As a young girl growing up in Germany, I looked forward to the tradition of an advent calendar. Ours were not fancy. They were made of cardboard and had a smattering of glitter highlighting the snow capped areas of a cheerful Christmas scene. I enjoyed opening a little window each day to find a tiny picture underneath - a candle, a mouse or maybe a sprig of holly. The simplicity of it made me happy.
I decided that this year we'd make an advent calendar out of this Charlie Brown tree I got for $2 at a garage sale.
I delved into my paper stash and found all the pretty prints in blues, greens and browns and crafted some little envelopes using a coin envelope as my pattern. I then wrote the numbers 1 through 25 on each of the envelopes.
I decided that this year we'd make an advent calendar out of this Charlie Brown tree I got for $2 at a garage sale.
I delved into my paper stash and found all the pretty prints in blues, greens and browns and crafted some little envelopes using a coin envelope as my pattern. I then wrote the numbers 1 through 25 on each of the envelopes.
Each morning before school one of the kids takes that day's envelope off the tree. Inside I have placed a scripture about the birth of the Savior. We look the scripture up as a family, read it and talk about it briefly.
I'm really liking this new tradition for a few reasons: the tree looks so lovely sitting on my kitchen island, the kids are excited to do the countdown, we're together as a family when we do it, we're thinking about Jesus' birth which is the whole reason for this time of year, and my kids are getting a spiritual boost before I send them out into the world for the day.
Do you have an advent tradition?
6 comments:
Great idea. I'd like to incorporate something like this one of these years.
Now that I've started preparing for christmas a little earlier than the week of {a recent development, for sure!} I've become very excited about advent calendars. Yours is fantastic!
And I had no idea you grew up in Germany! I spent many years of my childhood in a german-themed tourist town called Leavenworth {in Washington State}. I worked in a cafe with some native Germans, celebrated all the German festivals-- we even erected a maypole every year! Your family certainly has Germanic coloring. Soooo cute.
That is no Charlie Brown Tree now that you've beautified it. Classy calendar.
We still do the cardboard/chocolate versions. One for each child. And a tiny story book calendar with a book ornament per day retelling the story of Jesus' birth in child-friendly language.
I'm working on my little German glittered advent calendar. Actually it might have been one that you opened as a child. Love your idea and am amazed that you have been able to implement it with all that you have going on in your life.
Good idea and beautiful tree!
What a great way to make a boring hat cute!
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