Advent Adventure: The Trees of the Dancing Goats
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I am so very excited about this week’s picture book! This is the one that inspired this entire Advent idea! I hope you have as much with it as I did and that you will have great long lasting memories, simply, as a family.
The Trees of the Dancing Goats
From the childhood of Patricia Polacco herself, this story of generosity, simplicity and devotion to others pulls at my heart’s strings. Patricia Polacco’s family is Jewish and is busy celebrating Hanukkah when an epidemic of scarlet fever spreads through their small town. Patricia Polacco’s family jumps to make Christmas happen for their neighbors. We will be reading this story just on time this year, Hanukkah starts on December 14th. I love the Jewish festivals, I grew up celebrating many of them with neighbors. I can’t wait to introduce my children to the beauty of the Jewish faith and especially to this celebration of lights.
The gift of giving
Patricia and her family experienced something very special during that winter. They experienced the gift of giving. Of giving of their time, talent and of themselves. What a truly beautiful story of love, friendship and thoughtfulness. As a Jewish family, Patricia’s family could have wished their neighbors well and ignored what they would be missing out on since they did not celebrate Christmas themselves. But instead they walked into their neighbors shoes and helped them have one of the best Christmases of their lives. They shared what they had, and I am guessing what they needed, they shared their talents and their time. They also shared a real piece of their hearts and possibly their health to ensure that their sick friends would have an occasion to celebrate Christmas, even if they were sick. A true application of the Golden Rule: Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.
Jewish Holy Days
If you are not familiar with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, this is the perfect opportunity to learn about it. I would highly recommend the book The Family Treasury of Jewish Holidays by Malka Drucker, illustrated by Nancy Patz. The chapter on Hanukkah starts on page 43 and includes the origins of the feast, its celebration, games and a recipe for latkes. Hanukkah celebrates the commemoration of a time when God miraculously multiplied oil for the Temple’s oil lamp in the Holy of Holy. Every night for eight nights a new candle is lit. This is such a beautiful way to remember God’s providence for our daily life.
Candle Dipping
So many crafts to pick for this week! If you have never tried candle dipping, I highly recommend it. It is fun while being an exercise in patience. We usually have a candlelit dinner on Christmas Eve, after the evening Mass. We love to have new and beautiful candles for this. You could use your hand dipped candles for your Nativity scene, your Menorrah, your table or your mantlepiece.
Supplies:
- Beeswax
- Cotton wicks
- An old pot to melt the wax in or a wax melter (make sure it is deep enough for the desired height of your candles)
Dancing goats
Making these delightful dancing goats requires adult supervision.
Supplies:
- Corks – plain corks are best but since they will be painted using the ones laying around the house works too.
- Toothpicks
- Twine
- Hot glue gun
- Acrylic paints
- Sharp knife
- Brushes
- Acrylic varnish
- Hook
- String
- Needle nose pliers
Tutorial:
Use the picture book’s illustrations for inspiration.
- Poke 4 half toothpicks with pointed side in the cork, 2 in the front and 2 in the back.
- Use another toothpick, shorter, for the neck.
- Out of a cork cut a half inch and carve a head with a sharp knife. Stick at the other end of the shorter toothpick.
- With a dab of hot glue add twine for the ears and tail. You could fray the twine for the tail for a more realistic look.
- Paint as desired. Let it dry and varnish.
- Once completely dry, screw the hook on the top and add string, knot and hang.
For the very ambitious, you could carve dancing goats out of basswood. Template.
For the sewer, as in needle and thread, try your hand at this one.
Paper chains
Paper chains are such an easy and simple craft for all ages! See how long you can make your paper chain! We usually buy seasonal scrapbooking paper to make our paper chains before putting them on the Christmas tree. You can try different widths of paper strips and different lengths for a fun effect.
Supplies:
- Scissors
- Double sided scrapbooking paper or wrapping paper
- Glue tape
Latkes and roast chicken
Enjoy a delicious Roasted Chicken with some of Babushka’s Latkes! Here is a roasted chicken crockpot recipe so that you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time crafting dancing goats.
Today would be a great day to decorate your Christmas tree!
Very blessed Advent!
Love,
Mattie
