Baking Christmas Cookies, decorating the Christmas Tree, driving to see Christmas Lights, playing Cards and Board Games, attending Candlelight Service and singing Christmas Carols on Christmas Eve are the Christmas Traditions I grew up with.
Creating traditions are an important part of life. Traditions nurture family connections and provide positive memories for children. They are what we look forward to year after year. 2020 has been a hard year for everyone, so it’s a perfect year to start a Christmastime family tradition.
Advent Calendars have been around for more than 150 years and have been part of many traditions. When you think of Advent Calendars, you may be thinking of those where opening a little door leads to a piece of chocolate. While I’m the first to never turn down chocolate, there are ways to make the Season more meaningful.
The Advent Calendars sold on Favorfully offer two alternatives to chocolate. One option is an Advent Calendar that focuses on Bible Verses and reminds the family Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Each Bible Verse is assigned to a day in December, starting with the first and ending with the 25th. Each day the family can read a Bible Verse, talk about its meaning and how it applies to the Christmas Season. The Bible Verses included on the cards are:
- December 1: In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. Psalm 102:25
- December 2: Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach. Proverbs 22:17
- December 3: The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8
- December 4: For since the message spoken through angels was binding. Hebrews 2:2
- December 5: Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Psalm 119:1
- December 6: But since you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7
- December 7: As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. Psalm 17:15
- December 8: Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6
- December 9: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
- December 10: In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13
- December 11: Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7
- December 12: However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. Ecclesiastes 11:8
- December 13: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
- December 14: We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20
- December 15: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13
- December 16: I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:18
- December 17: May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. 2 Thessalonians 3:5
- December 18: From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward. Proverbs 12:14
- December 19: The promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring - not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. Romans 4:16
- December 20: When God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,“Let all God’s angels worship him.” Hebrews 1:6
- December 21: I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever. Psalm 45:17
- December 22: Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 1 Corinthians 1:7
- December 23: The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:20
- December 24: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2
- December 25: Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11
The other option focuses on Activity, which in itself provides for opportunities for additional traditions. Some are activities to do as a family and others are activities that focus on others. Providing volunteering opportunities for children at an early age instills empathy for those with less and a sense of gratitude for all they have. The activities included on the Holiday Activities Cards are:
- Donate clothes and toys to those in need
- Make Christmas phone calls to family and friends
- Make reindeer food
- Pray for Peace and Love this Christmas season
- Do a puzzle together
- Send a soldier a care package
- Make a pinecone bird feeder to hang outside
- Read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"
- Make Christmas cards for friends and family
- Take some goodies to the local police station, fire station or hospital ER desk
- Go to grocery store or look in the pantry for food to donate to the local food bank
- Do a chore for an elderly neighbor
- Make a Gingerbread house or Gingerbread men
- Sing and dance to Christmas songs, or go Caroling
- Make a popcorn or paper chain garland to hang
- Make paper snowflakes
- Decorate the Christmas tree
- Decorate Christmas cookies
- Take some goodies to a neighbor
- Play a game of Christmas charades
- Make an ornament for the tree
- Read the Christmas story of Jesus' birth
- Watch a Christmas movie with Popcorn and Rootbeer Floats
- It's Breakfast for Dinner tonight!
- Have an indoor picnic by the Christmas tree
- Wrap a toy and take it to a charity Christmas tree
- Drive around town and look at all the Christmas lights
- Make homemade hot cocoa with marshmallows
Extra blank cards are also included with both options for you to add alternate Activities or Bible Verses for your children. Included with your Advent Calendar kit:
And two options for Envelope styles.
The time with children at home goes by so quickly. Even carrying on 2 or 3 traditions year-to-year will be memorable for the family and something you will never regret!
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