Week 12 Progress+Advent 2023

We began to repurpose and recreate some holiday crafts which are becoming our traditional activities. We purchased a toy from the local dollaramma and before we recycled it we noticed it resembled a christmas bulb so we created this: 

Our cheaper version of Elf on the Shelf wanted in on the holiday spirit: 

While creating some seasonal decorations/projects we listened to some tender songs from: http://emisorascostarica.com/pura-vida-1063-fm 

For our second year in a row we made a fork manger (although we only have these four colours we created a brown and a yellow for the straw and manger colours and you can too with the three primary colours of blue, red, and yellow along with some white to lighten the created hues). Detailed instructions found:  https://ourcrazyadventuresinautismland.com/fork-painting-manger-set/

The Christmas countdown of our Santa Beard has begun: 

We have began a revisit to the same Advent Calendar hoping our memory has some traces of past holiday knowledge: http://projectbritain.com/Xmas/calendar/index.html

Day 1: Malta has preaching of the sermon at the midnight mass on Christmas Eve instead of that has taken place in churches since 1883.

A boy aged between 7 to 10 years will be chosen mostly from among 

boy aged between 7 to 10 years will be chosen mostly from among altar boys months in advance, to preach at the midnight mass in front of the Parish Priest and a packed church. The child has to learn the 10 to 15 minutes sermon off by heart. The child will narrate the scene of the birth of Baby Jesus, and remind the young and old alike to be kind and fair with other people and also to be aware of other people’s needs.

https://christmas.thelittlelist.net/christmas-bible-verses-to-celebrate-the-birth-of-jesus/

Day 2: New Zealand https://www.wedrawanimals.com/how-to-draw-a-pohutukawa-tree/ or

https://www.wedrawanimals.com/pdftutorial_download.php?path=10%2Fpohutukawa-tree

https://botanykaren.net/2020/12/03/new-zealands-christmas-tree/

Day 3: Christians in China make lanterns with candles in them.

https://taunieverett.com/how-to-make-chinese-paper-lanterns/

https://whatsupmoms.com/play/3-lunar-new-year-activities/

Bonus country Page Hungary:

http://projectbritain.com/Xmas/calendar/3a.html#click

Day 4: Calennig song we sang in both Welsh and English: 

https://youtu.be/ansvP-F0C4Q?si=4ZGMbm9CM6BImCgQ

from Wales called “Hel Calennig” (Literally “the hunt of the Calends”) based on the ancient tradition of exchanging a gift for the first of January. (some scholars believe that the ritual derives from the customs practiced in the Roman Empire for the New Year. see Strenia)

“Hel Calennig” is a Welsh tradition of the first day of the new year: an apple impaled on three sticks like a tripod, decorated with cloves and a sprig evergreen. This “trophy” is brought as a gift (or shown) in the neighbors’ house by the children singing a good-luck song.

In return they receive bread and cheese or some coins.

Source: https://terreceltiche.altervista.org/apples-in-winter-new-years-eve-in-great-brittany/

Wales is located here: https://www.worldatlas.com/upload/59/90/aa/ukw-01.jpg

Bonus Country: http://projectbritain.com/Xmas/calendar/4a.html

Brazil has fireworks on Xmas Evening and they place shoes out for Papai Noel to place presenta in, he often wears Red silk due to the hot climate.

https://www.glitteronadime.com/fireworks-painting-easy-patriotic-craft-for-kids/

Day 5: Norway children enjoy https://allthingsnorway.com/julebrus-or-christmas-soda/

Julebrus is a generic term in Norway for soda pop drinks sold at Christmas time.  The tradition started by breweries who would bring out a special beer for Christmas, which continued onto all drinks, and now soda pop.Today julebrus commonly come in two different flavours.  The red coloured julebrus is a cheap raspberry flavour and the brown julebrus is described as champagne, though I would describe both of them as ‘creaming soda’.

Julebrus hits the shelves in November for the Christmas season, ending in January.  The labels are very attractive with festive and traditional prints.  The bottles themselves become a decorative item on Norwegian Christmas tables.  Each year companies try to top each other in design – Norwegians like to have a ‘designer’ Christmas.

https://www.janbrett.com/emailjb.html