Today is the first day of Advent!
If you don’t know what Advent is, it’s basically a Catholic tradition which celebrates the coming of Christ as a child and his promised Second Coming – and it runs from roughly after Thanksgiving until the beginning of January.
Now, I’m not Catholic. But after being exposed to the tradition of Advent a few years ago, I quickly realized that this is a great opportunity to keep Christmas focused on Christ – and not only that, but have fun celebrating it all month long. Since Christmas is my favorite holiday.. I’M ALL OVER THAT!!
Each day this week, I’m going to tell you a little about our Advent traditions and activities. I’ll share a little about how we celebrate Christ during the month of December. Check out this line-up for the rest of the week!
- Tuesday – Our Advent Calendar, Advent Wreath, Traveling Nativity & Other Traditions
- Wednesday- Decorations, using symbolism to add meaning; Baking – YUM!
- Thursday – Giving: Taking time to give to others.
- Friday – Keeping Christ in Christmas; Christmas morning.
Ooh, isn’t this exciting??
What I want to know is what do YOU do for Advent?
Here’s your opportunity to sign up and share. You can share an old post, you can share a new post, and it doesn’t have to be Advent specific. Tell us at least one way you help your family keep the focus on Christ during the Christmas holiday season.
WAIT!!!
What about the door prizes? Yes, that’s right. There are door prizes!
THE PRIZES
I have two books for celebrating the seasons and holidays with your children of all ages. The first is called Seasons of Faith by Marcia Joslin Stoner.
The second is a book for preschool aged children with reproducible pages called Celebrate the Seasons. (I would say that this book could also be used with Kindergarten and 1st Grade aged children.)
The winners for these two books will be drawn at the end of the week and everyone will have multiple opportunities to enter the giveaway throughout the week.
I’m also giving away**:
- Christmas themed blog header by Momma Knows @5 Kids & A Dog
- “Wishes” by Sara Teasdale, a 28 page poetry copybook for homeschoolers, by Momma Knows @5 Kids & A Dog
- “Christmas Covered Chocolate” by Kelly @ Designs of Mine
HOW DO YOU WIN?
Check out all the ways you can enter to win! Each of the following will “earn” one entry into the proverbial hat!
- Linking up with an Advent/holiday post. You can link up anytime between now and Friday at 2pm, CST.
- Commenting on this post with a holiday tradition or idea (you can do this if you don’t have a holiday post or if you’re not a blogger.)
- Subscribing to my feed – leave an additional comment if you do so, for an additional entry.
- Blogging about The Advent Event on your own blog – leave an additional comment with the link to your blog post.
- Leaving a comment on any of the other four Advent posts this week.
That’s a possibility of seven entries! I know, this could get a little cRaZy! ;P
OH! And when you comment, tell me which item you’d like to most win, if you were chosen as winner – I’ll try to accommodate your wishes as much as I can. I aim to please. 🙂
Now that’s it! Sign up. Visit. Read. Comment. Share the Advent love. And come back tomorrow to see how we get our Advent season off to a good start with our homemade Advent calendar and other traditions.
Amber
**If you’d like to sponsor a door prize, contact me before Thursday morning with the item you’d like to donate and for more details.
Boo’ful- don’t enter me in the contests.
I find it hard to get “in the Christmas spirit” since we moved away and don’t have the kids to be infectious with their excitement. Almost thought about not even decorating this year. But- I bought a candle centerpiece that I can use both for Advent and for Lenten candles. I am seeking suggested reading lists for the Sundays of Advent and I found some great PURPLE tree trimmings. So I will put up the tree and decorate the house.
That is what I am doing for Advent/Christmas.
Love this idea! I’m doing my own “Making Christmas meaningful” carnival on my own blog (no linkies or anything, just my own ideas on how to make the season LESS about spending money and more meaningful). Would love to win the Xmas themed header!
Colleen – Mommy Always Wins’s last blog post..Making Christmas meaningful, day 1: The Christmas Special
Thanks for such a great idea! You’ll keep me busy this month 🙂 Put me down for Seasons of Faith. Maybe I’ll swap ya for some chocolate!
Kelly’s last blog post..CHRISTmas
I love Christmas traditions and celebrations. Thank you for hosting such a fun sharing of ideas. I can’t wait to get inspired about something new!
Brownie’s last blog post..Children’s Christmas Books
Either one of the books look like a fabulous family resource! Thanks for the opportunity and the great series!
Alyssa @ Keeping the Kingdom First’s last blog post..I See Blue in My Future….
I just discovered your blog via twitter. I am loving your Advent posts, especially the one about Christmas morning. We’re working really hard this year with our 4 year old to take the focus off Santa and presents and onto Jesus.
Sorry I missed it!
Lorie’s last blog post..Yummy Holiday Gifts: Soup in a Jar
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