Advent is an important time in our home. Advent encompasses the four weeks leading up to the Christmas celebration. Advent is a time of preparation before the special celebration of Christ's birth and serves as a reminder to open our hearts and minds. Advent is a time of darkness, turning to light. Each week we "light" a candle and reflect of the celebration of the Christmas season. This is a period of darkness turning to light with the arrival of Jesus. The 4 Candles (3 purple and 1 pink) represent the 4 weeks of Advent. The wreath is symbolic of continuous life and salvation. The first Purple Candle symbolizes Hope- with the coming of Jesus. The second Purple Candle represents Faith with Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. The third candle is pink and represents Joy that came into the world with the birth of Jesus. The fourth candle is purple and represents Peace with the message from the angels "Peace on Earth Goodwill towards Men".
We like to make an Advent wreath each year for our home. This is a simple reminder of the reason for the season! This is also a great opportunity for us to spend time talking about the symbolism behind each element of the wreath and the true meaning of this wonderful holiday!
This year we used a simple paper plate, construction paper and some creativity. Instead of "lighting" the candles we simply stuck the flame to the top!
In the past we took turns placing Hope, Faith, Joy and Peace ornaments on the tree each week. We've also gone on a nature walk to gather all sort of supplies to create our wreath! You can be creative!
The Giving Manger is one of my favorite Traditions to celebrate the Christmas Season. This set comes with a short book which explains the story of the giving manager. It also includes the manger, bundle of straw and baby Jesus. This tradition places the focus back on giving during this season and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. During the Christmas season we perform random acts of kindness and place a straw in the manger. By Christmas Eve the manger is full and prepared for the arrival of Christ. This is a great reminder that no act of kindness is too small or goes unnoticed. This is also a great way to inspire our children to lead with kindness. This makes a beautiful gift and a heartwarming tradition to pass along!
