ONLY 35 DAYS – WELL 34 DAYS -TILL ADVENT!

The Advent Countdown

A Whirlwind of Wreaths, Wonder, and Waiting!

Only 35 days till Advent! The time when everyone collectively decides it’s okay to eat chocolate every morning before breakfast – because let’s face it, if it’s behind those little calendar doors, it doesn’t count as a real indulgence, right?

The Advent Calendar

So let’s address the star of the show – the Advent calendar. Whether you’re 7 or 77, there’s an indescribable joy in unveiling the daily surprise. But wait, why do they design these things with doors that are smaller than a teacup?

Half the time, you end up poking around for the number, accidentally tearing the entire door off, and then it’s a mad scramble to put it back together, all the while pretending you’re a pro at keeping this sacred tradition intact.

Kids often have to take turns opening the Advent Calendar doors. Lucky for them, The Girl Who Found Christmas provides a bedtime story every night if they don’t have an Advent Calendar (and a story is much better than a little door with chocolate anyway!). 

If you are unfortunate enough to walk through a store in the days leading up to Advent, you’ll see that the preparations for the holidays begin earlier each year. It’s like waking up on November 1st to find yourself caught in a whirlwind of cinnamon-scented chaos, tinsel, and advent calendars.

The Advent Wreath

Then comes the Advent wreath. Tradition says it’s supposed to be circular, and some traditions use candles in a variety of colors, some use only four candles while others use five. The great news is that families can step back from the craziness and enjoy decorating the wreath to suit their own tastes.

In some faith traditions, there are three purple candles, one pink candle, and one white candle. But decorating the wreath is still a family job and can include the addition of pine cones or bright red berries, or whatever works without setting off the fire alarm! 

In fact, don’t even get me started on trying to light them without setting off the smoke alarms. It’s a delicate operation requiring the precision of a bomb expert!

And no matter what, who hasn’t struggled to keep those candles standing straight without accidentally knocking one into the pine-scented potpourri?

Of course, there’s the preparation for the big countdown to Christmas itself. The anticipation builds, the holiday music becomes the soundtrack to your existence, and you find yourself asking the existential question: is it socially acceptable to wear a Santa hat every day in December? (What about November??)

As the days tick by, the pressure to buy thoughtful gifts intensifies. But despite the chaos, there’s an inexplicable magic in the air once Advent begins. It’s a time of togetherness and reflection.

So, here’s to the happy whirlwind of wreaths, wonder, and waiting – embrace the chaos and let the countdown to Christmas begin!

You can make all of it fun. Just turn all that creativity loose. And PLEASE write to me in the comments to let me know how YOU create FUN moments as Advent draws near!