Advent Calendar {Christmas Tradition}

WeLcOmE To WeNdYs WiNtEr WoNdErLaNd!!

So it  is finally December 1st.  Wow that snuck up on me quick this year!  At my house the Christmas Season has officially begun and Wendys Santa Hat is on.  I have been collecting and making holiday cheer since I was a young girl.  This gives me a lot of experience and much love for this holiday.  I would have to say that it is a favorite time of year for me.  Throughout the remainder of this month of December I will share with you some of my creative views of this most magical holiday in my home.  You won't want to miss a single day!

I start this first day with a very fun and magical item that my children look forward to every year.  A must for the first day of December is an Advent Calendar.  They are deep in Christmas traditions all around the world.  You can find them in most every card or drug store during this season.  The purpose of an Advent Calendar is to countdown each day in December until Christmas has finally arrived.  You can find one for every budget or time restriction that you may have.  You can purchase a paper one at the store for under $10, make one for next to nothing, or get extravagant and find rather extreme ones too.   I will show you three different Advent Calendars that I use in my home just to get your own creative juices flowing and maybe inspire you to start this very rewarding tradition in your home.

This is the Christmas House Advent Calendar that we have used for my children for many memorable years.  It is also shown in the top picture on the antique dresser, where it is displayed each year in my Gingerbread Kitchen.  Each of the little doors hides a tiny treasure to keep the children busy and so they have something to look forward to each day.  We usually open up this one first thing in the morning.  {I mean how can you wait all day to find your treasure!}  There have been many things stuffed into these tiny doors over the years.  It is always changing.  Chocolates, candies, mints, gum, costume jewelry of all types, key chains, a tiny rolled up note leading them on a treasure hunt to find a larger wrapped and hidden gift, and even tickets to a special show or concert.  Really the sky is the limit when it comes to MY Advent Calendar.

This is my Nativity Advent Calendar that was given to me for Christmas one year by a dear friend.  How lucky for me.  It has a different feel and purpose to it than the traditional one.  There came with it a little booklet that explains everything, because you know I would get confused.  This advent is great for ending the day as part of your evening or bedtime routine.  Basically you start with door#1, which is the star and place it on the tiny nail on the picture above.  By Christmas Eve you have finished the Nativity Scene and have told the story of the Nativity and the purpose of each character or item in it.  How is that for multi-tasking?

 

Finally I will share with you a tutorial for making your own Christmas Paper Chain Advent.  How great is that?  What fond memories I have of making many of these over the years.  When my now 22 year old son was 3 years old I had a preschool in my home.  That is when I made the first Paper Chain Advent.  I would put one together for each child and send it home with instructions.  Since that time, in addition to making them for my own children, I have made them for preschool, church nursery, other classes, nieces & nephews, and for the children in all three of my childrens Kindergarten classes.  Whew!  That's a lot of paper chains!  There is nothing better than seeing a child carry their own Advent {treasure} home with them.  Their eyes widen with a magical delight of wondering what is in store for them!

For this particular Advent you have a different simple but fun activity to do each day leading up to Christmas and it is written on each of the 24 paper chain links.


OK people so I am OLD and in those days we used copy machines and had to copy and paste everything! {This is part of the reason for my many technical difficulties}!  I had planned to have my daughter help me scan these so you could I could share and you could print and be ready to go.  Scanner not working.  Ugh!  Been swamped. {reason for this post coming out so late} Ugh! I also have to be out of town tomorrow.  Hmm...  So if I can get this done later I will, maybe share on my Facebook page called Wendys Hat or see if I can add to this post, but for now I share the ideas so you can begin right away if you would like to on your own.

Each of these 4 sheets is printed on a different color paper in order.  Red, green, red, green.  They are numbered such that they are either even or odds so when you chain them up in order you come out with every other color being different.  I have changed the simple items listed to do each day, over the years to fit our plans, etc.  You could do whatever you want.  Ideas from a different Christmas carol you sing each day to maybe sharing a different part of the Nativity Story each day.  Here the sky is the limit as well.

Once you have printed and cut your strips, all you have to do now is to put your paper chain together by gently overlapping the edges and stapling in place and then you link each number in its proper order of 1 through 24.  I have put it together both ways over the years too.  When children are young it makes a great design to have the writing showing on the outside but when they are older you can have the plain side out to hide the daily activities.  Whatever you choose.  I top the chain with a Christmas bow, the simple one I have shown is made of wire edged ribbon, which is easy to make.  You will want to place the bow on top which would be link #24 because you will be taking off link #1 on the first day.

One more note!  Important!  I would send home a paper that had each day listed so mom can plan ahead what she will be doing with her children each day!  I have listed an example from one year for you below.

Christmas Paper Chain Advent

*Start with the bottom link and take one off each day to find a fun activity to share with your child!
1.  Cut out a snowflake and hang it up in your window.
2.  Bake a special treat and deliver it to a lonely neighbor.
3.  Write a secret "angel note" telling a family member what you appreciate about him or her.
4.  Recite a favorite Christmas poem.
5.  Make a Christmas present for someone you love.
6.  Color a happy Christmas picture.
7.  Do a secret good deed for a member of your family.
8.  Write a letter to Santa.
9.  Read a favorite Christmas story.
10. Mail a Christmas card to a relative or friend.
11. Pass along a holiday smile to everyone you see today!
12. Make a card or gift for a special teacher.
13. Make and decorate a plate of Christmas cookies.
14. Sing a favorite Christmas song.
15. Make a Christmas ornament and hang it on the tree.
16. Wrap a present and put it under the tree.
17. Pretend you're one of Santa's helpers and be a helper all day long in your family!
18. Write a love note to a special friend.
19. Call your grandparents on the telephone.
20. Draw a picture of the Nativity Scene.
21. Secretly deliver a gift to a needy family.
22. Go Christmas caroling.
23. Bake a treat for Santa and his reindeer.
24. Act out the Nativity Story.

So there you have it.  Straight from  underneath Wendys Santa Hat the view of Wendys Winter Wonderland!  I read a great tradition post today that has my mind spinning for the day I might continue some new Advent Traditions with maybe a grandchild in the next generation!  What  are your Advent Traditions?  Would you like to start one?  Join me tomorrow for more...