Coexist with an Advent Calendar

Today's Guest Blogger is Denise from RunDMT!

During the holidays, my family observes some traditions th at we’ve adopted from other cultures. Since my mother grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Queens, New York, she grew to appreciate some of the Jewish traditions, such a lighting the Menorah.

However, my husband grew up in England and when we first

met, he introduced me to some of his favorite British Christmas customs, such as Christmas crackers and Boxing Day.

As a former elementary school teacher, I am programmed to embrace diversity and in my life as SAHM, I have educated my children on the traditions of cultures as often as possible. With the help of our Advent calendar, I have taught my children how to coexist and embrace othe

r cultures in a fun and creative way.

A few years ago, I purchased a reusable wooden Advent calendar, but in addition to hiding a small treat behind each door, I planned activities to incorporate each of our family’s holiday traditions into the calendar. Every year, I write 25 fun holiday activities on slips of paper and hide each one behind a door.

If you’d like to attempt an Advent calendar this season, below is a list of some our family’s favorite Advent calendar activities to help get your started. You can personalize your Advent calendar by adding your hometown holiday celebrations or your favorite family traditions. I purchased my Advent calendar from Bed, Bath & Beyond, but many retailers sell other styles or you can make your own. Even something a simple as a paper chain will suffice. Simply, number twenty-five strips of paper and write a holiday activity on the opposite side of the numbered strips before assembling the links.

· Make a Helping Hands wreath to reflect 31 Gifts of Giving for the month of December.


· Write a letter to Santa.
· Make popcorn garland.
· Read a Chanukah story and light the Menorah to celebrate the start of Chanukah.
· Make a paper plate Menorah or macaroni Menorah. Add a new “candle” each day of Chanukah.
· Make a milk carton dreidel and then play the game it’s finished using pennies, chocolate or raisins as game pieces.
· Make Christmas cards and Chanukah cards.
· Go for a drive or a stroll to look at Christmas lights and sip hot cocoa.
· Make paper snowflakes.
· Visit the book store and buy a new holiday book.
· Sip hot cocoa and read your favorite holiday stories.
· Visit a Christmas tree farm and buy a wreath for the front door.
· Decorate Christmas ornaments.
· Buy a new ornament for the Christmas tree.
· Make a paper chain for the Christmas tree.
· Make an ornament for the tree.
· Hang mistletoe and kiss everyone who walks under it.
· Make gingerbread houses.
· Visit Santa at the mall.
· Bake cookies with Grandma.
· Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies while watching your favorite holiday movie.
· Buy presents for family members at the dollar store.
· Go Christmas caroling at a retirement home.
· Make wrapping paper.
· Build a Snowman in your front yard. (If there’s no snow use white trash bags filled with newspaper.)
· Go ice skating.
· Make Christmas crackers or buy them.
· Drop off toys at Toys for Tots location.
· Adopt an Angel Tree child and shop for items on his/her wish list.
· Make a holiday origami fortune tellers.
· Go for a Christmas light stroll and count the Santas and snowmen.
· Have a Christmas music dance party. Remember to dance the hora.
· Make magic reindeer dust.
· Sprinkle magic reindeer dust in the yard.
· Set out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.