Packing Away for Next Advent

Due to sickness and traveling, I'm probably one of the last people taking down Christmas decorations.

I keep my Advent boxes separate from my Christmas decorations, so that all I have to do is reach for Advent and not face the mountain of Christmas boxes at the start of Advent. I just want to make sure I have what I need to get Advent started on the right foot.

This is what I have in my Advent boxes:

• Advent Calendars (I reuse the old ones)

• Empty manger and straw
• Nativity sets that the children can touch
• Advent Wreath and prayers
• Decorations and statues for St. Nicholas, St. Lucia, and the Immaculate Conception
• A new addition to the boxes are New Year noisemakers and hats for the first Sunday of Advent.

I now keep all my Advent and Christmas candles in one big box. That way I can monitor the supply of seasonal candles. This is particularly important for the taper candles, as my Advent Wreath plays triple duty. First purple and rose candles for the Advent seasons. It is then transformed into a Christmas wreath with red bows and white candles for Christmas, and a figurine of the Infant Jesus in the middle. On the Solemnity of the Epiphany it's decked out in gold candles. Since I use it throughout both seasons, it is more practical that I use artificial greenery than the real thing.

We all are a little sad to take the decorations down, although I confess I'm a little glad to have the home space back to normal.

Written by Jennifer Gregory Miller.

Comments

[KatieButler]

In past years I have done the white candles, but forgot this year -- thank you for the reminder! The gold candles for Epiphany are a lovely idea.