Santa Lucia Day
Instagram post late on the feast of Santa Lucia Day 2023:
This morning I woke up to “Mommy, where is the bread?!” ❤️
With our ‘Lucia’ off at college this year, mom down in bed for days recovering from shingles + virus, and the other older girls focusing on our OLG feast…. Well, no one stayed up late baking and there were some disappointed little girls… (They know all too well when favorite feasts days are thanks to a certain calendar I need to remember to take down the next time I am sick! Just kidding, sort of 😅)
I seemed to have finally turned a corner (thank you for the prayers!) and was able to do a little baking tonight. So grateful for a bit of regained energy and looking forward to the joy that the Santa Lucia Braided Bread will bring my little girls when they wake up in the morning! 🕯️✨
Hope you all had a lovely Santa Lucia Day! ❤️
… and the next morning:
“Mommy, where are the small breads?! . . . I can’t carry the big one!”
She had a point and I guess her older sister had been baking Lussekatter (Lucia Buns) for years now while I baked Saint Lucia’s Braided Bread. I told her not to worry, we could just cut pieces and she could deliver slices to her dad and brothers. 🙂
Meanwhile “Rose” decided she wanted to try her older sister’s crown this year too. So much fun! And no fire alarms were set off this year, which was the reason we ended up with all those beautiful snow pictures last year! 😉
Santa Lucia, ora pro nobis!
The Great O Antiphons, The Golden Nights
The Great O Antiphons, The Golden Nights
Ever since our oldest children were very little, we have been implementing an old monastic custom in our home by providing special treats, representing each of the “O Antiphons” on the days leading up to Christmas. The O Antiphon prayers begin on December 17th and end on the 23rd, which is the last Vespers of Advent, since the evening prayer on the 24th is the Vigil of Christmas.
The Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one – Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia – the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, “Tomorrow, I will come.” So the “O Antiphons” not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.
Each night, following our family rosary, we pray the O Antiphon for the day, sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, which was inspired by this ancient tradition, and then give the children a special treat.
(Picture from a past Advent Season)
The “treats” have varied from year to year. Some years it has been little gifts or activities for the family, some years it is all food related, and some years it is a mix of both, depending on our schedule and budget. It doesn’t need to cost much or even anything at all! Be creative!
Sometimes the treats are a bit of a stretch, but my goal is try and find gifts that will either help increase our faith (Catechism books, holy family, saints, prayer, etc) or encourage family time (games, puzzles, going to look at Christmas lights, etc). You can find some of our past O Antiphon treats by scrolling through the archives and visiting Catholic Cuisine.
Our family loves this tradition. It is such a fun way to teach the children about these beautiful prayers of the church and also increase their excitement as Christmas gets closer.
Here are more details on our O Antiphon House and Blocks
In case you are looking for some inspiration, I’ve listed some of the treats I’ve given my family over the years (along with my picks for this year)… Special food ideas, activities and gifts (or you can simply decorate chocolate coins!) for each of the O Antiphons can be found below.
Once again I am hosting an O ANTIPHON GIVEAWAY! Seven lucky visitors here at Shower of Roses will receive gifts this year! Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for the details and to enter.
O Sapientia (O Wisdom) – December 17th
Since the symbol for wisdom is a book, I usually choose a new Catholic book for our family. This year it’s going to be a copy of the brand new The Golden Key. (Currently out of stock until early 2024.) We are also hosting another big Murder Mystery party on December 17th. (This will be our 4th over the past few years… So much fun!) Let’s see who is wise enough to crack the case! 🙂
O Wisdom Ideas from Over the Years:
- Bible Cookies or Bible Candies
- Brain Food – Dark Chocolate, Deviled Eggs, Theo Christmas Bars… HU Chocolate are my current favorite!
- Patris Roasting Co. coffee would also be great!
- Play a Trivia Game (The Purgative Way, Christmas Trivia, Catholic Trivia, Cranium)
- Play SaintCards, Saint Memory, or Catholic Quiz games
- Pray and Play ABC Puzzle from Saintly Heart (for the little ones!)
- Outmatched from Institute for Excellence in Writing – One year I went with a game focusing on the time period most of our children were studying.
- Bookmarks or Holy Cards
- Family Prayer Book, Catechism, or other Book – The Christmas Book, The Catechism in Pictures with review here, Jesus Make Me Worthy, My Catholic Faith, A Catholic Child’s Picture Dictionary, Around the Year: Once Upon a Time Saints, etc… The possibilities are endless.
- Books including An Alphabet of the Altar, The Wonder Story and The Wonder Days from St. Augustine Academy Press.
O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence!
December 18th – O Adonai (O Lord)
“Burning bush…” or maybe a bonfire! Perfect evening to pray the family rosary around the bonfire and maybe roast some marshmallows afterwards!
In the past we would always emphasize the word “house” in this Antiphon, and have made our Gingerbread Houses or Gingerbread Cookies on this night. Now that we have two birthdays this week (and two birthday cakes to bake and decorate!) we usually wait until Christmas or New Year’s Eve, or sometime during the 12 Days of Christmas to decorated Gingerbread Houses.
O Adonai Ideas from Over the Years:
- Pull out the Smore’s Maker or light a bonfire and roast marshmallows, in reference to “Moses in the burning bush”
- Cookies made with this Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter or these cute 3-D Mini Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter made by Sweet Creations, emphasizing the word “house”
- Decorate Gingerbread Houses (my girls surprised me with this pan one year)
- Ten Commandment Cookies
- Make a Ten Commandments Lap Book
- Discuss the various names for Our Lady, including House of Gold! The Virgin Mary Around the World or any of the Marian dolls (Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Czestochowa, Our Lady of China, Our Lady of Vailankanni, etc) would be perfect.
- House of God: The Holy Mass: On Earth as it is in Heaven
- Wooden Mass Set from Shining Light Dolls (Save an extra 10% with SHOWEROFROSESBLOG)
- Father Leopold Lego Set or Architecture Blocks would also tie in nicely.
- Notre Dame 3-D Church Puzzle or Midnight Mass Puzzle
O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!
December 19th – O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
Our 2023 Family Ornament will be wrapped up for the 19th!
O Root of Jesse Ideas from Over the Years:
- Root Beer Floats
- Bake a Carrot Cake
- Roasted Root Vegetable, Hearty Healing Beef Stew or Hamburger Stew… Yum!
- Old Fashioned Root Beer Drops
- Assemble and hang a new family ornament. One year we also got this beautiful Poinsettia Ornament.
- Purchase a Christmas Poinsettia (In the past we have also incorporated other Poinsettias: 12 Red Glitter Poinsettia Ornaments, Miracle of the Poinsettia, or Poinsettia Cupcakes)
- Play some sort of Gardening or Nature Game as a Family (perhaps Grow a Garden Matching Game, Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game, Gathering a Garden, or The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game!)
- Kid’s Vegetable Garden Seed Collection from St. Clare’s Heirloom Seeds
- Make a Root of Jesse Ornament
- One year I had a set of our family blocks made by Naturally Catholic!
- Bonus: You could even have a Jesse Tea! From Jesse, the shepherd, to Jesus, the Good Shepherd… Shepherds tie in nicely!
- Shepherd and Angel playlet from Shining Light Dolls
- Shepherd Puzzle Set made by Naturally Catholic
- Read The Shepherd at the Crib and The Cross
O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at Whom the kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.
December 20th – O Clavis David (O Key of David)
As St. Padre Pio, said: “Prayer is the best weapon we have. It is a key opening God’s Heart.”
Once again we are planning to take our children to Mass or Adoration and then pick up a Key Lime Pie from Birdie’s Pie Shop to enjoy after dinner with some Sparkling Cider! And for me? Hoping to try out this AIP compliant recipe for No-Bake Key Lime Bars! Maybe we’ll also play Escape from Colditz and “liberate the prisoner from the prison”. Our children love this game and have such special memories of playing it with their uncle, Father Terrence Gordon during his last visits to our home. ❤️
O Key of David Ideas from Over the Years:
- Key Lime Pie
- Special drink (Sparkling cider!) with dinner or for a family game night. Since this is initially a monastic tradition, and on this night, the monk in charge of the wine cellar would provide a special bottle of wine.
- Surprise the family with tickets (“key”) to something local – Christmas play, the Nutcracker, etc. One year I took our older children to see A Christmas Carol at the theatre.
- Key Puzzle/Brainteaser
- Play Escape from Colditz and “liberate the prisoner from the prison”.
- Tiny Saints Key Hooks – One year I purchased a couple key hook rails to use to hang our Rosaries. You can see them in our old home in this post.
- Incorporate Music “keys” with Catholic Songs for Children CD, Sheet Music Book or Children’s First Chants book!
- Advent At Ephesus or Caroling at Ephesus
O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.
December 21st – O Oriens (O Dayspring)
We’ll once again make hot cocoa and pile in the car to go look at Christmas lights downtown weather permitting!
O Dayspring Ideas from Over the Years:
- Sun Chips with lunch is an easy and fun treat.
- A Woman Clothed with the Sun (Oranges)
- O Dayspring Ice Cream, Non-Alcoholic Mimosas or Texas Sunrise with Breakfast
- Our favorite tradition for this O Antiphon is to pile in the car after dinner with hot cocoa and drive around to look at all the Christmas lights.
- Decorate a Christmas Candle (We use a tiny wax baby Jesus I purchased years ago along with Gold Decorating Beeswax from Stockmar.)
- Stargazing was the plan for the evening of December 21, 2020 when the planets aligned causing a rare Christmas star to appear!
- Candles from The Cloister Shoppe and these Sacré Cœur Beeswax + Essential Oil Candles made by a friend/local parishioner are on my wishlist!
- Our Lady of Fatima: The Graphic Novel (miracle of the sun)
- Grimm’s Casa Sole Stacking Blocks or the Gluckskafer Sunrise Arch
- New Christmas Pajamas
O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!
December 22nd – O Rex Gentium (O King of the Gentiles)
I’m still deciding on this one… Our children might receive the new Deluxe Christmas Nativity Wooden Playset from Shining Lights Dolls for this particular O Antiphon this year… I was sent two, one to keep and one to giveaway!
O King Ideas from Over the Years: (many are perfect for Epiphany too)
- Crown Cake, Cupcakes or Wreath Cookies
- Wreath Charcuterie Board
- Bake Cookies using the Wise Men Cookie Stamp from Rycraft, Inc
- Assemble a Three Kings Puzzle or Nativity Snow Globes Puzzle
- Listen to King of the Golden City CD
- One year I picked out one of the beautiful sets of Three Kings Gifts – we pull it out every Christmas!
- Read The Wise Men Who Found Christmas is great too!
- Twas the Evening of Christmas Picture Book – Our daughter received this one year on the feast of St. Nicholas. It’s such a lovely book!
- Three Kings Playset from Shining Light Dolls
- Three Wisemen Socks from Sock Religious
- Three Kings, Ten Mysteries
O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!
December 23rd – O Emmanuel (O With Us is God)
Once again we’ll bake our Christmas Cookies, fill a box/basket to take to Carmel, and I’ve give the family a new Christmas puzzle to start! The little girls will discover a new book (The First Christmas for Our Dear Little Ones) in our Advent Book Basket along with this Christmas Nativity Wooden Cube Puzzle.
O Emmanuel Ideas from Over the Years:
- Decorate Nativity Cookies to give as gifts or Cookie Cutters Tell the Christmas Story
- New Cookie Cutters from Shining Light Dolls (Save 10% with SHOWEROFROSESBLOG)
- Make a Chocolate Nativity Scene for Christmas
- Decorate Chocolate Christmas Coins using this FREE Printable
- Holy Night Puzzle
- Fill a basket to deliver to the nuns at Carmel. Fresh Fruit, Various Cheeses, Christmas Cookies and other goodies!
- Christmas picture books, coloring books including the beautiful Eucharistic Adoration: With Saints And Symbols Of The Eucharist coloring book, or the Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring: Christmas with The Dominican Sisters of Mary.
- Children’s Nativity Set – you can find some of our favorites in this post and more of our collection here (scroll down a bit)
- Also check out their Deluxe Christmas Nativity Wooden Playset from Shining Light Toys
- A Child’s Christmas ABC Book (review here)
- 2020 Fontanini Ornament
- Nativity Icon from Clear Creek Abbey
- The First Christmas for Our Dear Little Ones from St. Augustine Academy Press
O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!
Scroll through all the past “O Antiphon” posts here.
If you are looking for gift ideas, you can find my lists of Christmas Gift Ideas & Stocking Stuffers here (2015), here (2016), here (2017), here (2018), here (2019), here (2020), and here (2022).
O Antiphons Giveaway
And finally here is the 4th and final of my blog giveaways for this year!
Prize #1 – Set of Cookie Stamps
Win a Set of 7 Cookie Stamps with recipe booklet to go along with each of the O Antiphons: Wisdom: #460 – Triune God, House: #214 – Home Sweet Home, Root of Jesse: #520 – Willow Tree, Key of David: #543 – Key to My Heart, Dayspring: #291 – Moravian Star, King: #448 – Norwegian Wedding Crown, and Emmanuel: #368 – Nativity sponsored by Rycraft Cookie Stamps ($90.93 Value)
Congratulations, Anna!
Prize #2 – Deluxe Christmas Nativity Wooden Playset
Includes: Deluxe Christmas Nativity Wooden Playset sponsored by Shining Light Dolls ($84.99 Value)
Congratulations, Diana R!
Prize #3 – St. Florian’s Soap – Rose Scented Gift Package
Luxurious Natural Bath and Body Products made by a fellow parishioner of ours here in North Idaho! Go check out all the lovely scents she has available! (Not all items pictured are included in prize.) Includes: 8 oz Rose Cream ($19), Rose Soap ($10) and Rose Perfume ($22) sponsored by St. Florian’s Soap ($51.00 Value)
Congratulations, Kaycee
Prize #4 – A Year With The Popes
Includes: A Year With The Popes sponsored by TAN Books (value $44.95)
Congratulations, Philomena!
Prize #5 – The Golden Key and Other Fairy Tales
Includes: The Golden Key and Other Fairy Tales sponsored by Word on Fire Spark ($24.95 Value)
Congratulations, Leane A!
Prize # 6 – Three Kings, Ten Mysteries: The Secrets of Christmas and Epiphany
Includes: Three Kings, Ten Mysteries: The Secrets of Christmas and Epiphany sponsored by Ignatius Press ($21.95 Value)
Congratulations, Elizabeth!
Prize #7 – Seven Clues: A Catholic Treasure Hunt
Includes: Seven Clues: A Catholic Treasure Hunt by Scott Hahn and Maura Roan McKeegan ($19.99 Value)
Congratulations, Katherine M!
Enter the Giveaway using the Rafflecopter Box below:
Once again, send me an email if it doesn’t work for you and I’ll add you manually!
a Rafflecopter giveawayRead more about our family’s traditions here:
Wooden Advent Wreath for Children
Looking for a wooden advent wreath for children? Check out the beautiful Double-sided Advent to Christmas Wooden Wreath Set and Our Lady of Guadalupe Candle from Shining Light Dolls (Save an additional 10% with coupon code SHOWEROFROSESBLOG)
I mentioned the Wooden Advent Wreath for children (and the Wooden Our Lady of Guadalupe Candle) in the “New Finds for Advent and Christmas” sections of the 2023 Shower of Roses Annual Gift Guide. St. Nicholas ended up leaving them as gifts for the girls on his feast day! I loved how our four year old immediately put the Our Lady of Guadalupe candle inside the wreath – just like the advent wreath on our dining room table. Here are some more pictures from December 6th.
This Advent/Christmas wreath is full of traditional symbolism which you can learn all about on the back of the box. The pieces can also be alternated (Advent side and Christmas side) to create a garland.
I love that it includes white candles for the Christmas season too!
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose, make intercession for the Holy Church, protect the Holy Father, help all those who invoke you in their needs. Since you are the ever Virgin Mary, and Mother of the True God, obtain for us from your most holy Son Jesus the grace of keeping our faith, sweet hope in the midst of the difficulties of life, burning charity, and the precious gift of final perseverance. Amen.
Double-sided Advent to Christmas Wooden Wreath Set
“It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope.” — Pope Benedict XVI
St. Nicholas Day in the Morning
-Pictures from St. Nicholas Day in the Morning 2023-
Holy Bishop St. Nicholas lived faraway
Near the Aegean Sea is where Turkey did lay.
Travel back with us now to a time long ago.
We will visit his country, his life we will know.
We remember this saint, such a holy, good man.
Be like him in charity, do all that you can.
Many miracles Nicholas hastened to do,
Helping people in need with gifts that were new.
Bishop Nicholas traveled to Nicea town,
Where the Creed would be written, to us handed down.
During church every Sunday, we stand for the Creed.
Thank you Bishop St. Nicholas, for doing this deed.
Sailors tossed in the wind and the storms of the sea,
Saw a vision of Nicholas who guided them free.
Now patron of sailing, they remember him yet.
Many icons and pictures with fisherman’s net.
Drinking with Saint Nick, Winter Ale and Dr. Squatch Soap • The Christmas Rocket and new Hey Dudes
Giving money to poor girls, so marry could they,
Made our Nicholas famous, remembered today.
With dowry in hand, soon they were wed.
“God bless you and keep you,” St. Nicholas said.
A Christmas Carol The Graphic Novel and Dr. Squatch The Soap Star Wars Collection • The Lion in the Box and new shoes
Kid’s patron in Germany, Netherlands, too.
Asks that presents be given to children like you.
Their customs are different: they put out their shoes—
Filling them with toys, his coming’s good news!
Here stockings are hung by the chimney with care,
In hope that St. Nicholas soon will come there.
Dressed as bishop or Santa, he’s one and the same—
Jolly, friendly, good man, we’re glad that he came.
Call him “Santa” or “Saint,” they both mean the same,
For his nickname is Claus, short for Nicholas’ name.
Giving gifts was his custom—we still do today.
Deeds done in Jesus’ name forever will stay.
Bishop Nicholas still is a hero to all.
Christmas Day, and all others we follow his call,
Bringing gifts and some joy to children in need.
Follow Nicholas today—do a good deed.
– Author Unknown
Older kids had to get to work and online classes so breakfast was Scrambled Eggs, Sausages and Cinnamon Rolls this year.We decided to save our usual Cherry Cheese Coffee Cake for Christmas!
Rorate Caeli Mass
Rorate Caeli Mass at Thomas Aquinas College
Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.
Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Saviour.
– first words of the Introit from Isaiah 45:8
Our daughter down at Thomas Aquinas College sent us this picture of their Rorate Mass this morning! ✨ She will be flying home late this upcoming Friday night for Christmas break!! 💛 Hopefully we’ll be able to attend the Rorate Mass at our parish together again since it is scheduled for next Saturday morning! ✨
“The Rorate Caeli Mass is a traditional Advent devotion wherein the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn…
…The Rorate Mass is lit only by candlelight. Because it is a votive Mass in Mary’s honor, white vestments are worn instead of Advent violet. In the dimly lit setting, priests and faithful prepare to honor the Light of the world, Who is soon to be born, and offer praise to God for the gift of Our Lady. As the Mass proceeds and sunrise approaches, the church becomes progressively brighter, illumined by the sun as our Faith is illumined by Christ.” – FSSP
Fiat Liturgical Planner
Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception, friends! I just got a heads-up from Sophia Institute Press about a weekend sale that’s too good not to share so I quickly finished up this review post for you all. If you’ve had your eye on the Fiat Liturgical Planner for the upcoming year, now’s the time. In celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, enjoy a whopping 30% OFF on orders over $25. But wait, there’s more! For orders exceeding $50, you’ll not only snag the discount but also score a FREE copy of The Vatican Christmas Cookbook. I recently placed an order but might stock up on a few more gifts.
Fiat Liturgical Planner
The Fiat Liturgical Planner is back, and it’s even better than last year with upgraded paper and a sturdy hardcover! If you’ve been wishing for a planner that mixes practicality with the beauty of the traditional Catholic liturgical year, this is the one! Created by the folks behind The Illustrated Liturgical Year calendars, this planner is a feast for your eyes with illustrations, monthly dedications, prayers, and saint quotes.
No more struggling to remember feast days – colorful images for every day of the year make it a breeze. Plus, it’s not just pretty; it covers all the liturgical bases, from the primary feast for each day, fasting and abstinence guidelines, vestment colors, and more!
The planner featured here is the Full-size version. One of our children used the Small/Compact version this year and really loved it, especially the daily illustrations of the Saints.
The Illustrated Liturgical Year Calendar
I’ve been sharing the beautiful art from Liturgy of the Home for years now (remember when they were just black and white and printed at home?!) and we love The Illustrated Liturgical Year Calendars just as much as ever! Someday I’d like to find a place to hang them up framed, but for now we simply use the Wooden Poster Hanger with a wreath hanger over the pantry door in the kitchen.
The Advent/Christmas Season Calendars are here or sign up for a subscription.
Liturgy of the Home Membership
Sophia does offer a coordinating coloring book, but I really love the membership over at Liturgy of the Home! I printed out the Advent Coloring Pages and our little girls have been enjoying them so much. (Thought I had a picture but can’t seem to find it! Might update later.)
On Sale at Sophia Institute Press!
This weekend only, in celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, get 30% OFF orders over $25 and one (1) FREE copy of The Vatican Christmas Cookbook for all orders over $50. No promo code necessary.
Other favorites to consider when filling your cart: Searching for and Maintaining Peace, Little Way of Living With Less, Know Thyself!, other Games and Puzzles, The Holy Mass (STEAL of a deal right now at only $15!!!), The Wise Men Who Found Christmas (only $5!!!) Brides of Christ (this will be going in a 2024 Easter Basket), Therese of Lisieux Comic Book and many more of the Children’s Books.
(All links are affiliate links. Thank you for your support!)
Saint Nicholas: Patron Saint of Children
Today, for the feast of St. Nicholas, our Advent Book Basket included the brand new book Saint Nicholas: Patron Saint of Children from the Our Friends in Heaven Trilogy! Originally published in French in 1928, the richly illustrated St. Nicholas Patron Saint of Children is a remarkable exposition of our beloved champion of God. Thank you to St. Augustine Academy Press for translating and reprinting this treasure!
At the onset, the book tastefully reminds us who the real person of Santa Claus truly is. After setting this record straight, we are treated to a series of inspiring true stories of his life, including the slapping of the heretic, Arius for denying the Divinity of Christ.
Living in the tumultuous times of Emperor Diocletian’s reign of terror, we see how St. Nicholas, as Bishop Myra endured persecution and thereafter flourished to restore Christendom and then miraculously intercede for his countrymen.
In this book about the true story of “Santa Claus” you will discover the inspiring life of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Saint Nicholas: Patron Saint of Children is the second book in the Our Friends in Heaven Trilogy. I highly recommend purchasing all three books and now is the perfect time!
St. Augustine Academy Press is having a FLASH SALE from now until midnight on Friday, December 8th, save 15% on your entire order when you purchase one or more of the books from this series! Just use the coupon code STNICK2023, and as long as one of these books is in your cart, you will save 15% on everything.
Saint Nicholas, pray for us!
On the Eve of St. Nicholas Day
Each year on the eve of St. Nicholas Day (Dec 5th) our children are usually up late writing their letters to St. Nicholas and the Christ Child ✍️
We adopted this little tradition many years ago inspired by Maria Von Trapp: “… And there is still one very important thing to do for Advent. According to Austrian custom, every member of the family writes a letter to the Holy Child mentioning his resolutions for the weeks of Advent and listing all his wishes for gifts. This “Christkindl Brief” (letter to the Holy Child) is put on the window sill, from whence the Guardian Angel will take it up to heaven to read it aloud to the Holy Child…”
Our children just tuck their letters into their shoes or slippers on December 5th for St. Nicholas to deliver to the Christ Child.✨
Eve of St. Nicholas resources: Letter to Baby Jesus Printable from Revolution of Love
A paper twirled Manger and Star ❤️
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
Reading their sweet letters is always my favorite! ❤️
I just realized many of the links were broken in our Advent post due to the transfer from Blogger.. They have been updated!
Andreasherzen (St. Andrew’s Hearts)
Have you ever tried making the recipe for Andreasherzen (St. Andrew’s Hearts) from Cooking with the Saints? It never turns out for me! Every attempt resulted in a batter too thick, leading me to improvise with extra liquid. I also rarely have white wine on hand so last year I opted for sparkling apple cider in addition to my other substitutions and modifications. The results were fantastic! topped with maple syrup and berries, it was a delicious treat for the feast of St. Andrew! Here’s our recipe:
Here is the link to our waffle iron I use each year for our Andreasherzen (St. Andrew’s Hearts). I purchased it back in 2014 and it still works perfectly. It also has surprisingly not increased in price since back then, unlike everything else!
You can view the reel my daughter made last Advent over on Instagram!
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.
✨ St. Andrew the Apostle, Ora Pro Nobis! ✨
Our 2023 Advent Book Basket and Free Labels
Each Advent brings the joyous anticipation of Christmas in our home, marked by our delightful traditions of counting down the days with our annual Advent Book Basket, our various Advent Calendars, and the Jesse Tree. In the earlier years, when we were just starting our own family collection, I turned to Christmas Mosaic for inspiration, borrowing Christmas books from the library to wrap for each day of Advent. Our home library has definitely flourished over the past couple decades and it continues to grow each year with the new books each child receives on the feast of St. Nicholas. (Check out this year’s St. Nick books here!)
Over the years, our annual Advent Book Basket has included titles from Christmas Mosaic and a collection of our children’s 35 Favorite Christmas Picture Books—although it’s worth noting that their preferences may have changed since 2014! One year, I selected twenty-six favorites (with that personal favorite list growing every year), while another time, I handed over the reins to my husband and our oldest daughter for a delightful surprise. For additional inspiration, you can explore more curated lists from previous years: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 or simply scroll through all past Advent Book Basket posts.
The length of Advent ranges from 22 to 28 days, beginning on the Sunday closest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30th) and embracing four Sundays. The first day of Advent can fall as early as November 27th to as late as December 3rd. This year Advent begins on Sunday, December 3rd—the latest possible start date—making it only three weeks and a day. In keeping with the unique duration, our Advent Book Basket for this year will include 22 wrapped books.
In the mix for this year’s Advent Book Basket are a handful of new books we were gifted from publishers, a couple of carefully chosen additions from my own book shopping, and a sprinkle of input from our 13- and 11-year-olds who eagerly recommended favorite books for their younger siblings. Here’s the complete list:
2023 Advent Book Basket
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- December 3 – 1st Sunday of Advent: An Advent Hope: A Children’s Book about Family Advent Traditions from Holy Heroes (NEW)
- December 4: The World Waits from Sophia Institute Press (NEW) *Still waiting for my copy. I’ll swap it with something else if it doesn’t arrive by Monday.
- December 5: Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
- December 6 – Feast of St. Nicholas: Saint Nicholas: Patron Saint of Children from St. Augustine Academy Press (NEW) – write letters to Christ Child/Saint Nicholas, bake Speculaas or St. Nicholas Cookies, and decorate St. Nicholas Chocolate Coins to give to others
- December 7 – Feast of St. Ambrose: The Soldier’s Night Before Christmas – Bake a Honeycomb Cake
- December 8 – Immaculate Conception: Mary, Mother of All (NEW) – Decorate Christ Candle
- December 9 – Feast of St. Juan Diego: Our Lady of Guadalupe and Her Dear Juanito
- December 10 – 2nd Sunday of Advent: The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher
- December 11: It’s a Wonderful Life
- December 12 – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: The Donkey’s Dream *Catholic Mosaic – pray Litany of Mary from which the names of Mary used in this book were taken – Our Lady of Guadalupe Brunch
- December 13 – Feast of St. Lucy: Light of the Saints (NEW)
- December 14: Shooting at the Stars
- December 15: The Nutcracker by Susan Jeffers
- December 16: Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border (NEW) – Las Posadas
- December 17 – 3rd Sunday of Advent/Gaudete Sunday – O Sapientia: Bambinelli Sunday
- December 18 – O Adonai: Bob Ross’ Happy Little Night Before Christmas
- December 19 – O Radix Jesse: My Wonderful Christmas Tree
- December 20 – Ember Wednesday – O Clavis David: The Shepherd at the Crib and the Cross
- December 21 – O Oriens and Winter Solstice: ‘Twas the Evening of Christmas
- December 22 – Ember Friday – O Rex Gentium: Over in the Stable (NEW)
- December 23 – Ember Saturday – O Emmanuel: A Child’s Christmas ABC Book: Angels in the Air Arrayed
- December 24 – 4th Sunday of Advent – Vigil of Christmas: The First Christmas for Our Dear Little Ones from St. Augustine Academy Press (NEW)
Years ago, I traded our original purple and pink wrapping paper for a rustic touch—brown paper decorated with reusable purple and pink ribbons (saved annually). I occasionally repurpose brown paper bags or opt for a roll of brown craft paper from the craft store, pairing it with the ribbon and homemade labels.
In keeping with our tradition, we’ll unwrap and read one book each night during Advent, following our family rosary. The rest of our book collection will be placed in additional baskets, ready to be enjoyed throughout the seasons of Advent and Christmas.
If you’d like to use my little labels too, you can download my Advent Book Basket Labels for 2023 over at Dropbox.
Advent Book Basket Giveaway
And now for our annual Advent Book Basket Giveaway! I’m delighted to share five prize packages this year featuring books and music from five generous Catholic publishers. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to enhance your home collections with beautiful and inspiring picture books for children. Enter below for a chance to win and create lasting memories with these treasures.
Prize #1 – TAN Books
Includes: One Holy Marriage: The Story of Saints Louis & Zelie Martin (or on Amazon here) and Sister Clare Gets Ready for Prayer (or on Amazon here) sponsored by TAN Books (value $37.90)
Congratulations, Nikki H!
Prize #2 – Sophia Institute Press
Includes: Brides of Christ (or on Amazon here) and Christmas Merry and Bright (or on Amazon here) sponsored by Sophia Institute Press
Congratulations, Audie!
Prize #3 – St. Paul Center
Includes: All about Advent & Christmas: Sharing the Seasons of Hope & Wonder with Children and The Shepherd at the Crib and the Cross sponsored by St. Paul Center ($35.90 Value)
Congratulations, Alena F!
Prize #4 – Word on Fire Spark
Includes: Bless the Lord sponsored by Word on Fire Spark ($19.95 Value)
Congratulations, Marie G!
Prize #5 – Ignatius Press
Includes: Ishmael: The Shepherd Boy of Bethlehem (or on Amazon here) sponsored by Ignatius Press ($14.99 Value)
Congratulations, Kristina N!
Please leave a comment on this post and then enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter Box below:
Note: If you have any trouble with Rafflecopter just send me an email or message with your name/email address and I can add you manually.
a Rafflecopter giveawayFrom the archives:
Feasts & Seasons :: Advent & Christmas Collection
Feasts & Seasons :: Our December Book Basket
35 Favorite Christmas Picture Books for Children
December :: Month Dedicated to the Divine Infancy
Christmas Mosaic :: A Review & Featured Book List
You can find the rest of our booklists here.
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