Ship of Fools: Advent at home

Thread: Advent at home Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by St Deird (# 7631) on :

I'm hoping to light Advent candles at home this year (every evening after dinner - adding the new candle every Sunday), in an attempt to (a) get me in the liturgical spirit, and (b) introduce my son to the concept of Advent.

Has anyone else done this before? Are there any other Advent traditions that you'd suggest for being at home?

Posted by crunt (# 1321) on :

Advent calendar?

Posted by John Holding (# 158) on :

The trouble with most commercial Advent calendars is that they invariably start on 1 December, not on the first day of the season. And far too few even bow in the direction of the religious season.

We do the Advent wreath thing, lighting the Sunday candle(s) before dinner (on some weekdays as well as every Sunday) with the SUnday collect and a grace we can all say together. That way there's a point at which the candles can be put out...at the end of the meal.

John

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

We have an "Advent moment" every Sunday afternoon as it's getting dark. We put off the lights and light the appropriate number of candles on the Advent wreath (my wife likes candles so we have others as well), we listen to Christmas music on the CD player, we drink coffee and eat Lebkuchen. It's a peaceful moment.

Posted by Enoch (# 14322) on :

Lovely ideas. Starting to feel inspired already. [Overused]

Posted by marzipan (# 9442) on :

In my family, we only eat mince pies between advent Sunday and epiphany, does that count?

Posted by L'organist (# 17338) on :

From Advent Sunday we light our candle(s) - number appropriate to the Sunday. Then on 13th December we celebrate Santa Lucia scandinavian style - procession through the house with candles, etc.

Mince pies start from 8th December and cards are put up from 4th Sunday (3rd if Christmas Day is Monday or Tuesday).

The TREE doesn't come in until Christmas Eve, and that is when the crib is put up, with the Christ Child being put in when we get home from Midnight Mass.

Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :

A Jesse tree can be fun, and a good way to follow the themes of Advent. There are loads of online resources to explore for this.

Posted by Ceremoniar (# 13596) on :

Advent wreath, candles lit, prayers for each week. No Christmas tree or decorations before late Sapientiatide, no Christmas music or Bambino in the crèche until return home from Midnight Mass.

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :

I forgot to say that we always celebrate St. Nick's Day with early morning chocolate (although no longer placed in shoes) - a reminder of my German ancestry.

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

I have almost as many Advent CDs as I do Christmas ones. I play them at home and in my car and don't switch to Christmas music until Christmas Eve.

Posted by MrsBeaky (# 17663) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
I have almost as many Advent CDs as I do Christmas ones. I play them at home and in my car and don't switch to Christmas music until Christmas Eve.

Please could you give me some ideas for Advent CDs as this sounds really great. Thanks!

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :

I'll be spending most of Advent in hotel rooms. I wasn't thinking about doing anything there, but maybe it would be nice to think of something.

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

MrsBeaky -- I'll list some ideas when I get back from church. (They're mostly from English Cathedrals, also a couple of U.S. church choirs.)

As a child I had a combination cork bulletin board and chalk board. One year I drew an Advent wreath with colored chalk and drew flames on the appropriate candle(s) each Sunday of Advent. The following years I cut out a wreath from colored paper, which I hung on the bulletin board side, and added paper flames as appropriate. I had my Advent wreath, and my mother didn't have to worry that I would burn the house down.

I've always loved Advent -- the hope, the anticipation. People have accused me of being a Scrooge because I don't celebrate Christmas until Christmas Eve. I try to explain that I love Christmas when it gets here, but I also love Advent.

Posted by Belle Ringer (# 13379) on :

I have a large advent wreath holder and a (fake greens) wreath - but it takes so much space I almost never find a place for it.

Thanks to this thread getting me thinking ahead of time, I plan to create an informal eclectic greens-less "advent wreath" from random unmatched candle holders on hand. More relaxed, for me more inviting, and taking up far less space than the usual rigidly circular all candles the same size and shape advent wreath.

Posted by PaulBC (# 13712) on :

I have a Advent candle holder inwhich I put my
candle i LIGHT WHEN I READ MY MORNING OFFICE . bUT IT ONLY COMES OUT BETWEEN aDVENT 1 AND cHRISTMAS , OR WHEN EVER i START MY cHRISTMAS TRAVELS EASTWARDS . bLESSINGS ALL [Votive]

Posted by Pomona (# 17175) on :

Spotify and 8tracks should have Advent playlists. No need for CDs!

Posted by Pine Marten (# 11068) on :

Ah, but some of us don't do Spotify or 8tracks - some of us still play cds and <gasp> vinyl [Biased]

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