Advent

So where is your advent wreath?  Do you have candles? I had the experience one year of getting the wreath out of the box and finding a bunch of broken candles.  Would not have been a big deal but for the fact that I had the whole family gathered around the table waiting to pray and light the candles.  Yup, I waited until after dinner on the first Sunday to get the wreath out. 

Don't make that mistake. 

Order candles from Candles 4 Less or The Catholic Company. Or go to your local religous goods store in the next week or so.

Advent calendars are also something that can sneak up on you. I have had to settle for an ugly one from the dollar store on December 2nd more than once.  It is really important to me to have an Advent calendar with a religous image.  The secular ones are cute and very festive and I don't think there is anything wrong with having one in the house but I don't think it should be the only one in the house.  I myself have used the candy countdown method to encourage good behavior (yes, I do occasionally bribe my children - it's a family tradition).

    This is the one I have. It was a little more money but it does last forever.  Catholic Child carries it along with a bunch of other cool things for Advent.

Whatever you decide - get going on it soon there are only 89 days left.

While thinking about Advent calendars why not give some thought to the really nice tradition of setting up a nativity scene and having the kings and shepherds traveling around the room toward the creche. As each day unfolds everyone gets a little closer to the stable in Bethlehem. It is a wonderful visual for children.  Older children can read aloud Old Testament verses telling of the coming of the Messiah.

Just an idea....let me know your ideas.

Comments

[Alice]

I have the same Advent calendar. It's great, isn't it? It is hard to believe Advent is right around the corner, but it is!

[Jenn Miller]

My beef with store-bought Advent candles (the ones specifically made for the wreath) is that they burn too quickly and the colors are so light. I love the brilliant violet and pink colors, which are harder to find. I also LOVE beeswax candles, or soy candles which seem to burn longer and drip less, but where to find a source?

I wish I was crafty and resourceful like MacBeth and made my own every year.

[Dawn]

Wonderful and timely post, Mary Ellen!

I am planning to set up a Christmas corner just for the children this year - with their own nativity scene, a small "blessings" tree and a basket of favorite books. Also this week the boys and I are working on a homemade Advent candle set - I'll write up a post when we're done! :)

[Rebecca B.]

We do not have an Advent wreath but rather a log that I decorate with greenery. There is a candle hole drilled in the log for each day of Advent. We have a devotional time each evening when we light the day's candle, read from the Bible, pray and sing some songs.

I second your idea to have a beautiful, religious Advent calendar. Yours is lovely! It is hard to find a nice one.

Our family likes to have the wise men and their camels travel around the room like you suggested. The kids think it is fun to see them move closer each day!