Monday, December 01, 2008

Advent.

Advent is the liturgical season preceeding Christmas, starting the first Sunday after November 27, or four Sundays before Christmas Day. The German Lutherans started marking this season with an Advent Calendar to mark the days before the Holy Day.

While my family wasn't religious, my brothers and I were all given an Advent Calendar on December 1 every year. They were usually cardboard and paper, with secular themes of snow-covered Bavarian homes and a Santa, usually detailed with some glitter and purchased at the local Hallmark store. We would hang them on our bedroom walls and open the corresponding window of each date, which would usually show a new Christmas-related picture or part of a poem up until the final window to open on Christmas morning. One year when I was still very young, I was sick for a while in early December, some rash and fever or such. Somehow I remember that it was determined (by whom?) that it was the fault of the German-made paper from the Advent calendar, and it was summarily banished from my room. I was devastated.

Silly as it seems, these calendars were a big thing to us ... something that heightened our anticipation of Christmas Day. After my Mom died, my Dad still bought us each a calendar, even though we were in our mid-teens to early twenties at that point. We thought it was silly, but we opened them each day, first thing.

Dad sent me an Advent calendar every year until he died in 2005. Silly, childish ... but I loved them. I'd open them faithfully every morning.

I missed having one to open after he passed away. Another thing gone and dead from my childhood.

Tonight Scott came home with this:




As if y'all wondered why I'm in love with him.

11 comments:

A Lewis said...

I think that remembering, commemorating, celebrating, is all very important. As are family histories. And building traditions. I love it!

Sizzle said...

That is so sweet that he bought one. I got one for my nephew. It's a part of my childhood that I remember fondly and want to pass on to him.

Scott in Iowa said...

Traditions are good.

...and Scott's good guy!

Cincy Diva said...

Did you all also have the Advent wreath? We always got to take turns lighting the candles and reading the Bible verse. Good Times

madhouse 6 said...

that's so sweet. :-)

Anonymous said...

Very sweet!

john said...

Awww. That is really great of Scott!

Rick said...

You're so lucky.

cb said...

that was an exceedingly thoughtful gift on his part. It's not flashy or expensive, but truly from the heart.

Anonymous said...

Now don't try to sneak a peak under any of those "future" doors!

Anonymous said...

Perhaps I am just a silly little school girl but this post made me misty. Scott is a great guy. I have heard that there is alot in a name :). Enjoy your advent calendar, as well as your Holiday Season!!