First Sunday of Advent - December 3rd

One of the most recognizable Advent traditions we have is the Advent wreath. Although it is day 2 of Advent it is not too late to make or buy your Advent wreath. The Catholic Information Centre (146 Chevrier Ave, Cornwall) sells the candles and wreath or watch this video to learn how to make your own.
 
Extras
What is an Advent Wreath? (youtube video)
 This History of the Advent Wreath (text)


December 4th
One of the go-to hymns for Advent is O Come O Come Emanuel. The words and the music of this beautiful piece of music developed separately. The Latin text is first documented in Germany in 1710, whereas the tune most familiar in the English-speaking world had its origins in 15th-century France. Now sit back for the next few minutes and just enjoy one of the videos (or all three) to the right all of which present beautiful renditions of this Advent staple. 

Extra
If you have kids or grandkids they can still sign up for the Holy Heroes Advent Adventure.

December 5th
The Jesse Tree
Another popular, though perhaps lesser known tradition is the Jesse Tree. The ornaments that go on the Jesse Tree tell the story of the Bible from creation to the birth of Jesus. It’s a fun way for you and your children or grandchildren to learn about many of the events in the Bible. Click here to download a pattern for the tree and ornaments.
 
Extras

• Jesse Tree (video)
• The Jesse Tree Project (website and blog)
• What is the Jesse Tree? (video)

December 6th - Feast of Saint Nicholas
Santa Claus is a staple of Christmas in North America, but did you know that he is loosely based on a real person who lived centuries ago! (Santa Claus is an American invention, an anglicization of Sinterklaas, the Dutch name for Saint Nicholas.) Nicholas was a fourth-century Greek bishop of Myra. (Today, Myra is known as the town of Demre and is located on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey.)

Nicholas was the only child of Christian parents. Sadly, both of his parents died during an epidemic when he was a young man and he was raised by his uncle - the Bishop of Patara. Nicholas’ parents left him financially well off and he became determined to devote his inheritance to works of charity. It is believed he died on this day in the year 343.

Today, many European countries still celebrate the arrival of Saint Nicholas.
 

Extra

• Visit the St. Nicholas Center to learn everything you ever wanted to know and more about this saint!
• Watch this short video bio of St. Nicholas. 

December 7th



December 8th - Feast of the Immaculate Conception

• This feast day celebrates the conception of Mary, not the conception of Jesus which we celebrated on March 25th, the feast of the Annunciation.
• The Immaculate Conception refers to the fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from original sin from the very moment of conception.
• Despite the fact that this feast day celebrates an important event in salvation history, it is no longer a Holy Day of Obligation in Canada. It is however in the United States, in part because this is the patronal feast of the US.
• On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX declared the Immaculate Conception to be a dogma of our faith, that is to say, a doctrine that the Church teaches was revealed by God Himself. 

December 9th - Feast of Saint Juan Diego
Juan Diego was a poor Mexican raised in the pagan Aztec religion. As an adult, he converted to Catholicism. He was committed to his new life and would walk great distances to receive religious instruction from the Franciscan missionaries. On December 9, 1531, Juan Diego was in a hurry to make it to Mass and celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which we celebrated yesterday. On his way, he was stopped by the beautiful sight of a radiant woman who introduced herself, in his native tongue, as the "ever-perfect holy Mary, who has the honour to be the mother of the true God." Mary told Juan Diego to ask the local bishop to build a chapel in her honour there on Tepeyac Hill. Click here to find out what happened!

Extra 
Celebrate the feast of Juan Diego today and in anticipation of the feast of Our Lady Guadalupe on December 12th why not make something traditional such as Mexican Wedding Cookies (one of my faves!)