This post is for Faith & Family’s Christmas Home Tour.
We don’t have a ton of decorations, but those we do have are meaningful and special to us. So, here are a few pictures of what you would find if you happened to visit our home during the Advent and Christmas season.
“The candle in the window, still a favorite traditional Irish Christmas decoration, it harkens back to that ancient Christmas Eve, when Mary and Joseph could find no shelter. It is a symbol of Irish hospitality, their way of welcoming Mary and Joseph…and any travelers who might happen to pass by looking for a warm place to stay.
In the days when it was illegal (and dangerous) to practice the Catholic faith in Ireland because of the oppressive Penal Laws, the candle in the window of Irish homes at Christmas also signaled traveling priests that this was a home where they would be welcome and where they could safely conduct the traditional Irish Catholic Christmas Mass.” Source
(I was so excited to have a few new additions this year from new blogger friends!!)
I just added a few more cards this morning, and the door is just about full!
Last year I also had some pretty Angle Candle holders that spelled out the word “JOY” on the mantle. I loved them! ! Anyhow, one day I was sitting on the couch reading and looked up and saw “YO”… WHAT?!?! I couldn’t help but laugh!! I guess the J fell and was shattered by the bricks. {sigh} Oh well! Next year I am going to try and paint some wooden letters, like lots of other Catholic families have done, for our mantle: PREPARE for Advent and REJOICE for Christmas.
The beginnings of our Christmas Morning Brunch!
(Included Mimosa’s and Cherry Cheese Coffee Cake! Yum!!)
I’m going to stop there, I’ve been on the computer long enough! I have some more fudge for tonight’s New Year’s Eve Party (at Rascal’s Godparents) and a few other things to get done.
For more of this years Christmas photos, see my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day posts.
You have a lovely home! I know… I am lucky enough to have been there, lol!
I see my Christmas card! I see my Christmas card!
You have a warm and lovely home, wish I could come visit.
Thanks for the tour!
Jessica, everything is so beautifully tasteful, I love it!
Thank you everyone!
Jamie ~ You are welcome anytime!!!
Jessica, thanks for the tour of your beautiful home! The warmth and love you put into your home and family can be felt even in photos!
High quality post, I tell ya! What a beautiful Christmas you all had. Happy New Year.
Thank you for sharing your lovely home and Christmas memories! I love your magnetized Advent calendar . . . I’ve seen one like that before and have considered it for our home, but still thinking! 🙂
Those coconut balls also look mighty tempting . . . I finally rid my home of mine, but miss them!
Best,
Sarah
Sarah ~ I can’t say enough good things about our Advent Calendar! It is the best and my children look forward to it every year and EVERY DAY during Advent it is the first thing they do when they jump out of bed in the morning.
PLEASE, where did you get that Advent Calendar…I would like to stop buying the paper ones!!! – Genevieve
I LOVE our Advent Calendar! We have a few but this one if our very first and favorite.
The only thing that keeps it from being perfect is the fact that you can't change the number of days to match the days in Advent, unless Advent happens to begin on December 2nd, but that's the case with all Advent Calendars. 🙂 It's pretty much as close to perfect as they come!
Beautiful! I know, that IS the thing with Advent Calendars, the inability to increase/decrease the number of days. Well, I will put this on my list and see if I can make it a reality for next year. In the meantime, I'm still hoping to buy the Silent Night Mantle cloth. I'm sorry to bother you with questions – I should have looked first in your side bar links! Great resource! -Genevieve
No trouble at all! I was still in the process of updating the side bars for this month, and your comment inspired me to finish doing so! 🙂