It’s December first and for us, the official start of Christmas. We spent most of yesterday tidying up the apartment prior to putting the Christmas tree up, and hanging our favourite decorations, only to make more of a mess. Thankfully, the OH did another quick turn about with the hoover. Ain’t I the lucky one?
We’re not big on doing Advent Calendars, it was never a tradition for me as a kid growing up. With six kids to cope with at Christmas, my parents had to prioritise every last penny towards the necessary things. Though, we’d get a well filled stocking that got slowly filled over the course of December with little gifts and treats.
The OH suggested we do something similar by putting a lot of silly little things in our stockings. Not that we’re hard up for money or anything. It’s just what do you buy someone who wants for nothing?
Pre Covid we had already started weaning ourselves off buying presents and chose instead to gift to a number of our favourite charities. We can’t make a lot of difference in the world, but gifting can help especially at this time of year.
As for the rest of the family? We’re a small group this side of the pond, so we do one main present each, though my sister-in-law always goes crazy. No matter what pact we’ve agreed on, she will always do her own thing. And, well, to be honest, I love her for her generosity. She always makes Christmas sparkle for me. Especially as this isn’t my favourite time of year.
And you, do you buy advent calendars, or make them yourself? And what other traditions, if any, do you have leading up to the big day?
𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧
Christmas! I love reading about other people’s traditions and how they like to celebrate. Some people are just GIFT GIVERS, sounds like your SIL is one of them. I have a few friends like that who are always picking up little gifties and treats for people – it’s a lovely generous spirit for sure.
When the kids were both still at home, I had a wooden Advent calendar and every day we would each put a slip of paper that said what was one good thing about the day, and then on New Year’s we’d take all them out and put them in a bowl, and we would each take turns reading them. It was really a great tradition.
You and I both then, Nicole. And yes, my SiL is definitely a giver. There are some people wired that way that get their enjoyment out of buying for others.
Oh, I love the idea of a wooden refillable advent calendar. How perfect is that? Like little moments of gratitude. If I had kids I would love to have done that with them. Thank you for sharing that.
We used to have a string with toddler-sized socks in red and white stripes and green stripes that we put 5 lollies in (1 for each of us), but since the girls have moved out and E is never home, we haven’t continued that tradition since moving to our apartment. Maybe G and I should start up a new tradition just for us?
Oh, you should definitely start a new tradition. We’re doing a reverse advent calendar. Putting things into our stocking leading up to Christmas, rather than taking out. So come Christmas day, we’ll have a lot of fun little things to open. At least, that’s the plan.
We have a puzzle advent calendar. It divides the puzzle up into 42 pieces each day and on Christmas Eve, you have a 1000-piece puzzle. We have done it for the last couple of years and I love it. It’s nice to take a few minutes at the end of the day to sit with my husband and work on a project together.
What a fab idea. I’ve never heard of a puzzle calendar. I would love that, I really need to check where I can buy one, for next year. Talk about an unusual date night! Perfect.