Poster contest meant to "Keep Christ in Christmas'

Friday, Nov. 29, 2019

SALT LAKE CITY — As a way to promote the true spirit of Christmas in homes, schools, parishes and communities all over the Diocese of Salt Lake City, the Utah Knights of Columbus are offering a contest open to young people throughout the state.

“In a society where Christmas has become for many – especially children – a secular holiday, the Knights of Columbus has the “Keep Christ in Christmas” poster contest,” said Dick Hall, Grand Knight of Council 15418.

The Knights of Columbus offers multiple activities that promote Christmas and the season of Advent in their proper context: Journey to the Inn, Light Up for Christ, Crèche or Advent Wreath Blessing, and the Christmas Poster Contest. 

The poster contest “will allow young people to engage their creative talents and imaginations while understanding the true, spiritual meaning of Christmas,” Hall said.

“Nowadays the kids at Christmas are not focusing on what is the actual reason for Christmas. It is the birthday of Christ our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ,” he added.

For the poster contest, the young artists should use their creativity to convey that message. With the posters “they spread the message of keeping Christ in Christmas. It’s not just the holidays … people in the stores don’t even say ‘Merry Christmas’ anymore; they now say ‘Happy Holidays,’” Hall said.

The main purpose of the contest is to help young people return to what Christmas is really about. 

“Every little kid is just bombarded with advertisements of what is it that they want, with Santa Claus, all those things, and they tend to forget” that Christmas is about the coming of the Savior, Hall said. He added that in the United States people also tend to not celebrate the Epiphany like in other countries, which have various traditions surrounding the feast day that celebrates when the wise men came. The traditional date of the Feast of the Epiphany is Jan. 6. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Christmas season begins with the first Sunday of Advent and runs through the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which this year is Jan. 12.

The Knights of Columbus “Keep Christ in Christmas” Poster Contest is open to all young people between the ages of 5 and 14. The competition has three categories: ages 5 through 7, ages 8 through 10, and 11 through 14. Entries will be judged first at the local council level. Winners then will continue on to the state level, then to the national and international competitions.

The entry forms can be found in local parishes or can be requested through religious education programs or Utah Catholic schools. Entries must include a slogan reflecting the topic and an original visual image. Posters must reflect the theme of “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Each one should be an entirely original work (including concept, layout, slogan and any visual images). 

Each local, district, regional or state competition may have up to six winning entries – first- and second-place winners in each age group.

Submission deadline is Dec. 15. The councils will judge the posters by the end of the year. The state level judging will occur in the first part of January. The winners will be sent on to the national level.