Advent and Solstice and Christmas

[Nursingnaturalmom]

what do these look like at your house?

[LuxPerpetua]

We do Seasons of Joy Advent e-book each year and LOVE it.  PM AnnetteMarie or check out her site for info (just google Seasons of Joy).

[Nursingnaturalmom]

I just found seasons of joy and it looks SO COOL!!!

[WindyCityMom]

Advent

• We do the 4 lights of advent, and do the youngest lighting 1 candle for week 1, oldest lighting 2 candles week 2, mother lighting 3 for week 3, and father lighting all 4 for week 4.  This year we're using tealight candles and a construction paper wreath with a small bowl of whatever represents the light (stones, beasts, etc) in the center of the wreath.

Solstice

• DD2's birthday often falls on the Winter Solstice so it is an even more important day for us.  We're going to hang dried apples and oranges on a tree, and do a lantern walk for the solstice.  

[lyrebird]

We do the four candles with the four kingdoms (mineral, plant etc.) and this year I'm going to attempt to make an evergreen wreath. Haven't worked out how to do the candles yet (stand alone inside the wreath or??

We also start our nativity scene - very basic at first, slowly adding bits, and usually incorporating bits from the story Mary's Little Donkey by Gunhild Sehlin which we start reading on the first Sunday.

I try to do activities each week which reflect each kingdom, but it doesn't always work out. We're going camping during the third/fourth week and I don't think the advent wreath is coming, but we'll take the book.

I love this time of year, I just wish there weren't so many deadlines!