Orthodox Christians have a custom of inviting a priest yearly to bless our homes! Ever wonder why? Or maybe you scheduled your first house blessing and you want to know what to expect! This blogpost is for you! I am pulling back the veil a little to share what to expect, how to prepare, and answering some frequently asked questions.

🕊️ Theophany (also called Epiphany) is the baptism of Christ, one of the 12 Great Feasts in the Orthodox Church. We celebrate this feast on January 6th. The day before marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas, and now we move into Epiphany season!

Theophany means “The manifestation of God” since on this day, when the Lord came out of the water, the heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus. The voice of God the Father was heard from the clouds saying “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.” God appeared in His fullness, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit - The Holy Trinity.

By popular demand, here a 12 month bundle with all of the prints in one easy download. Last year, I was making these prints as I went throughout the year, so we finally now have 12 months (with adjusted dates for 2025) all in one!

The 12 days of Christmas is the period that marks the span between the birth of Christ (Nativity) December 25 and runs up to January 6 Theophany (Epiphany) which is when we celebrate Christ's baptism in the Jordan! These 12 days in between offers the faithful a festal period of great joy!

As Orthodox Christians, we mark the 40 days Advent leading up to the Nativity as a period of fasting, increased prayer, and giving alms and services in order to preparing ourselves spiritually to receive the coming Lord.

After any fast, we feast! Christmas is not a one day event! In fact, we spend this period of time FEASTING in all senses of the word ... celebrating with loved ones, enjoying the all the foods we have abstained from, and joyously celebrating the Lord who is with us 🎉

Want your children to learn the value of giving in secret? St Nicholas day is a perfect day to teach this important Christian principle. My kids love acting like St Nicholas and giving secretly and running away to make sure they don’t get caught! We gathered up some extra gold coins, and oranges, and put them in a bag and drop them off at the neighbors porch and run away. Think “ding dong ditch” but leaving behind a gift. That alone would be enough to just give in secret without receiving any acknowledgment. But of course, my heart is always for evangelism opportunities, so I created little gift tags to print up and attach so our neighbors can learn more about St Nicholas day! I created a bundle for families like yours to carry on this tradition in your own communities, and included a pretty print out to learn about other St Nicholas Day Traditions!

December is a very full Liturgical season. We are in the middle/end of the Nativity fast and there are many special feast day traditions we can embrace during this season. I absolutely LOVE Christmas and traditions, but I especially love when these cultural traditions line up with celebrating the saints! Having the meaning behind it not only makes it special but it is enriching the soil in our family’s hearts as we draw nearer to the coming Lord!

During the Nativity season, I love to embrace all things Christmas. But I especially love a good Feast Day theme that connects a Christmas activity to a saint! There are many traditions on the feast of St Barbara as she is a beloved saint celebrated throughout the world, but since she is considered the Patron Saint of Architects, builders, and stone masons, we chose to make our Gingerbread houses on her feast day to remember her story!

St Catherine of Alexandria is celebrated on November 25th in the Orthodox Church. She is a beloved saint known for her wisdom, courage, and unwavering faith. Patron saint of unmarried women, craftspeople who work with wheels (potters and spinners), philosophers, students, and those seeking knowledge, St Catherine’s day offers a beautiful opportunity to reflect on her legacy through tradition and food. In this post, we’ll share a special recipe inspired by her feast day—a dish that brings together rich history and flavors, perfect for honoring this remarkable saint with your family or community. Whether you’re hosting a celebration or simply seeking a meaningful connection, this recipe will be a cherished treat for years to come!

5 Ways to Embrace Christ this Nativity Fast, following the Church as our guide!

Did you know that Chrysostom means "golden mouth"? Check out this super easy feast day tradition of making the "golden mouth milk" for the feast of St John Chrysostom! Easy and healthy and one that you can pull together with items you probably already have on hand!