Since the dawn of time, a green felt advent calendar has hung in my parent's home each December. Four strips of paper are lovingly placed in each pocket with a corresponding felt ornament to be hung on each day of the month. My mother made it by hand during the eight long years she waited for children to join her family. Although those same children now give her a hard time for the many traditions she instills, I am particularly grateful for her hard work and this wonderful, appropriate Christmas tradition. All are easily adaptable.
Here is the breakdown for each of the 24 days of Christmas:
December 1st “A” is for angel – Luke 1:30-31, “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing,” and be and angel – do a secret deed.
December 2nd “B” is for bells – Luke 2:13-14, “I Heard the Bells,” and ring the bells – sing songs or add bells to your tree.
December 3rd “C” is for candle – Matthew 5:14-16, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Eat by candle light.
December 4th “D” is for drum - D&C 25:12, “The Little Drummer Boy.” Decide what to give Him (pa rum-pa-pum-pum), make your Christmas lists and plan your gift-giving adventures.
December 5th “E” is for evergreen – Psalm 100:4, “O Christmas Tree.” Put up your evergreen tree.
December 6th F is for friendly beasts – Luke 1:26-38, 46, 47 “Away in a Manger” -2nd Verse. Feed the friendly beasts – make a bird feeder with peanut butter and seeds and hang in a tree.
December 7th G is for gingerbread- Luke 19:29-38, “Up on the Housetop.” Make or decorate a gingerbread house.
December 8th H is for hug – 1 Nephi 11:8-23, “Because I Have Been Given Much.” Give a hug and make cookies for a friend/neighbor.
December 9th I is for inn – Luke 2:1, 3-7, “O, Come all Ye Faithful.” Help someone in need.
December 10th J is for Joy – 3 Nephi 1:13, “Joy to the World.” Make a joyful noise – go caroling.
December 11th K is for kings – Psalms 24:9-10, “We Three Kings” Set up a nativity adding kings.
December 12th L is for lamb – Isaiah 40:11. “While Shepherds Watched.” Add lambs to the nativity.
December 13th M is for manger. Luke 2:12 and read the definition of “manger” in the dictionary.“Away in a Manger.” Add the manger and Mary and Joseph to the nativity.
December 14th N is for names. Isaiah 7:14. “Tell me the stories of Jesus.” Names, names, names – address cards while listening to or watching the nutcracker.
December 15th O is for ornaments. Matthew 6:19-21. “Deck the Halls.” Decorate or make ornaments.
December 16th P is for presents. Matthew 7:11. “12 Days of Christmas.” Wrap or give presents.
December 17th Q is for quiet. Luke 2:19. “Silent Night.” Be quiet! Enjoy a puzzle, book or game at home.
December 18th R is for rod. Luke 2:8-18, 20. “Far, Far Away.” Make hot chocolate and stir it with a candy cane rod.
December 19th S is for Santa. Helaman 14:3. “Here Comes Santa Claus.” Visit Santa.
December 20th T is for twinkling stars. Helaman 14:5-6. “The First Noel.” See the lights or go to the planetarium.
December 21st U and W is for unto us. Isaiah 9:6. “Angels We Have Heard On High.” Unto us a child is born. Go to the visitor center on temple square or watch a live nativity.
December 22nd V is for visit. Matthew 2:1 -14. “With Wondering Awe.” Visit neighbors bearing gifts.
December 23rd X is for extra visitors. 1 Nephi 11:20-24. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Have extra people over to visit (play games and have dinner).
December 24th Y and Z - 3 Nephi 1:19 and John 3:17. Sing or read “The Night before Christmas.” Yawn and get some ZZZ's
December 3rd “C” is for candle – Matthew 5:14-16, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Eat by candle light.
December 4th “D” is for drum - D&C 25:12, “The Little Drummer Boy.” Decide what to give Him (pa rum-pa-pum-pum), make your Christmas lists and plan your gift-giving adventures.
December 5th “E” is for evergreen – Psalm 100:4, “O Christmas Tree.” Put up your evergreen tree.
December 6th F is for friendly beasts – Luke 1:26-38, 46, 47 “Away in a Manger” -2nd Verse. Feed the friendly beasts – make a bird feeder with peanut butter and seeds and hang in a tree.
December 7th G is for gingerbread- Luke 19:29-38, “Up on the Housetop.” Make or decorate a gingerbread house.
December 8th H is for hug – 1 Nephi 11:8-23, “Because I Have Been Given Much.” Give a hug and make cookies for a friend/neighbor.
December 9th I is for inn – Luke 2:1, 3-7, “O, Come all Ye Faithful.” Help someone in need.
December 10th J is for Joy – 3 Nephi 1:13, “Joy to the World.” Make a joyful noise – go caroling.
December 11th K is for kings – Psalms 24:9-10, “We Three Kings” Set up a nativity adding kings.
December 12th L is for lamb – Isaiah 40:11. “While Shepherds Watched.” Add lambs to the nativity.
December 13th M is for manger. Luke 2:12 and read the definition of “manger” in the dictionary.“Away in a Manger.” Add the manger and Mary and Joseph to the nativity.
December 14th N is for names. Isaiah 7:14. “Tell me the stories of Jesus.” Names, names, names – address cards while listening to or watching the nutcracker.
December 15th O is for ornaments. Matthew 6:19-21. “Deck the Halls.” Decorate or make ornaments.
December 16th P is for presents. Matthew 7:11. “12 Days of Christmas.” Wrap or give presents.
December 17th Q is for quiet. Luke 2:19. “Silent Night.” Be quiet! Enjoy a puzzle, book or game at home.
December 18th R is for rod. Luke 2:8-18, 20. “Far, Far Away.” Make hot chocolate and stir it with a candy cane rod.
December 19th S is for Santa. Helaman 14:3. “Here Comes Santa Claus.” Visit Santa.
December 20th T is for twinkling stars. Helaman 14:5-6. “The First Noel.” See the lights or go to the planetarium.
December 21st U and W is for unto us. Isaiah 9:6. “Angels We Have Heard On High.” Unto us a child is born. Go to the visitor center on temple square or watch a live nativity.
December 22nd V is for visit. Matthew 2:1 -14. “With Wondering Awe.” Visit neighbors bearing gifts.
December 23rd X is for extra visitors. 1 Nephi 11:20-24. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Have extra people over to visit (play games and have dinner).
December 24th Y and Z - 3 Nephi 1:19 and John 3:17. Sing or read “The Night before Christmas.” Yawn and get some ZZZ's
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