The tradition of preparing for Advent goes back to the beginning of our marriage. I was a newish Christian and determined that every part of my life should at the very least attempt to reflect my beliefs. Advent would be our time for preparing to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Thing was, I was new at this and really didn’t have a clue how to go about it. So I did what I always do when I am unsure. I bought a book. Well, two actually. Both were about preparing for Christmas with Jesus at its centre. The two books are at the bottom of the photo below:
One book, The ADVENTure of Christmas, particularly appealed to me. Who knew that candy cane represented the blood and purity of Jesus? I certainly had no idea. If I’m honest, I now look at these quaint tales and think what a lovely story they tell. I’m not certain however that the first person to make a candy cane had the blood of Jesus in his mind at the time of production! But this does not matter. Whenever I see a candy cane I think of Jesus and my focus is brought back to the very reason Christmas is so special for us.
This book gave us a starting point, the rest has developed as each year has passed. The books at the top of the photo were bought to enjoy with my twins when they were little. We now own a plethora of books pertaining to Christmas traditions, decorations, feasts, things to do, food to cook, food to eat, food to give, food…..
We determined that each year we would buy just one book and one item to add to our Christmas collection. As always, we tried to purchase things that reflected that which was important to us. One year we were delighted to find a patchwork nativity scene advent calendar:
Each of the numbered little bags can be filled with chocolate, rolled up paper with activity ideas or, indeed, candy canes! It is a joy to count down to Christmas!
We also wrap up 25 books:
Not all of these are Christmas books, but they are all snowy and cosy! However, each year we add one more to our collection, which we purposefully choose for its Christmassy feel rather than simply a wintry one. The last one, ‘Most marvellous Gift’, is opened Christmas Day, and is one of our favourite to read to the children.
Whilst we have always read Christmassy books to the children, it has only been the last few years that we wrap them and use them as part of the count down to Christmas. I usually wrap them in brown paper, tied together with ripped material ribbon. This year I used tissue paper because it was less expensive than brown paper:
The Most marvellous Gift is placed at the bottom of the basket to be opened last of all, the others are piled on top and are opened as each child chooses (they take it in turns):
I like this tradition but would like to develop it further by doing an activity alongside the book after opening and reading it. We’ll see. Maybe next year.
Another thing I would love to do would be to have an Advent Wreath with the candles to light each Sunday. Again, one day, when my youngest is a little older. That’s the fun of Christmas – the development of ideas, a comforting mix of new and old. It is a season that grows alongside our family.
For other angelicscalliwag traditions see:
Christmas Charity Fair
Country Living Magazine
Christmas Tree Decoration
We have a book advent calendar for Nibsy, I’m just trying to see all the books you have to give me ideas for next year 😉
I’ve never heard of a book advent calendar. What is it? I’m popping over to you to see if you’ve posted on it!
Hi Supermom,
love your ideas and this post! you will reap the fruit for being such a wonderful mom!
Bless Zee
You’re very sweet! All I want is for my children’s childhood memories to be more wonderful than not so wonderful. Every day, that is my goal.
I like the idea of opening one book for each day of advent as a countdown. Lovely ideas here! 🙂
Thanks Hwee. I just read your post about the Christmas Carol. We read that each year, although I’m not sure I’ve ever read it all the way through. I’m looking forward to reading about your activities.
Another lovely tradition 🙂 I just love Max Lucados books – what a lovely book to read on Christmas Day.
I’ve yet to finish it without tears rolling down my cheeks. Love his books.
We wrap up books too. I think I might love advent more than Christmas.
Blessings, Dawn
I love everything to do with Christmas and always find the New Year (after the initial excitement) a bit of a let down. I need to start some sort of celebration in February, which is traditionally the hardest month of the year for me.
We have many Christmas books, also. I had never though of wrapping them. That’s a great idea. Thanks for sharing your lovely traditions with us.
Hope you are having a grand day, Claire.
Really, my pleasure. I love Christmas and all it entails!
I love the patchwork nativity calendar. Brilliant idea. I’m going to look for one.
Good luck, I hope you find one! I bought mine years ago, so can’t suggest where you might look. Sorry!
Unwrapping a book a day sounds like a delightful idea and winter/Christmas books are so plentiful it would be easy to do. – The advent calendar is the best I’ve seen.
It’s simple fun. Just how I like things!
Thanks so much for posting theChristmas books you read! I have found more than half of them at our local library and will be reading them soon to our two youngest ones. It’s nice to have new ideas to add each Christmas. Blessings to your family!
Anne in Arizona
http://www.eightinarizona.blogspot.com
Thank you Anne. I hope you enjoy the books!
I love it! I try to get a new book or two every year, but I’m finding it harder and harder to find WORTHWHILE books to get, so much drivel out there.
I love to see how others celebrate Christmas each year.
Couldn’t agree more, re drivel! I only need four more and they will all be Christmas rather than winter.
I just found a new one today at the store, I’ll let you know if it’s any good.
Reblogged this on angelicscalliwags.
Ah, new book ideas, excellent! We only have a few of those, so thank you for mentioning them. Hope you all have a blessed time over Advent and Christmas 🙂
Still love this, I always think about wrapping the books, but never follow through on it.