What are your traditions for Advent?

Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent. Besides the Jesse Tree, Advent Calendar, and Advent Wreath, what Advent traditions do you have?

Anonymous2010-11-26T06:52:48Z

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We always get a small book of advent prayers from someone we admire. This year we have chosen Henri Nouwen. We read one of the prayers for that date before we say grace at dinner. Sometimes this sparks great conversation.

When my children were young, we would move the figures of Mary and Joseph closer and closer to the manger, and then put the baby Jesus in there on Christmas. This helped them see in a concrete way that Jesus was coming.

We also try to pick one additional charity to support. I think this year we may give extra money to the people in Haiti.

James O2010-11-26T23:21:58Z

Our parish has a giving tree for the needy: we take a tag with a request and buy a particular gift
We have a big Advent Wreath and our youth group sells small ones for home
We have a table with pamphlets and prayer booklets about Advent on a special table in the back of the church
We also give out little coin boxes to put in spare change for our sister parish in Honduras
We sing O Come OCome Emanuel at every daily Mass
We have a special sung Evening prayer with Advent hymns
We put up a Jesse tree in the sacristy for the children's Liturgy of the Word
and the rectory puts up one that has many of the characters of the Old Testament depicted on homemade bulbs

Pepere Eldridge2010-11-27T04:42:46Z

When our kids were younger, my wife and I did the Advent Wreath & calendar devotions. All our kids are now adults and are living on their own. I now daily pray the Liturgy of the Hours and my wife and I pray our daily rosary together.

Anonymous2010-11-26T14:36:35Z

What is Advent?

Anonymous2010-11-26T14:39:20Z

Mate, I'm just living... no time for all that groveling nonsense... unless it's to my wife...
Cos there are benefits.
~

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