Birthday cake for Jesus?

[KC's wifey]

I've heard of several people doing this. I feel a little torn on it. One side of me says "Well yeah, its a BIRTHDAY celebration. Why not have a birthday cake? That would be a fun way to help kids connect the meaning of Christmas." And the other side of me says "Ummm... that seems cheesy."

Have you done an actual birthday cake for Jesus before? Did you sing the birthday song and everything? Or did you put more of a Christmas twist to something like this?

[i.<3.cheesysmiles]

We were going to do a cake, but I was talking about Jesus' birthday with DS1 and how Christmas is his birthday, and DS is used to having cupcakes for birthdays, so we are making cupcakes instead. We are using liners that have snowflakes. DS1 will help me make it. That's about all we will do with it. Yeah, it's cheesy, but it's ok to me. DS1 is really into celebrations, and he loves seeing baby Jesus and talking about how Christmas is Jesus' birthday, so it adds some fun to it.

[KC's wifey]

Yeah, I can see why it would be great for kids. The whole traditional Christmas celebration is really different than the way we celebrate birthdays... and yet that is the point of it - celebrating Christ's birth. I can see how doing something more culturally birthday-ish would help solidify the meaning for children and help them understand why Christmas is exciting and why we have such a big celebration.
I've just never done it before, and it isn't really "traditional" so maybe that is why it seems cheesy to me? I'm sure that once it becomes a family tradition it feels as normal as putting up a Christmas tree. I think we will try it.

[impatient]

We do. I get a cake at Publix and we put "Happy Birthday Jesus" on it. Then we sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus as a family before we eat the cake. Sounds cheesy, but that is what DS associates with birthday celebrations at this age. I think it helps him understand what Christmas is. I am not sure if it is a tradition that is going to last as the kids grow up but right now our kids love it.

[LuTruPeMo]

My mom started doing this last year, or the year before. We never did it when I was growing up, and TBH, I do not like it. Yes, Christmas is about Jesus' birthday, but it feels totally strange and irreverent. Different strokes.

[i.<3.cheesysmiles]

So tonight, we talked about our cupcakes, and DS said they were in celebration for Jesus' birthday. He then started asking why it was his birthday, which led to lots of questions about Jesus and God, so it was really good!

[Hippychick]

we have been doing this since my 11yr old was 2, it helped her put it all together, now we still do it since itis tradition and
youngest dd is 3

it also makes a fun thing for us to make together as well!

[Sakura]

My mom started doing this last year, or the year before. We never did it when I was growing up, and TBH, I do not like it. Yes, Christmas is about Jesus' birthday, but it feels totally strange and irreverent. Different strokes.

This is my thinking, too, but I have no problem with others doing a cake. The kids had cupcakes at church yesterday for Jesus' birthday and that was fine with us.

[hanvan2]

We do it and it's a great way to help bring the focus back to what it should be on.

[JJorn]

We decided not to do a cake (we were all caked out since my DS's birthday is the 23rd and all sugared out with all the cookies and sugar everywhere) but did sing Happy Birthday at breakfast.

[rachoochoo]

We made a Jesus cake this year. I wasn't sure if we were going to do Santa with our kids or not and this year we decided we will do Santa but not make a big deal out of him. I decided to do the Jesus cake because I want my kids to know that Jesus is the real reason why we celebrate. Yes, it is a little cheesy and I know my daughter isn't even old enough to really get it yet but I see it as a tool to help bring the focus back to where it needs to be.

[caligirl07]

We don't do a cake but not for any reason other then life starts to get crazy with out of town family so I just don't do it, but I could see it as a great tool for kids...?

[armyspouse3ID]

I have done it the last three years for my Kid's Church kids. They LOVE it. We sing and all!

[Palee]

That's a pretty cool idea. I've never thought about it before, but it makes total sense! Maybe next year...

[BethanyinDallas]

We always did this in my family when I was growing up; we usually had the cake for breakfast on Christmas morning. We will be doing it with Drew if we ever stay home at Christmas. LOL.

[Sakura]

We always did this in my family when I was growing up; we usually had the cake for breakfast on Christmas morning. We will be doing it with Drew if we ever stay home at Christmas. LOL.

Drew is just adorable!

[anonsouthernbell]

We did it this year and yes I thought to myself beforehand how it felt a little weird/cheesy, but Matthew LOVED it and really got excited/into it - so we will be doing it again next year too.

[BethanyinDallas]

Drew is just adorable!

Thank you!!

[Heidi]

I am way late on this. I come back and everything looks different!

That aside, we did a cake for Jesus once. Kids loved it. A lot of things about being a kid seem cheesy anyway, why not a cake?

[Carey]

I'll chime in too- we do a cake for Jesus. Is it cheesy? Sure. But the kids love it. We have cake one week for Jesus and the next for our son Noah. It's been fun. This year Hannah decorated the cake herself. It was really fun!