12 Days of Celebration

My wife and I have developed several traditions for the Advent and Christmas seasons to get away from the way the world celebrates the holiday, and to come to a fuller celebration of Christ's Birth.

One thing we do is to see Advent and Christmas time differently. We use the 4 weeks before Christmas to reflect and prepare for Christmas. And then, when Christmas comes, we celebrate for 12 days! While during advent we focus on getting ready, during the 12 Days we focus on giving, finding different themes each day on whom and what we give, and having fun!

This really takes the pressure off the shopping and the hectic preparation for one day, because we have 12 days to celebrate amd give, not just one. It helps us focus on Christ's birth, too, because we spend Advent, not rushing around preparing, but meditating on Emmanuel.

(from a Grace Community attendee)