Free printable All Saints Day party activities, games, crafts for Catholic Christian families

Most people know that October 31 is Halloween, or All Hallows Eve. Fewer know that there's only a Halloween because of the days that follow. November 1 marks the Catholic holy day of obligation, All Saints' Day and November 2 is All Souls' Day (celebrated as Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead in Mexico). Halloween was a pagan blowout that anticipated the solemnity of the proceeding holy day. Use these free printable Catholic saints coloring pages, crafts and lesson plans to learn more about All Saint's Day and Halloween. Use these for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 and other saints' feast days. 

* Catholic Mom's All Saint's Day activities page has printable crafts and coloring pages, plus tips for celebrating a Christian Halloween. Visit the Catholic Kids home page for free printable liturgical lesson plans with age-appropriate activities linked: free printable puzzles, word searches, study sheets, crafts, Bible verses, games and activities.

* Catholic Playground has free printable Catholic saints coloring pages. They're alphabetized and listed according to the Catholic liturgical calendar. Check out the free printable Stations of the Cross coloring pages.

* St. John the Baptist Religious Education has a plethora of free printable saints coloring pages. There are also printable Stations of the Cross coloring pages. There are coloring pages of Bible stories, Miracles of Jesus, parables and life of Christ.

* ABCatholic has a free printable Catholic alphabet coloring book with images of saints, Bible stories and sacraments.

* Waltzing Matilda features handmade free printable Catholic saints coloring pages. The blog moderator has nicely-drawn images for sacraments and liturgical use also.

* Paper Dali is another mom blog with homemade free printable saints coloring pages. Some are free and some must be purchased.free her Etsy shop. Scroll around for the freebies. All are very attractive and well worth the nominal fee.

* Catholic Icing offers handmade All Saints' Day printables and crafts. Read through the blog posts and sidebar menu for crafts, games and printables.

* JClub has free printable Bible and Catholic saints coloring pages.

* EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) Kids offers free mass readings, prayer activities, crafts and coloring pages for children. Users must create a free account with user name and password.

Use these coloring pages to help create saints costumes for All Saints' Day parties. Use for year-round CCD, religious education, VBS and Children's Liturgy of the Word activities.

Free Printable Catholic Saint Valentine Lesson Plans, Activities

The story of St. Valentine has zero to do with schmaltzy flowers and candy. It has nothing in common with romance as we know it. But Valentine's story is spiritually romantic. Valentinius was a Roman Christian priest. In those days, this was not popular. In fact, it was illegal.

Then Emperor Claudius II decided he'd make marriage illegal too--so men would give up women go fight his battles. Not exactly an even quid pro quo. Valentine understood human nature better and performed underground marriages to keep people from burning in lust. And was jailed for his pains.

He wrote notes of encouragement to his fellow incarcerated and signed them "Your Valentine." There grew the card-sending tradition. Valentine was martyred on Feb. 14. It became a Holy Day -- holiday.

Predictably, we now ignore the spiritual bits of the story for the commercial. True, it's based on legend, but most stories of antiquity are oral tradition. I like it better than flowers and candy. If you do too, here are Catholic St. Valentine activities and lessons. I don't get anything from sharing these sites except a warm, fuzzy feeling.

www.catholicinspired.com/2013/01/saint-valentines-day-printables-and.html

catholicicing.com/printable-saint-valentines/

www.abcteach.com/free/r/rc_valentine_legend.pdf

busyteacher.org/classroom_activities-vocabulary/holidays_and_celebrations/saint_valentines_day-worksheets/(this one has Valentine kitsch but also some history-based activities)

I'll end as our saint wrote in his valentines. "Be of good cheer. Don't lose hope. Your Valentine Mar." (Very loosely translated from the Latin).

Free printable Halloween, Day of the Dead crafts

The holiday season kicks off with Halloween or All Saints Day or Dia de los Muertos if you're Catholic or Latino. Looking for Halloween or All Saints or Day of the Dead printables? Count down the days to Trick or Treat with dozens of free printable Halloween activities, coloring pages and crafts from Making Friends.com. Print free craft projects for all sorts themes. Making Friends has a really holiday activities, coloring pages, cut and paste, paper dolls, Trick or treat wrappers, worksheets, Halloween puzzles and mazes. Print word searches, crossword puzzles and word games, perfect for Halloween language arts lessons. Print Halloween card games, flash cards, dioramas, masks and pumpkin carving patterns and stencils.

Here free printable Halloween lesson plans, worksheets, games, coloring pages, activities and puzzles. Use for Trick or Treat themed math, reading, writing, literature, science, language, social studies and crafts. All Free Printables has free Halloween crafts, greeting cards, party invitations, decorations, cut-outs, coloring pages, masks, party invitations, name tags, treat bags, pumpkin cut-outs, book marks, picture frames and lots more. Puzzlemaker lets you create templates for printable Halloween worksheets, puzzles, mazes, jigsaws, dot to dot, Soduku, crosswords and activities galore.

Print Activities is another mega site for all your school and family activity printing needs. Look for units, printable worksheets and lessons focused around Halloween and trick-or-treat. Disney Family offers a plethora of free printable Halloween Disney activities, crafts and coloring pages. Coolest Holiday Parties has free printable Halloween party supplies. You'll find cards, invitations, treat and punch bowl printables, banners, place cards, name tags, wall hangings for a ghoulish party.

Free printable Mardi Gras masks, homemade mask crafts for kids parties

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday or Carnivale, is a Catholic Christian celebration. Fat Tuesday is only one day, before Ash Wednesday, In New Orleans it one long party starting in January after Epiphany. There are costumes, parades and feasting before the Lenten fast. Mardi Gras parade troupes, called krewes, spend months making masks and costumes. Looking to dress up for Mardi Gras? Here are free printable Mardi Gras masks, great for kids.   Free printable Mardi Gras masks, homemade mask crafts for kids parties

Free printable Lenten calendars, Catholic liturgical calendars, Lent printables

Our Lenten journey in the Catholic church begins on Ash Wednesday and follows Jesus Christ for forty days of suffering in the desert, up to Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. Here are free printable Lenten calendars to help your experience of Lent.   Free printable Lenten calendars, Catholic liturgical calendars, Lent printables

Free Printable Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Coloring Pages

Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15. Our Lady shows us to pray the rosary; the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries. Here are free printable coloring pages and devotional activities of Mary, and the rosary.

  Family in Feast and Feria (click here) has made available in free printable PDFs a lovely little devotional booklet entitled The Rosary Color Book, written and illustrated in 1949 by Ettore Fattori. Lovely vintage Bible images.

 The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary include The Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel, Visitation (Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth who is carrying John the Baptist), The Birth of Jesus (Christmas), The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple (for circumcision and blessing) and The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Jesus, at 12 was found in the temple teaching the elders.)

These mysteries include The Agony in the Garden, The Scourging at the Pillar, The Crowning With Thorns, Jesus Carries His Cross, The Crucifixion.

The Glorious Mysteries include The Resurrection of Our Lord, The Ascension into Heaven, The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, The Assumption of Mary into Heaven, The Crowing of Mary Queen of Heaven.

No Luminous Mysteries--book was published before those were created. www.catholicactivities.blogspot.com.
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Free Printable Easter Baskets, Color Your Own Cards, Games, Puzzles, 3D Crafts

Easter is the highest season in the Christian church and the second largest national holiday. Easter has taken on a secular side. If you celebrate secular Easter, with eggs, bunnies and baskets, here free printable crafts and activities. Print Easter greeting cards, party games, cut and fold paper toys, baskets, Easter bunny coloring pages, puzzles, mazes, plus a whole lot more. You can print complete decoration sets with Easter baskets and eggs, bunnies, baby animals.  Read on Free Printable Easter Crafts and Activities: Color Your Own Cards, Games, Puzzles, 3D Crafts

Free Printable Holiday Craft Stencils, Spring Patterns and Templates

Okay, raise your hand if you're sick of winter (Mar scans room). Yep, we're fed up. Spring is but a few short days away, but Mother Nature seems oblivious. What say we ignore that old battle-axe and make our own spring fun? Here's a bunch of cute, free printable stencils you can use to make, oh, just about any craft your heart desires.   Free Printable Craft Stencils, Holiday Patterns and Templates

Printable Lenten Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting Activity

Catholics entered lent on Ash Wednesday. During this season, we fast, pray and give alms (extra tithing). Here's a way to do all three in one activity. Parents and homeschoolers, you might try this. Printable lenten calendar, prayer guide, family activities, coloring pages included.   Three in One Lent Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting Activity

Free Printable Catholic Lenten Activities

The Catholic Lenten season will soon be upon us. In lent, we practice gospel virtues: prayer, fasting, almsgiving. We seek to draw near God, by imitating Christ's suffering. Those acts in turn help us grow stronger. Here are lenten sacrifice activities for children.   Lenten Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving Activities for Children

Free Printable St Valentines Day Lessons

Valentines Day is a feast day in the Catholic church to honor a Roman priest who performed marriages against an edict by the emperor. Valentine was martyred. Here are free printable lesson plans on the history of Valentines Day from a Catholic perspective. Catholic Saint Valentine Lesson Plans, Activities

St. Lucia Day Activities and Printables

Advent is the period of preparation for Christmas. Several special feast days fall during Advent: December 6- St. Nicholas, December 12-Our Lady of Guadalupe and December 13- St. Lucia. Here are free printable activities for St. Lucia Day. Lucia is the patron saint of Scandinavia. For more information and free printable crafts based upon the legend of St.Lucia, check out these links.   Free Printable St. Lucia Day Activities

Free Printable Advent Calendars, Religious and Secular

Advent is a penitential season that starts four weeks before Christmas in Catholic and Orthodox-christian churches. As in lent (before Easter) we pray, fast and give alms to prepare our hearts for the "coming" (advent) of Christ (from the Latin "adveniat regnum"--coming of Christ's kingdom.) The first Sunday of Advent in 2013 is December 1. Here are printable advent calendars for kids. Free Printable Advent Calendar Crafts for Kids

Free Printable Saints and Animals Crafts for Feast of St. Francis

October 4 is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, in Catholic tradition. Francis is known for many things but best known as the patron saint of animals. Many people participate in the Blessing of the Pets on his feast day. I remember when our oldest was 5, at St. Mary's in Spring Lake (before I decided to home school). I missed bringing our cat Oliver for the pet blessing and she was heart-broken (sure some horrible fate would befall him). So Sister told me to bring him in for his own blessing. Here are free animals and saints coloring pages to celebrateFree Printable Saints, Animals Crafts for Feast of St. Francis

St. Patrick's Day Free Printables

Erin Go Bragh! Sure an' it's soon we'll be wearin' the green and looking for a pot of gold with the leprechauns! St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, on March 17th. St. Patrick's Day celebrates the life of Patricus was a young wealthy Roman boy living in Briton, who was kidnapped and taken into slavery by Irish merchants. On the Irish shores the the young Patrick encountered harsh treatment and pagan Druids. Patrick later escaped and returned home, but only to complete his training to become and priest and bishop. Patrick asked permission of the Pope to return to Ireland to bring the gospel to the pagans and peasants who were suffering. Patrick's mission brought peace and safety to the beleaguered Irish and ultimately the King converted, leading his people to a new hope. Ireland became a center of learning and culture and instituted the exemplary Brehon court system, a model for legal justice. Here are activities to explore this beloved saint. St. Patrick's Day Free Printables

Free Printable Stations of the Cross Coloring Pages, Crafts

Each year during Lent when our family was homeschooling, we drew images, one for each of the Station of the Cross, to use as a guide for prayer and devotion. We hung them at different places in our home or yard. The children would begin each Friday in Lent by following the Stations of the Cross. The older children drew images for the each of the Stations of the Cross, but for younger children I used the Fr. Lovasik coloring book. Here is are several sets of free printable Stations of the Cross. Print a booklet for CCD and religious education classes, Catholic school, homeschooling and family devotions.  Free Printable 'Stations of the Cross' Lenten Coloring Pages and Devotional Booklet

Free Printable Mardi Gras Masks

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is a Catholic Christian celebration. Around the world, Mardi Gras is also called "carnival," meaning "farewell to the flesh" in French. It kicks off in mid January. In New Orleans, the Mardi Gras celebration fills the city with costumes, parades and feasting in preparation for the solemnity and fasting of Ash Wednesday and Lent. Free Printable Mardi Gras Masks

Free Printable Mardi Gras Masks to Color

Mardi Gras begins around mid January. Also called "fat Tuesday" (the translation from French) and "carnivale" meaning "farewell to the flesh," Mardi Gras is a big celebration leading up to Ash Wednesday and Lent, in the Catholic Christian church. In New Orleans, France and parts of South America, Mardi Gras is celebrated with costumes, parades, parties and feasting. In New Orleans, costumed groups called "krewes" spend months on lavish masks and outfits. Here are printable masks to celebrate. This article was written about Halloween masks which can be used for the holiday. For traditional Mardi Gras masks, scroll down a bit. Free Printable Halloween Masks: Coloring, Cut and Paste Fun 

Free Printable Catholic Saints Paper Dolls for Feast Days, Holidays

I've been blogging since 2008. I write a lot about holidays and it's inspiring to see that the holidays that draw the most reader are Catholic feast days. Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Days of Obligation--those are the biggees. I enjoy looking for free printable coloring pages, but my real passion lies in finding homeschooling and religious education free printables. I remember my early teaching days and late homeschooling career, sans computer. I must have made thousands of lesson plans. Alas, I am woefully inept as an artist, so the lesson plans that required drawing skills...lacked. With the Internet, we've printable lesson plans, coloring pages, cut and paste crafts, games and activities. Just in time for Valentines Day, here are Saints Feast Day Paper Dolls, Printables

Free Printable Advent Manger Scenes, Nativity Scenes

During Advent we prepare our hearts for the Advent (coming) of Jesus. We set out Advent wreaths, calendars and Nativity sets, also called the creche, manger scene or naciemiento. Here are free printable nativity scenes. These paper nativity scenes provide hours of educational fun for children and preschoolers as they color, cut out and assemble the manger scene. Children learn the Christmas story as they create the stable, shepherds, animals, wisemen, Mary, Joseph, angel and Baby Jesus.   read more