I am a Catholic convert of 16 years.  I live in a small (extremely small) town with my H and adult D (who is in college).  I have an adult son who is married (to a Protestant) and they will have their first child next year.
 
We only have access to a N.O. church.  The closest traditional parish is almost 4 hours away.  Mass is typically less than an hour each week .... the daily Mass is a half hour.  It's better than most I read about here.  And for that, I try to be grateful.

If I could move to a place that had a traditional parish, I would.  But I am married, and we own a house, and we cannot move anywhere else.  I have tried in the past talk about this, but it is case closed.  Selling the house is the primary issue.  And the other issue is that H is happy here.  He has friends.  He has work he travels for.  And while not ideal, he's not overly concerned about not having a traditional parish to attend.  He doesn't consider this a make or break issue in life.

My question has to do with making Christmas more special.  We don't turn on our Christmas lights or decorate or light our tree until Christmas Eve.  But Mass is at 8pm on Christmas Eve.  And the fact that it's N.O. means it is lacking in ceremony, pageantry, reverence and it's over in less than an hour.  The Christmas Day Mass is the same.

How can I make this more significant?  We now have a Protestant daughter in law.  She's not devout and comes from a broken home.  But her mother's church has events and activities involving their whole community in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day.  Also, they do things together during the year like going to Christian seminars, and playing board games with family and friends.  

We just go to Mass, come home, open presents, eat food and .... that's it.  

She's commented to my D that she thought it was different that we say the same prayer before every meal with no variation, because Protestants typically make it up as they go.

Again, if I could change things, we would be able to assist at a traditional parish and go to a real midnight Mass and we would have friends and relatives that were traditional Catholics.  There would be lots of babies and children and life would kind of take care of itself, as God intended.  But we are isolated and alone and we truly, I especially, experience a real poverty with regard to the practice of our Faith in community and am trying to make the best of it. It is very hard.

If you have no suggestions, or even if you do, may I also ask for your prayers also?

God Bless You.

Follow an Advent calendar, use an Advent wreath, have everyone contribute a dish, an ornament, an anecdote.  Make decorating a family activity; listen to Catholic Christmas music as you work.  Read the account of Christ's birth from the gospel of St. Luke before you eat or before opening gifts.  Invite someone who would otherwise be alone on Christmas.  Visit a nursing home, rehab home, children's home with cards, small gifts.  Sing carols if you can sing.  Go for a drive and give food, a hot drink, a gift of a hat, scarf, gloves, or socks and a rosary to any street people you encounter.  (If you have such a population in your area.)  Ask the n.o. priest if there is anyone he knows of whom you could help.  
If your husband or daughter aren't interested, privately celebrate with Our Lord, Mary and Joseph in prayer and meditation after your family obligations are fulfilled.  Check out the FSSP Christmas Mass on imass.  (It costs $1.99, well worthwhile.)
In my situation, family holiday gatherings are reduced to my elderly parents and I.  I try to make it special with old Christmas shows on You Tube, music, a small tree to decorate, a homemade meal, etc.  I may or may not get to Mass depending upon the schedule of their  paid carer.  There are relatives around, but lack of religion, indifference, and other priorities have severed family ties.  
The world is a mess, but Our Infant King awaits.  There's no reason not celebrate!
 

I would definitely suggest avoiding the Novus Ordo if you can.  Not only is their Mass sketchy, but even the Holy Orders of their priests...  Though the FSSP is better than most of the out-right diocesan parishes, many of them still are ordained in the novus ordo or come with novus ordo backgrounds...

I know how hard it can be to stand firm for the Faith when none of your family supports you.  All of my family attend the Novus Ordo or go to different protestant services, and I am sort of looked upon as an outcast where religion is concerned...

I used to travel 3 1/2 - 7 hours to and from different places in order to be able to attend Mass every weekend...

Maybe you could convince your husband to make the sacrifice of traveling to the chapel which is four hours away in honor of this great feast?  It can be an extra hardship, but I will say that I have never regretted doing so myself...

There are many people throughout the world who do not currently have very good access to the Sacraments.  It makes life a struggle...


If you are not able to attend Mass, maybe you could read your Missal and/or the Bible for the readings of the day.  Or, perhaps you could sing Christmas Matins or part of the Divine Office?  This is one of my favorite things to do, though I should warn you that Christmas Matins in the longest for the entire year!  ;-)


At any rate...  Please be assured of my prayers for you and your husband.  

Keep fighting the good fight and may God bless you!

Sincerely in the hearts of Jesus and Mary,

Rita  :-)

Offer it up to Our Lord and go to the Novus Ordo. It's a valid Mass, they're valid priests. It's not ideal, but God will not punish you for attending the Novus Ordo.

God wants you to go to a good mass, grow in the Faith and save your soul.  Start a novena to Our Lady and she will give you an answer to finding a good mass.

Have you checked the site "traditio.com"?  They list every latin mass in the US.  Maybe there's one closer to you than you think.

To make Christmas more special why not have a nativity scene prominently displayed in your home where all can see that Jesus is the center of your life.

It should be noted that both Bishop Williamson and Fr. Pfeiffer have said that it is ok to go to the Novus Ordo in these situations.

There is absolutely NO grace within the N.O. service, it is not even a Mass at all just another Protestant service.  I does not please God because God does not deceive us nor can He be deceived.  

Pray to the Holy Ghost it is He who guides us.