One of our favourite family traditions at the beginning of December, is to open our Advent Box. Filled with a variety of items, it's great to explore as we prepare for Christmas.
For us, exploring Advent means we're able to focus on the real reason for the season. We love it when our box appears on 1st December, & although the items remain the same, it's always a joy to rediscover each of the treasures.
Inside our Family Advent Box we have the following:
:: A star - to remind us of the journey of the three wise men, the shepherds & of course Mary & Joseph
:: Nativity figures - to decorate our Nativity Tree
:: Wooden crib set & figures - to interact & play with the Nativity characters & explore the Nativity story.
:: Bethlehem Small World Play Scene with wooden figures (which we made last year) - again a great way to explore the story.
:: Advent decorations (Angels) - to encourage us to think about the part they played in the Nativity story
:: Advent lights - The first of our festive lights that remind us of Jesus (the light of the world)
bringing light to the darkness
:: St Nicholas (Playmobil figure) - to remind us of the origins of Santa Claus & why we celebrate St. Nicholas Day on 6th December
:: A star candle holder for our Advent candle - helping us countdown the days to Christmas Day
:: A book - The First Noel by Jan Pienkowski. A beautiful book which folds out into the shape of a star & tells the story of the Nativity. It's so stunning we have it on display as a decoration throughout Advent & Christmas.
This Advent Box has prompted conversations & questions about the Nativity Story, & been explored by family & children who've visited our home in the run-up to Christmas. But for us, the most important thing has been the reminder that amongst all the hustle & bustle of December, the planning, the school events, shopping etc, Advent offers us a time to prepare for the true meaning of Christmas. Making time for this makes Christmas Day truly special.
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