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November 26, 2012

Advent and Christmas Around the World

~reprint from the archives

We've promised plans for an Advent around the world, and here they are.  I post them with a hint of trepidation however.  I do not want these plans, in any way, to make any of you think that we have come up with a "new way" of doing Advent.  Advent is the season of awaiting Christ's birth, its traditions are those of a church much older and wiser than us, its theme is not rushing, but preparing, waiting for the hush to fall in the awed moments of the Nativity.  We have no doubt most of you, like us, have time-honored ways of living this season at home, some prescribed by the church and some born of your own experiences as a family.  We want you to live them this year as any other, just as we will be doing.  The books you see listed below came from our own book basket lists, they are yearly family favorites.  The celebrations, craft ideas, and recipes will probably all seem familiar.  To us, they are.  The goal as we shift gears in our homes for the season of Advent is to live the predictable rhythm of the liturgy and the comforting traditions of family life.  But we also hope to bring some special touch to each year, mark it with a unique memory all its own, so that as our kids grow, their hearts will anticipate this season with both the longing for its familiar comforts and the memories of its once-in-a-lifetime moments.  In the Foss home, there are yearly traditions and a much remembered rhythm of prayer, but then there will always be fond memories of the Jan Brett Christmas, the Tomie de Paola year, the fairy tale Christmas, and hopefully, this year, the Christmas Around the World.  I hope my little boys will also come to expect the season's familiar rhythm with joy and anticipation, and to wonder at what its unexpected surprise might be.  For isn't that the way of the Little Savior born in a stable, who fulfilled all the familiar promises in totally unexpected ways?  So we share these plans in hopes that they will encourage you to rejuvenate, not re-invent Advent, that they will enrich, not usurp, your own traditions, that they will breathe beauty and joy into the hearts of our children and yours this year.  In a year when my family needs to find the joy and beauty in what will undoubtedly be a season filled with many conflicting emotions, I am relieved to have something to be excited about.  While many of you come into this Advent with crosses much different from my own, and seemingly smaller, I pray these plans ease your burden, whatever it is, this Advent season as you wait in hope for the coming of your Savior. ~Colleen (who is celebrating in an altogether different corner of the world this year)

Beautiful Books to Learn From:

We'll use these books for read-alouds and narration during this season.  I'll read a chapter or two of the Lankford book to the children at the beginning of the week, then at the end of the week, open the scene from the pop-up book and have them narrate what they see there based on what they have learned that week and note anything important the scene may be missing.

Links With a Lot to Offer: Advent and Christmas seasons at Fisheaters.com

 
Advent Week 1: Focus on Germany, Poland
Traditions to Learn About: Advent Traditions Around the World

Recipes to Try:

Lebkuchen

 
Ornaments for Your Tree: Sculpey Gingerbread Men, Houses
 
By Hand With Heart: Throwing Chestnuts (a fun gift for siblings, cousins, neighbors, friends)
 
 
Advent Week 2: Focus on Russia, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia
Traditions to Learn About: St. Nicholas Around the World
Saint francis

Russian Christmas Coffee Cake   
Russian Tea Cakes 

Russian Spice Tea

**All these recipes can be found on the Russian Christmastide page linked above.

Ornaments for Your Tree: Wee Wooden St. Nicholases
  
By Hand With Heart: Matroyshka Dolls (You can order blank dolls here  ....consider decoupaging them with photos of siblings or cousins or grandchildren and giving them as a family gift.)
 
Advent Week 3: Focus on Mexico, the British Isles
Traditions to Learn About: Christmas Decorations Around the World

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Mulled Cider

 
Ornaments for Your Tree: Poinsettia Fairies, Victorian Ball Ornament (Search the web from some inspiring images, start with styrofoam balls, then use things already in your craft cabinets to glitz them up-fabric scraps, sequins, beads, glitter, feathers--so many possibilities.  Sophisitcation and charm are your goals.)
 
By Hand With Heart: Christmas Crackers (An easy gift for neighborhood friends or homeschool groups or a nice addition to a feast day table during Advent.)
 
Advent Week 4: Focus on the Holy Land
Traditions to Learn About: The Holy Places of the Christmas Story, Nativity Scenes from Around the World
Bright christmas


Feasts to Celebrate:
Christmas
St. Stephen

Fireside Tales: 

Tomie dePaola: Jingle the Christmas Clown

The First Christmas Stocking

 A Small Miracle

Tomie dePaola: The Clown of God

Recipes to Try:

Mince Meat Pies 
Explanation: When the Crusaders came back to England, they brought with them spices from the Holy Land. These spices were added to huge pies made of meats of various kinds, minced very fine and enclosed in pastry. The pies were oblong in shape, to represent the manger. A depression was made in the top to hold a figure of the Infant Jesus, which was removed just before the pie was cut.
 
Ornaments for Your Tree: Popsicle Stick Nativity Grottos (Create small grotto shapes out of popsicle sticks, glue your favorite image of the nativity in the center and decorate with stones, jewels or sequins.), Paper Stars , Pine Cone Angels
 
By Hand With Heart: Wee Wooden Holy Families (Paint or design sets of wooden holy families for little ones' stockings.)
 
Christmas Week: Focus on Italy, France, Spain
Traditions to Learn About: Christmas Foods Around the World
Christmas Cookies: Bite-Sized Holiday Lessons 

Recipes to Try: Your favorite cookies

Ornaments for Your Tree: beaded candy canes , salt dough cookie ornaments (Make and roll out the dough, let the kids cut them with holiday cutters, poke a small hole on the top of each with the tip of a pencil before baking.  When cooled, let the kids paint them to resemble iced and decorated cookies. Tie a ribbon through the hole and hang.)
 
By Hand With Heart: Cocoa Mix and Peppermint Marshmallows (Consider bringing these as hostess gifts when you do your holiday visiting).
 
New Year's Week: Focus on Central and South America
Traditions to Learn About: Epiphany Traditions Around the World
Epiphany

Preparing Little Hearts:
We Three Kings 
 Tomie dePaola: The Story of the Three Wise Kings
 The Visit of the Wise Men 

Fireside Tales:

Max Lucado: Jacob's Gift

The Little Drummer Boy
The Last Straw 
  
Recipes to Try: Make a version of King's Cake: French, Mexican , Spanish, or New Orelans Style
 
Ornaments for Your Tree: bejeweled crowns
 
By Hand With Heart: Wee Wooden Magi (Make a sets of Wee Wooden Magi for little ones to enjoy.)
                                   
 
 

 

Posted at 02:57 PM in Advent and Christmas, Books |

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