The word Advent is from the Latin “Adventus,” which means coming.
Preparing for the coming of Christ…
Day 2: We are on our way with our Advent Calendar! Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas but like most people in America, we follow it in our home starting the first Calendar day of December leading up to Christmas.
You can search Advent Calendars online and find many different options. It is especially fun with little children to open up a surprise every day until Christmas. We were given the above Wooden Advent Calendar and every day we can open it up and unwrap a magnetic piece that fits onto our nativity scene. It was a bigger negotiation for our kids when they were younger on who opens the box and who places it on the board each day. I recommend also getting some of the cheaper paper ones you can find at stores like World Market so they can have one of their own. My kids have never opened candy or small presents in their calendar but I know some people do.
We also have (had?) the LEGO City Advent Calendar and that is fun to put a little figure together every day. I think I was able to get it back in the box for a second year missing a couple of pieces and then I just had to let it go. We live in a sea of Legos and there was no way I could keep them from playing with the little figures or getting them mixed up with our regular pieces. Luckily the prices have come down so you don’t have to feel bad if it is a one year calendar. There are a lot more fun options now too. The Star Wars Advent Box looks fun for children older than 6 years old. It is not too late to get one especially if you have 2 children – do it every other day so they each get to open their own.
If you haven’t done one of these before, get the less expensive one from last year – your kids won’t care.
I think I want to get one of the last two for me Kate. She misses out on a lot because the boys wreck stuff we have been there and done that with the boys.
The nativity one will still be our primary one because it is just easier to keep your head in the right place and a great visual to talk about the true meaning of Christmas.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
