Welcome! Val and I have put together this journal because we want you to have a place to come during the month of December and celebrate the season of Christmas. We thought maybe we could all learn a little something, and that we could also have lots of fun! We will be doing crafts, making ornaments, visiting fun sites, and playing games! There will be something for everybody. We will also remember that "Jesus is the Reason for the Season", and anticipate His birth on December 25th. I hope you enjoy this journal. It is being put together with love just for you! Please put this journal on alerts. There will be an entry on each day of December. Have fun!
First I thought we'd talk a little bit about Advent. Advent is the season before Christmas. This year Advent begins on Dec. 3 and ends on Dec. 24. Advent is Latin for "arrival" or "coming". During the Advent Season before Christmas we anticipate the coming of the Baby Jesus on Christmas morning. We also anticipate the Second Coming of Jesus if we are Christians, and work to further prepare ourselves. Many want to skip over this part of the season, and go right to Christmas. Advent is a season of preparation as well as a season of joy. Let us think of ways we can better prepare ourselves for Our Lord when He comes.
Advent began in the year 380 in the Catholic Church. There are four Sundays in Advent. Many Christians celebrate the season of Advent by lighting an Advent wreath. Traditionally, the wreath is made of four candles in a circle of evergreens. Three candles are violet and the fourth is rose. Each day at home, the candles are lighted, perhaps before the evening meal-- one candle the first week, and then another each succeeding week until December 25th. A short prayer may accompany the lighting. If you would like some prayers to go along with an Advent Wreath, go HERE. Have a fun and holy Advent season!
Sources:
Celebrating Advent-Christmas
Advent 2006
game: The Nutcracker Game
Gospel reading: Luke 21:29-33
