Advent Adventure: The Story of Christmas
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This is it! The last straight line before Christmas! To recenter our focus on the Christ Child this week I have chosen a beautifully illustrated rendition of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Story of Christmas is just magnificent!
The Story of Christmas, Words from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, pictures by Jane Ray.
Patricia Polacco does not have a Nativity story, but for this Christmas week, I really want to bring the focus on the Holy Birth.It is always so very hard for me to choose which Christmas story picture book we will focus on each year. They are all so very beautiful! But this one is new to us as a stand alone, we’ve had it as part of a trilogy with Creation and Noah’s Ark for years. Since it is part of a trilogy I always forget about it. But this year I found it at the thrift store as a stand alone, so I really want to highlight it. I just love these illustrations! They are so unique and lovely and the gold accent just raises it to a whole new level! And Herod is the best! A grand villain, if I ever saw one!
Quiet time
Why read this on the last Sunday of Advent? Because it helps us refocus on what Christmas is really all about: God becoming Man and entering the world to redeem each of us. The greatest present we can ever receive. Our secular world is so loud and invasive, now is a good time to shut the door of our home and regroup and refocus. Reading the “reason for the season” is a great way to enter into these last few days of Advent and to prepare our home, and more importantly, our hearts to receive our Savior. Create some quiet for the rest of this week in your home: hopefully your shopping is all done, cut out any party or outside commitment and just be present in your home. This can be a wonderful “nesting time” for our hearts, but quiet has to be present.
Nativity Scene
Another reason that we like to read a version of the story of the Nativity on the last Sunday of Advent is because that is the Sunday we set up our Nativity Scene (minus Baby Jesus, of course). This is a big day in our home. I grew up in Provence, the home of the Nativity Scene, so to speak! Saint Francis of Assisi is the original creator of the first live Nativity Scene in Greccio in 1223 ( A Gift From Saint Francis, by Joana Cole). However his mother was from Provence and the tradition quickly spread to Southern France with the first Nativity Scene in Marseilles the following year in 1224!
From there it spread through Provence becoming a beloved tradition. The French Revolution tried to take this tradition away by closing the churches but the resilient provençaux started making their own Santons, little saints, at home from bread or wax. They would not be deterred from their tradition of welcoming the Christ Child in style on Christmas Eve. This started a whole new tradition of the home Nativity Scene.
A family heritage and tradition
Setting up the Nativity Scene is a big deal in our home. It is not quite as intricate as some of the traditional Creche de Santons de Provence (my aunt uses an entire room in her house). I usually play a version of the Pastorale des Santons de Provence. It is in French, but the music, dated from a Christmas hymn composed by Nicolas Saboly in the 17th Century, is worth listening to. It is all narrated with a southern French accent which is the best part! This story was written by Frederic Mistral in 1867 and is so dear to my heart! We all gather different natural elements, from rocks, stones, sticks and pinecones to fabrics, wool rovings and anything else that crosses our path.
Then we get to work setting up as realistic a Nativity Scene as we can. I have collected Santons through the years and only have a few but they are cherished. So today set your own Nativity Scene, try to branch out from what I call the “stiff American style”. What natural elements could you introduce to your Nativity Scene? What about creating a backdrop by draping blue fabric, adding some stars? Maybe some straw or moss on the front? What other characters can you add? Let your imagination run wild to welcome the Christ Child in a cozy environment surrounded by family and friends.
Christmas Play
When Saint Francis introduced the creche in Greccio in 1223 he did not introduce stiff statues but he actually had the people of Greccio re-enact the Story of the Nativity. Today would also be a good day to start rehearsing your own re-enactment of the Story of Christmas. Putting together a simple Christmas play as a family is so much fun and creates beautiful traditions. This scripted play does not require many players, keeps things simple and easy. It helps bring the story of life for your family. For costumes, oversize t-shirts make great angel robes and shepherd’s tunics. Don’t over think it, enjoy the process, the memories that it creates and the love for our Lord that it re-ignites. You don’t even have to perform it for anyone else other than yourselves.
Popcorn balls
Popcorn balls are an easy, can be healthy, snack that works very well with hot cocoa or hot apple cider. I would personally add some crushed candy canes with a chocolate drizzle, just sayin’…
Popcorn balls make me think of the shepherds’ sheep, they are almost less messy than regular popcorn and a delicious treat. You could add a few to your tree, tied with a pretty ribbon or just pop some popcorn and not make them into a ball at all. Again, simplicity is the key to a wonderful Advent and Christmas season.
Please share pictures of your Nativities on Instagram, tagging @adailypicturebook.
Very blessed Advent!
Love,
Mattie
