The 2009 Advent Traditions Thread

[shannyk]

We do an advent wreath, actually two one table top one at the kitchen table that we use every night at dinner, and one wall mounted one that I just put regular tea candles in the rest of the year.

We also have a Chi Ro candle covered with a blue cloth to be our Mary candle. oh I also get out the Our Lady of Guadalupe candle out since she is expecting in that image, seems fitting.

At dinner we light the advent wreath and say an advent prayer from my Magnificat.

I try to wait on Christmas decor including the tree as long as possible, usually the weekend before Christmas, however many days before Christmas that ends up being. As of now besides the advent wreaths we have no decorations up.

We celebrate the feasts of St. Nicholas of course, and St. Lucia, that is my DD’s fav, she’s got the candle wreath for her head and everything She says she’s going to even make the St Lucia treats herself this year, which will be interesting…I try to make something with honey for St Ambrose’s feast, this time I made baklava, it was good.

Hmm…I feel like there is more, but I can’t think of any. Probably because I usually don’t remember until the last minute.

 

[Cathhsmom]

Christmas Tree Prayer Chain:

Last year, I started a new tradition with my children. We make a construction paper chain for our Christmas tree. On each chain is a prayer request, on the inside of the chain, and a saint’s name on the outside of the chain. We put it around our tree and pray for all of those prayer requests randomly picking chains to read the saints name off and asking them to pray for them.

I like this because it takes the focus off of the me, me, me of gifts and onto focusing on others and praying for them.

 

[Philothea27]

If you want an Advent music CD, then try this one! brotherhoodofhope.org/storeandmore/music.html
(It’s the second CD on the page.) I’m so glad someone gave it to my husband as a Christmas present several years ago.

I love all these great Advent ideas. I think I’ll use the purple and pink notes of blessings idea with the children in my Religious Education program next year.

Some of my favorite childhood memories are of Advent. My parents started a tradition of “Advent cookies.” We got to eat an Advent cookie at the end of our candle lighting/Scripture/prayer time. We were allowed one Advent cookie even if we hadn’t finished all of our dinner. That was a big deal!