christmas carols, reflected on the true meaning of Christmas:

- the birth of Christ, God's love for his people and his plan of salvation for all.

It was touching and my eyes were filled with grateful tears for God's love.










God's love and our prayers started to soften our son's heart.

He made an attempt to partake the communion!


Attending Christmas church services is an important part of our family traditions.

























We will definitely keep our Christmas tradition alive for years to come regardless of the weather or how busy we are during this holiday season!

R.T.
St. Paul's Church
Downtown Toronto