Dear Liza,
Advent means when something important finally arrives, and Christmas Advent is the expectant time before Christmas. It is usually celebrated from the first of December to Christmas Day.
We start doing Christmas-y things like baking and holiday movies on December First, but our Advent Calendar only has 20 days ( it’s a long story) and it runs until Christmas Eve, so we start on the fourth. That’s today!
Auntie Bridgett made this pretty Advent Calendar a few years ago, from brown sacks and wonderful vintage Parisian Christmas pictures. In Salinas, it was suspended on a string by the fireplace. Here in Portland, it has found a home in a basket by the tree.
Inside each bag in a bit of fun Christmas trivia, a game to play, or a puzzle. There is also a candy treat and maybe a small gift. Each is held shut by a clothes pin with a curly number to keep things in order.
And since today is December 5th, we will open the first bag this evening! Hooray for Christmas!
Love,
Grandma Judy
Dear Liza 
Oh, how FUN. Will you be letting friends know what you find in each bag as the days pass?
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I suppose I could…. since I made them, I could tell you now…. but that would spoil the surprise!
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No, no, no. Don’t spoil the surprise.
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