Christmas has always been (for me) a time for creating good memories ...... and creating family traditions.
When my girls were little, on the 1st of December the tree was put up and the lights lit. Each girl received their Advent Calendar - some years with the traditional chocolates BUT other years - the ones where I felt more crafty and original than others - I would make a calendar for each of them that held tiny surprises/toys.
My first Christmas here with Sir Steve and the lil one I bought an Advent Calendar for her. And the second Christmas too. But Advent Calendars were a challenge as we don't have her over the weekends .. and that meant a whole mess of door openings on Monday and chocolate to eat. And then last year of course we were faced with the health issues for the lil one and her sugars.
This year I had to come up with a better idea than the traditional Advent Calendar - something that didn't involve chocolate.... and 24 doors. I came up with the idea of Advent Candles..... 4 candles that could be lit every Monday when she came home to us. The plus to this idea -- Advent Wreaths originated in Germany - close enough to our Danish theme.
And to add a little more fun to lighting candles and to kinda replace 24 pieces of chocolate I bought 4 little gifts - one to open each week after she lights the candle.
Last night was our first night of Advent. The lil one (who put her Santa hat on the minute she came home from school) lit the first candle last night. It was an exciting time......... she whispered 'wow' when the candle was lit...... and stood for a couple of minutes staring at the flickering flame.
After dinner she picked gift #1 from under the tree. She was so excited she was vibrating!! Week #1's gift was a set of 4 Christmas earrings - a new pair for each week. She threw her arms around my neck and thanked me........ my heart grew 4 sizes!! Honestly I don't know how anyone could 'Bah Humbug' Christmas if they could just see it through the eyes of child.
Life is very good when Christmas comes with the joy of children.
What a lovely, so very thoughtful idea! Wishes to you for a wonderful Christmas season.
ReplyDeleteComing from Germany I can tell you that the idea of the advent calendar comes from the advent wreath and the first wreath was created for orphans and Street Kids and had 4 big candles for every Sunday and small candles for the days in between. So you are not far off =) nice idea.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulously idea Morningstar, I love it! Glad the lil one enjoyed it so much. I so love how you make Christmas such a magical time:)
ReplyDeleteHugs
Roz
What a sweet moment with your little one, MorningStar! Thanks for sharing it and I hope all the Mondays of Advent are sweet ones! Hugs, Windy
ReplyDeleteI posted once, but it didn't show up, so I'll repeat it, I guess!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your little one enjoyed her first Monday of Advent. How sweet she seems. I love that she was so excited that she was shaking. How adorable and innocent is that?! Love it! Hugs, Widny
My heart just grew five sizes.. what a wonderful idea- and what an amazing way to celebrate her being back "home" on Mondays....xoxox bless you morningstar
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