Happy Birthday Jesus Party (for Christmas) This is our 3rd year having a happy birthday Jesus party for children ages ranging from 0-4 years old. We had invited about 12 kids this year and their moms.  They came to our house and we had set up a nativity scene with dress-up clothes to be Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wisemen. We also had a baby Jesus doll they played with.  They loved this.  We had lunch together (the moms pitched in to bring lunch) and played parachute games outside (we are fortunate enough to live in Southern California).  My husband then led the children in singing Christmas carols and after he finished I read them the Christmas Story. I chose a book that described each of the people that were a part of the birth of Jesus.  Before I read the book, I handed each child a figure from our nativity scene.  As I read the book and when I got to each person from the story (for example, the angel or the donkey...), each child was to place their figure on a table I set up.  At the end of the story the whole nativity scene was set up.  The children loved this part because the story was interactive and they all had a role to play. After the story, we made a craft (they glued pieces of fun foam, fabric, tissue paper, popsicle sticks on card stock to make the nativity scene). I had made a sample of Mary and Joseph (fun foam and fabric) in the stable (brown painted popsicle sticks) looking at Baby Jesus in the manger (fun foam and yellow tissue paper).  We also added glitter and made a star on our paper. The children loved this and it was a great tie-in to the story and songs we had done.  Then we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus (I had purchased a cake at the grocery store) and all the kids blew out the candles.  I had passed out favors that I purchased through Oriental Trading Company (they have a great religious section for party favors). The last thing we did, was the best part.  Since most of the children were 4 years old, I wanted them to begin understanding the concept that it is better to give than to get.  So, each child that attended the party was to bring a 10-15 dollar gift. We then went to a lower income school in the area (this was all pre-arranged with the principal and the teacher), to give gifts to the children. It was so exciting for everyone.  It was exciting to watch the children open up these special gifts, but also to see the joy on the children's faces as they gave their presents.  It was a nice ending to a party where we wanted the children to understand the gifts that Jesus gives to us (unconditional love and it is free). Everyone had a great time and we can't wait to do it again next year.