20 Holy Religious Christmas Poems For The Festive Season

Written in the Stars

This Christmas poem reflects on the Star of Bethlehem and the religious significance of the birth of Christ. It can be used by anyone searching for a moment of calm prayerful meditation in the midst of a busy season.

Tonight, I look up at the stars in the sky
And remember another star, from days long gone by
That shone oh so brightly, to show men the way
To a small baby laid in a manger of hay

This baby was sweet, all shiny and new,
But he means so much more to me and to you
We know him as Jesus Christ, or Emmanuel
And his story is one we have long loved to tell

Because it is a story of the best of man
Of mercy and sacrifice and God’s all-knowing plan
It is a story of love beyond measure
Of a Father who gave us His most precious treasure

I think of all this, as I look at the stars
I think about the love of this God of ours
And I close my eyes and cross myself, and I pray
That I will remember this love every day

Christmas Eve Meditation

This lovely free-verse is one of the best poems which uses natural imagery to reflect on the speaker’s gratitude for the world God has made. It can be used by someone who is contemplating God in nature’s many beautiful ways, this Christmas season.

I watch the way the snow dusts the earth
Gently falling, swirling, gathering,
Like people around a warm fire, conversational and close
Watch it accumulate on barefaced branches
And sparkle like tinsel in the starlight
Watch it skitter and blow into drifts, accumulate under the trees
Like twinkling presents in a memory of a child’s Christmas morning
Perhaps a rabbit will come
Or a deer, if I am lucky
Or maybe a bird, late for the season,
Who did not think the first snow would come so soon,
Will swoop down, gently,
Will alight on a tree branch,
Create a second snowfall with its weight upon the limb
And sing for me a Christmas carol about God
As all birdsong is a hymn
To the God who gave us the trees and the snow
And the stars that make it sparkle like a child’s laugh
As it drifts up outside my window on a cold Christmas Eve
And makes me lower my head in grateful prayer

Going to Church on Christmas Morning

This abecedarian Christmas poem paints vivid imagery of children’s excitement on the night of Christmas Eve and into Christmas morning. It might be useful for anyone with kids to help introduce them to the true essence of what Christmas is all about.

Across the world tonight,
Boys and girls await Santa
Claus, while their parents
Destress from long days of shopping and wrapping.
Electronics and bikes and all manner of toys,
Festooned with ribbons and bows,
Glitter temptingly underneath a twinkling tree.
Homemade ornaments sit awkwardly amongst the fancy souvenirs;
Icicles crystallize outside some windows, while
“Jingle Bell Rock” plays on too many radios.
Knowing tomorrow will be special,
Little ones barely pretend to sleep in warm and waiting beds.
Maybe they dream of sugar plums,
Nutcrackers or reindeer or a million other festive things.
Others think drily of marching to church in the morning,
Pressed collars and starched skirts.
Questions of why will fill the air,
Really just begging to return home to presents and play.
Still, like every year, someone will explain,
To the children who do not know and the adults who need to be reminded,
Unlike their presents under the tree, the
Very special present of the season neither sparkles nor glitters.
We go to church to celebrate this gift, God’s gift to us of a Son.
X-ray glasses are no match for the gift of eternal life, but
You might not understand that until you are older.
Zip away your X-ray glasses, and go to church, and thank the Lord in your bedtime prayers.

Why Am I Rushing Around?

This poem captures an often busy, hectic season, and reflects on why we do all this work around Christmas. It serves as a reminder of how the superficial glitter of Christmas contributes to the spirit of the season.

You rush to the office, to look for those files;
You put on Frosty the Snowman to please your young child.
On Tuesday you shovel, on Wednesday hang lights,
Try not to think about that party – is that Saturday night?
Thursday is for shopping, which somehow takes all day;
Friday is for cheering at your kid’s Christmas play.
By Sunday, you are too tired to get out of bed,
But you do, because you have to fix the light-up deer’s head.
All of it busy, all messes and strife –
So much time on Christmas, almost no time for life.
No time for wine glasses with your spouse in the night,
No time for watching it snow in the crisp pale moonlight.
All of this rushing and running about,
Surely this is not what the season is all about?
And then you remember, at church one Sunday morn,
This is the day the child Jesus was born,
And all of the work in the name of the season,
You do it all for one very good reason:
It is a gift to your family, and it shows all your love,
Like the love of our God, that we are reminded of,
Every December, when we stop and reflect,
That He loved us so much, He gave what he loved best.
And so, the next Monday, you drag yourself out the door,
And do not step on the toys your child left on the floor.
It is for them that you do all this work,
Spend the time to set the table with china and salad forks,
Because Christmas is about love and generosity
Giving in the spirit of the God who so loved you and me.

Beneath the Star

This Christian Christmas poem recounts part of the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. It can be used by anyone wishing to celebrate the original story behind the holiday.

In the month of December, a long time ago
In a land full of sand, though we now think of snow
There shone in the sky, a bright guiding star
Who’s light one day would reach to lands near and far

Beneath that bright star was born a small baby boy
Who was, more than most babies, a source of great joy
Not just for his parents, but for men, one and all
Among whom this small baby would one day stand tall

He would be a great teacher, a leader of men
But also, a carpenter, a man, and a friend
For He was the one, born to save us from sin
He was the Savior, the Son of the King

Jesus Christ, Emmanuel

This simple acrostic Christmas poem examines the birth and significance of Jesus Christ. It could be recited with family at a Christmas gathering to tell the Christmas story and explain its significance to Christians.

Journeying to Bethlehem, a long and tiring trek
Every bed was full that night, no matter where they checked
Stable is empty, someone said, a place to lay your head
Until a baby was born in there, a manger for a bed
Someone special and holy, the angels all said

Christened Emmanuel, a name chosen by God
How noble for one born in a situation so odd
Remembered now in prayers and churches all around the world
Immortalized in stories and songs learned by every boy and girl
Sacrificed upon the cross to forgive us all our sins
The Son of God who was born for us, who died and was born again

The Love of the Animals

This lighthearted Christmas poetry on the Christmas story examines the birth of Christ from the perspective of the animals in the stable. This Christmas poem can be used to add a little humor or silliness to your Christmas traditions.

The cows would admit, they were slightly confused
At the way that their manger was about to be used.
The sheep could acknowledge, they did not understand
The presence of this woman, this child, and this man.
The donkeys and horses were all a bit lost
They believed in being welcoming, but was this the cost?
Strangers in the stable, taking up space,
And now bringing in more people all over the place,
People who came with some strange-smelling herbs,
And whose voices, they were sure, left the baby disturbed.
But the baby slept on, untroubled by fame,
By all of the people putting reverence to His name.
So, the cows and the sheep, they decided they liked
This relaxed and imperturbable young little tyke,
And they vowed to protect Him, whatever the price,
From soldiers and swindlers and maybe even head lice.
They could not know what He would have to endure
To bring light unto humankind for forevermore,
But that night, in that stable, they surrounded Him gently
With the love of the animals, felt simply and intently.

Following the Star

This poem tells of the people who journeyed to see the newborn baby Jesus in the manger on the night of his birth. It inspires, by emphasizing the role of ordinary people in even the grandest of stories, like the story of Christ.

The angel appeared to the shepherds that night
And gave them glad tidings amidst the starlight.
He told of a King, born away in Bethlehem;
He told them a little of things yet to come.
The shepherds believed him, and went to pay homage,
Following the star and the angel’s own knowledge.
So that night, by the manger, many people appeared
To see the one called Emmanuel, a King, they did hear.
One chosen by God to go on to great deeds,
Though he spent his first night in the animal feed.
Still the wise men, they came, and had their gifts accepted,
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh, as their God had directed.
Everyone knew they bore witness that night
To something extraordinary, far beyond their own sight,
Something few men were given to understand
For God operates on a scale much more grand,
And yet they all knew something special had come
To the small desert town, baked beneath the hot sun.
And that, I suppose, is why so many went forth,
To follow that star, from the east, west, and north.
They travelled long distances, walked many miles,
Just to get a glimpse of this most holy child.
To their companions, perhaps, their behavior seemed odd,
But they followed the star, and saw the Son of God.

Why It Is

This short, simple Christmas poem acknowledges the material joys of Christmas while also centering the importance of the spiritual ones. It could be used to remind kids why toys are not the most important part of the day.

Though the presents are shiny and the paper is bright
And it is hard to wait through the long and cold night
To open them all the very next day
And bring out the wonderful new toys to play
It is important that we all remember
Why it is we give gifts at the end of December
Why it is we all gather and joyously sing:
To celebrate the birth of our Savior and King

Celebrating Christmas

This simple acrostic poem retells the story of the birth of Jesus and the significance of his life and death. It is a reminder of the spiritual importance of Christmas.

Celebration of the birth of Christ
He who is the Savior
Resting in a manger, in a bed of hay
In the light of the Christmas star shining above, showing the way
Shepherds and kings all followed the light to pay tribute to Him
To leave gifts at his feet and acknowledge their King
Mary’s son, and the Son of God
A man, too, and mortal, able to die for our sins, and so
Save us from ourselves, and grant us eternal life and light

Why We Celebrate Today

This Christmas poem lays out the meaning of Jesus’ life and sacrifice for humanity. It acts to restore the faith during a glittery Christmas season.

It is not about the presents and toys
It is not even about all the sweet girls and boys
Getting rewarded for their good behavior
It is about honoring and praising our Savior
A young man named Jesus, who was sent from above
To teach humankind about compassion and love
To remind us what it means to live free from sin
And to give us assurance we would see each other again
In his Father’s great kingdom, the one we call Heaven
Whether we have sinned one hundred times or seven
At Christmas we remember God’s gift of mercy
For the end of all of our lives that are earthly
That is why today is such a holy, great day
Not just because there are new games to play
But as a solemn reminder of all that He sacrificed
In the name of our goodness, our souls, and our lives

A Wonderful Day

This sweet, short Christmas poem celebrates all the very real pleasures of the Christmas season, while also acknowledging its religious significance. It can be used by a family to remind themselves to enjoy the simpler joys of the holiday, but not at the cost of the spiritual ones.

What a wonderful day to spend with family
What a wonderful way to share joy and generosity
To stand by the window and watch the snow drift
To see old friends and neighbors and let spirits lift
To play with the kids, to curl up by the fire
To eat as much gingerbread as your heart might desire
All of these moments are lovely and true
And help make today very special for you
But never forget, amidst all these small joys
That we celebrate today one very special baby boy

The Angels

This lyrical Christmas poetry tells the story of angels recounting the birth of Christ to the shepherds. It can be used to remember the larger significance of Christ’s life in the context of the Christmas story.

The angels came down from the heavens above
To spread the wondrous tidings
The shepherds they listened for miles around
Found the angels mesmerizing

But more awesome still than their mighty wings
Than their thousand staring eyes
Was the news they brought of miraculous things
In a stable begun that night

A Son was born to God that night
A Savior to us all
The greatest gift, of eternal life
Of salvation from the fall

The Call

This short Christian Christmas poem recounts the wise men’s journey to meet the newborn baby Jesus. It can be used as a short message to write on Christmas cards.

Though it seemed that they moved at a crawl
The wise men knew they must answer to the call
To see one born in a manger
On that day a stranger
Who would one day be known to us all

Shepherds

This series of haikus tells the story of the shepherds who followed the Christmas star to be present at the birth of Jesus. Such Christmas poetry is excellent for anyone who loves this aspect of the Christmas story.

Shepherds watch the sky
Following the star above
To a small stable

Inside is a boy
Laid to rest in a manger
Smiling at the world

They may not know yet
All this boy is meant to be
Someday they will learn

More than just a king
A friend to humanity
Savior of us all

Christmas Cinquain

This short, simple poem encapsulates in the simplest terms, the spirit and meaning of the season. It can be used by anyone who needs a short poetic sentiment, perhaps for a Christmas message.

Christmas
A time of joy
To celebrate God’s love
For humanity, to give
A Son

A Little Bit Different

This Christmas poem compares the first Christmas with the festival as the kids experience it today. It can be used to help kids contextualize the meaning of the Christmas story with their own lives.

There was no snow in Bethlehem
Just shifting desert dunes.
There was no shining Christmas tree,
No sparkling sleigh bell tunes.

The gifts the wise men gave the babe
Were frankincense and myrrh,
No toy train sets or Lego blocks,
No stuffed animals covered in fur.

When we look back at this first Christmas,
It seems strange, we will admit.
Christmas today, I am happy to say,
Looks brighter and quite a bit different.

But still, we remember that long-ago desert
And the baby who was born in a stable
In celebration of a loving God
Who gave us all that He was able.

God gave us His only Son
So that we could live forever
And so, we remember that very first Christmas
That made all of our lives much better.

This Stable

This poem examines the birth of Christ through the eyes of the stable where Christ was born. Such Christmas Poetry can help kids remember that the true spirit of Christmas is one of giving.

This stable is old
The wood is worn smooth
The night air is cold
And filled with soft coos

From a boy, in the manger
Asleep in the hay
To this place a stranger
With nowhere else to lay

But this building remembers
Thousands of births
A million Decembers
Not talked of in church

Each calf that was born here
Each foal and each lamb
Was considered just as dear
When their birth was at hand

This boy is important
But the barn does not know
That He is any different
From other babies in the snow

But still, it accepts Him
As one of its own
And gladly protects Him
From the wind and the cold

In this whole-hearted welcome
Christmas began
When in the midst of a maelstrom
Someone held out a hand