As promised, here is the second installment of our Advent recommendations for you and your family! These are some extras to help you find ways to make this season of Advent a meaningful one. Book recommendations, ornaments with the names of God, and saints days are covered here; and scroll to the bottom for our Spotify Advent playlist!
Picture Book Recommendations
Books to read the day you put out Advent calendars and decorate your Christmas tree:
Waiting for Christmas: A Story about the Advent Calendar
The Legend of the Christmas Tree
Some beautiful picture books that are based on the biblical story of Christmas:
The Story of Christmas (Golden Book)
The Christmas Story According to Luke
Three great choices for telling the real story behind Santa Claus:
Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins
Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend
The Legend of the Christmas Stocking
Picture books based on the history of a Christmas carol, or containing the lyrics:
Silent Night, Holy Night (Traditions of Faith series)
A good book to read on Saint Lucia Day:
And some additional favorites:
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree
Reading Recommendations for Adults (or kids ready to listen to/independently read longer books and poetry)
Waiting on the Word: A Poem a Day for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany
The Christmas Stories and Poems of George MacDonald
This last book is actually a children's chapter book. The story follows an adventurous journey of a boy during the time of Christ's birth, and his journey intersects with the Christmas story throughout the book. Great family read aloud, although be aware you may need to edit out some of the scary scenes for younger listeners!
Ever Thine Home Ornaments
Ever Thine Home, a part of FamilyLife ministry, sells a variety of sets of different ornaments that focus on the names of God. One of these sets, His Eternal Names, includes a family devotional and activity that can be done throughout the month of December leading up to Christmas. You can find the details here.
Celebrate Special Saint's Days
1) St. Nicholas Day, December 6th
Did you know Saint Nicholas was a real person? He lived in Asia Minor in the third century, and was a Christian bishop. Legend has it that he was known for his generosity to those in need. One story tells of a poor family with three daughters who could never be married because their father didn't have the dowry money needed to arrange marriages for them. Nicholas secretly gave three bags of coins to this family by throwing them down their chimney; according to the legend, these bags landed in the daughter's stockings which were hanging up to dry.
On this day we like to read a book about St. Nicholas (see three good choices above) and discuss ways we can show generosity to others just as St. Nicholas did. This would be a great day to plan an act of service as a family! We also like to hang up our stockings on this day, and sometimes leave chocolate coins in the kid's shoes as well.
2) St. Lucia Day, December 13th
This is a day to remember Lucia, an early Christian martyr. This wealthy young woman used her dowry to help those in need. As legend has it, Lucia would travel into the catacombs where persecuted Christians were hiding, with candles on her head to free up her hands for the food she carried to them.
St. Lucia Day became particularly popular in Sweden, and is celebrated by having the oldest daughter in the family wear a crown of candles and deliver saffron buns and gingersnaps to her parents first thing in the morning on December 13th. We love to deliver these to friends and neighbors later in the day as well! See above list for a picture book biography to read on this day.
Our favorite recipes for this day:
Saffron Buns
Ingredients
3/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
1 teaspoon plus 1/4 cup sugar
One 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast
3 1/2 to 4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup of sour cream
2 large eggs
Raisins
1 egg, beaten
In a small pot, heat the milk, saffron, and 1 teaspoon of sugar together until the milk is steamy. Remove from heat and let cool until about 115°.
Sprinkle the yeast over the milk and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.
Whisk together 3 1/2 cups of the flour, remaining 1/4 cup of sugar, salt.
Make a well in the center of the flour and add the yeast milk saffron mixture, the eggs, the butter, and the sour cream. Mix the ingredients until well incorporated.
Use a dough hook on a stand mixer (or mix by hand) on low speed. Slowly add additional flour, a tablespoon at a time, kneading to incorporate after each addition. Do this until the dough is still a little sticky to the touch, but does not completely stick to your hands when you handle it.
Shape the dough into a ball and place in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. (Note at this point you can refrigerate overnight and bake in the morning.)
Let sit in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours, until the dough has doubled in size.
When the dough has doubled in size, gently press it down and knead it a couple of times. Break off a piece and form it into a ball about 2 inches wide. Roll the ball out into a snake, about 14 inches long.
Then curl the ends in opposite directions, forming an "S" with spirals at each end. Place on a lined baking sheet and repeat with the rest of the dough.
Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough shapes double, 30 minutes to an hour.
Preheat oven to 400°F. Using a pastry brush, brush some beaten egg over the tops and sides of the uncooked buns. Place raisins in the centers of the "S" spirals.
Place in the oven and bake at 400°F for about 10 to 11 minutes (turning halfway through cooking to ensure even browning), until the buns are golden brown.
Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before eating.
Gingersnaps
Ingredients
3/4 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar for decoration
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and 1 cup white sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and molasses until well blended. Combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; stir into the molasses mixture to form a dough. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and roll the balls in the remaining sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Last but not least we have an Advent Spotify playlist for you! This playlist includes classic Christmas carols, but also some beautiful lesser known Advent hymns. Happy listening, and may this season be a blessed one for you and your family!