It's official with 50 days to go I am excited. I'm making plans for how we are going to spend our day and I'm thinking of changing stuff around. It's all about traditions but traditions have to start somewhere right?
We have always done an advent calendar in some capacity - usually using a scripture to read and an activity to do and then a small gift/ sweet. I made some cute bags with pegs and numbers a few years ago and was going to just use them again.
Then I went to ikea. Oh boy - they had these!
24 cute cute cute little bags - 10 cm x 10 cm each side and they even come with the numbers---> $9.95. I couldn't resist - so this year our advent calendar will be made using these bags.
Each year we also light advent candles. Mostly we keep it fairly informal - we light them before tea each Sunday- give thanks for our week and pray. This year I have found some lovely scriptures and prayers and have formatted them ready to add to my christmas box so we always have them. ALSO at ikea were these candles ( I really like Ikea candles they burn for an age and are relatively inexpensive) $7.99
While they aren't traditional ( purple or pink and white) I really liked them so this year our advent candles will be these with a red candle in the middle for the 5th Christ candle to burn on Christmas Eve.
You are welcome to my formatted files. You will need a pdf reader to open them.
You certainly don't have to be Christian to introduce a little candle ceremony to the month before Christmas. There is something about candles that makes things calmer I think. So maybe this year you might like to grab 4 or 5 candles to light for the month. This year you light one each Sunday night starting December 2nd, then on the 9th you light two, 16th you light three and 23rd you light four. On Christmas Eve you light all five.
Each Sunday has a different meaning- Hope, Peace, Love and Joy. So maybe light and then think or share our thoughts on those themes.
I also found these sweet poems (non religious very santa related and not too much about snow LOL )
My christmas wish, My christmas wish list, Santa Reindeer and Toys of my dreams are lovely. Or perhaps read a Christmas Story.If you'd like more ideas for an advent calendar here are some of my favourites
follow the links for DIYS
Whatever you do in the month leading to Christmas now is the time to give it a little thought. Do you do the same thing each year ? or do you change things around?
Don't forget to visit Mel's blog - she continues her countdown tomorrow.
Next countdown I'll be looking at Teacher gifts - aghh I have many many teachers to organise for. I must get a plan the end of year will be here before I know it.
