Way back before my kids started school. (Or my last blink). We started the tradition of an Advent Calendar. This year, 2023, marks the 13th year we will celebrate the season this way.
I remember as a kid, I loved to open the simple chocolate boxes each day and celebrate the days leading up to the best day of the year through the eyes of a child.
Once my kids were big enough to understand the world around them, I wanted to continue the tradition of creating magic at Christmas for them. But I also wanted them to have a more intentional and meaningful experience. I didn't want them to only see the commercialization and grow to expect and demand more and more things. I wanted them to see a season of love and kindness and, above all, the reason of Christ.
As I pondered these ideas, I knew I needed something to represent a calendar, not a box full of chocolates. As a stay-at-home mom surviving on a teacher's salary, I knew we didn't have the funds to purchase something fancy. But I also wanted it to feel personal and meaningful for our little family. So, I looked around our house and found some scrap material from past homemade projects. My largest stash was felt and exactly the right colors for Christmas. I decided to make little pockets to hang on the fireplace mantle. This would be flexible for whatever I wanted to fill it with. As I was building ideas, I didn't know if I would wish to put paper, candy, toys, or anything else and wanted this to stretch for whatever the need may be.
Then next, I started to search for ideas. How do we celebrate the season? How do we bring meaning back? How do I make something fun for my two tiny kids, 3 and 5 years old?
I started separating the ideas into areas of interest. Each area had its own paper, which my crafty and organized self created with separate colors and shapes for different topics.
Worship
Researching all the Bible verses related to the Christmas story became a first priority. Reading each book of the bible also created a worship plan for me for the season. Understanding and researching was fun. Then I organized and fit a verse each into 25 days. But I wanted more than just one verse each day.
So, then I started looking for worship thoughts to go with these verses. If we start the story all the way back to Elizabeth and follow the journey to the birth of Christ, how do we make that a quick, fun activity?
Music
Music for kids is always an excellent way to simultaneously pull in education and fun. We always sing Christmas carols, but do we know why? Do we know what the lyrics actually say? Do we know who wrote them? What is the story behind them?
So, finding books, music, and stories to answer these questions became part of the list.
The World
The next concept was opening up to the idea that different parts of the world would celebrate this holiday differently. I grew up with a family tradition of making "Hungarian" cookies that had been passed down through the generations. But, I had never learned anything about the country or what traditions it might hold. So, this was my first curious trail to follow. From there, I continued looking for other countries and cultures.
Those around us
It was fun to think of all the items and meaning for the season, but part of that meaning would also be good if there was some action for all the good cheer. Something little we could share with others throughout the next few weeks and not just purchase a lot of stuff for one big over-produced day.
Finding time to be nice to others should be important. How do we do that and still fit it in the schedule ?And who were those "Others"? One year, we received inspiration by adding videos of people doing good at Christmas.
From these ideas, a list of other thoughts grew and continue to grow each year. Each year, the ideas change as we are in different seasons of our lives. But the main idea is something to bring us together as a family and also celebrate the season.
After the kids grow old enough to start school, these things become increasingly harder to accomplish with the busy schedules we juggle during the holiday season. So, I cut back on what they must do and fewer papers to pull from the pockets.
One year, I told the kids we were cutting out the music (because we listen to music all the time) and learning about things around the world. Once, there was a revolt when I said we didn't have time for the kindness videos. "Mommy, we HAVE to do those!"
In the last few years, I have also created this digital version to share with those who want to follow along. But also to allow my kids to have a version on their devices or for us to have when traveling.