We have been trying to observe Advent in our home. Advent reminds us to slow down and bring back the values of this holy season.
We shouldn’t really even start Christmas preparations/decorating until the Advent season has begun! When Advent starts we have four weeks to make preparations and we should enjoy that time and look forward to what is coming.
Fast and Feast by Bridget Ann Henisch is filled with detailed and interesting information on food and feasting in Medieval society. Here is what she has to say on Christmas:
“The two longest and most important fasts were Advent and Lent, which ushered in the greatest feasts of the years, Christmas & Easter. Advent is a period of preparation for Christmas, a time when man tries to turn over a new leaf and start again. One fifteenth-century sermon writer points to the parallel between the Church and the individual: just as the Church makes a fresh beginning on Advent Sunday, ‘so owe ye to begynne and renewe youre lyf.’”
Here are some ideas that we have come up with:
St. Nicholas Day
Completely optional but we like to recognize St. Nicholas for who he was and what he did while leaving Christmas for Jesus!
Tell the story of St. Nicholas at dinner and have children leave their shoes (or stockings) out to see what they might get.
They could also leave milk and cookies for St. Nicholas, if this is something you want to do.
If they have been good they may get sweets and cookies (pfeffernuse is traditional) or if they have been bad they may get a cane or switch.
Traditional stocking stuffers would be: oranges or tangerines, chocolate coins, a new penny, a sugar mouse, a chocolate watch, noisemakers, apples, nuts, and/or small toys or card games.
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ST. NICHOLAS DAY FEAST
BREAKFAST:
Santa Pancakes or HERE
DINNER/FEAST
St. Nicolas du Pelem Pork with Mustard & Apples, Veggies, Soup,
Cheese platter, Garlic Bread, Fruitcake
Black Forest ‘Good Works’ Cake or Hot Fudge Sundae Cake (use black cherry ice cream in place of vanilla)
Punch, Eggnog
Other traditional foods include:
- Pfeffernuse
- Apples, nuts, marzipan
- Lebkuchen: German honey cakes
- Stollen: sweet yeast bread with dried fruits and nuts, thickly iced
ADVENT
Light candles, read passages, and pray. Stock up on your candles!
Have a special treat or activity for afterwards. Ex: singing carols, cookies, or special snacks.
Start making plans and gifts for people. Think about giving to a charity and give hope to others.
1st Advent Sunday
Hope – Purple Candle, purple decorations
‘Stir-up Sunday’ –the day to stir up Christmas cakes and puddings
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2nd Advent Sunday
Peace – Purple Candle, purple decorations
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3rd Advent Sunday
Joy – Pink Candle, pink/rose colored decorations
‘Gaudete’ – take a break and rejoice for what is coming!
Put up your manger or ‘crib’ in a corner, the manger is empty right now, Three wise men can be placed somewhere away from the manger and advance slowly through the week, they will arrive at the manger on Epiphany.
Make plans to go caroling around the 21st… but not before this Sunday!
Our 1st Shepherd’s Dinner: click the link for more ideas!
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- Baked/Smoked Fish or Turkey/Chicken/Lamb
- Boiled eggs
- Flat Breads, crackers
- Goat/Feta Cheese (maybe some other cheeses as well)
- Summer Sausage, cold meats
- Olives
- Fruits including: Figs, Pomegranates, Dates, Grapes, etc.
- Hummus w/Cucumbers, carrots, etc.
- Lentils
- Almonds, Pistachios, or other nuts
- Honey
- Baklava
- Sparkling Grape Juice or Wine
- Other simple finger foods
- Cookie Tray
4th Advent Sunday
Love – Purple Candle
BREAKFAST/BRUNCH MENU
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Christmas Eve
- Birthday Cake for Jesus – check out this post for FREE nativity printable
- Fish(no meat) is traditional, along with cabbage, beets, mushrooms, berries, and bread with poppy seeds. You could do your Bethlehem dinner this night.
- Set an extra place at the table for Our LORD.
- Eat dinner by candlelight.
Christmas Day
Christ – White Candle
CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST
Cinnamon & Star Breads
Pancake Board, Toppings
Eggs, Sausage, Bacon
Juice, Coffee
CHRISTMAS DINNER
Smoked Meats,
Deviled Eggs, Green Bean Casserole, Potatoes, Baked Beans, Spinach Dip,
Rolls, Flavored Butters, Fudge
Eggnog, Coffee, Sweet Tea
Go for a walk after lunch. Have a cold plate dinner followed by hot tea or coffee and Christmas cake, Yule log, or Pumpkin roll.
Christmas isn’t over on the 26th! It’s just the start of the 12 Days of Christmas!
Boxing Day (26th)
Have a picnic or stay home with family and enjoy leftovers.
Cold turkey and ‘Bubble and Squeak’ are traditional foods.
You could also make Creamy cabbage and Sausage to eat with the leftovers.
Holy Innocents Day (28)
A day to remember all the children killed by King Herod in his attempt to kill baby Jesus.
It is traditional to have a white dessert like pudding, ice cream, or cake topped with a red sauce or syrup.
Epiphany (Jan 6)
Final day of the Twelve days of Christmas. We normally take our tree and decorations down on this day (or the day after), but leave the manger as the Wise Men finally reach their destination!
Read the story of the Magi (Matthew 2)
You could plan a 12 days of Christmas themed party and you could play a version of White Elephant.
A blessing is traditionally done on the house as well before the night ends.
There are many other saints that could be celebrated during this time but I have only hit some of the better known ones. You can do your own research and pray to see where you are led.
Some of these I share because my family or people we knew had certain traditions and beliefs that I never knew the background or reasoning for… now I am learning.
We have not celebrated all of these and we may not… we have been led to research more about Holy Days vs. Holidays and we have been trying to incorporate some of what we learn into new family traditions.
I can say that if I had known some of what I know now I would never have introduced Santa into my home… most of kids know the truth and we don’t really even mention Santa to the younger ones.
I know some of my older children will not be mentioning Santa either… we really need to put our focus back on GOD and see where HE leads us!
May God Bless you in your journey.
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