Advent, A Prose Poem in 22 Memories

First Sunday, lighting of the Hope candle

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Pets in Santa hats [pony]

Christmas Cornucopia by Mark Forsyth [Christmas Gift]

You know Christmas is not the only holiday in December, right?

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Lebkuchen-Schmidt gingerbread cookies

Second Sunday, lighting of the Peace candle

Adeste Fideles, sung by Luciano Pavarotti

Anything box-shaped done up as an ersatz gift

A Very Scalzi Christmas

Retelling of A Christmas Carol starring (insert name here)

Homemade pretzel bites for the pot luck

The happiness of surprise horses at the barn Christmas party [Party Horses]

Third Sunday, lighting of the Joy candle

My Grown Up Christmas Wish, Amy Grant

Mulled Cider

Happy Birthday to all the Christmas babies

A Lot Like Christmas by Connie Willis

Anything and everything available as an ornament

How The Grinch Stole Christmas, voice by Boris Karloff

Fourth Sunday, lighting of the Love candle

Afterword

Contents: four Sundays, three books, three songs, three decorating trends, three foods, three TV shows, & three thoughts.

Yes, Advent is 22 days this year. From Sunday 3 December to Sunday 24 December. “The four-week period begins on the Sunday closest to the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle (Nov. 30) and lasts for the next three Sundays.” NPR: Advent calendars, explained: Where they came from and why they’re everywhere now, Treisman, November 6, 2023.

“Its length varies from 22 to 28 days, starting on the Sunday nearest St Andrew’s Day and encompassing the next three Sundays, ending on Christmas Day.” timanddate: First Sunday of Advent 2023 in the United States.

Am I being deliberately difficult? Also yes.

Previous Advent calendar post [Counting Down The Days Shetland Style]

Onwards!
Katherine