It seems just like yesterday when my daughter Ava was starting her first day of kindergarten and now here we are, weeks until Christmas. Last year we had an elf named Flower visit our home. Ava was so excited to wake up eagerly every morning to see where our elf had gone next! We were lucky enough to find Flower in our home again this year.
We have a lot going on this month with only 2 weeks left to go of school and dance before Christmas break for 2 weeks. Ava has a performance coming up next week which I am very much looking forward to. She also has 2 school Christmas performances where I've been told she is singing. I recently signed Ava up for a gingerbread house making workshop next week and she is very excited for that as well.
December has always been my favourite month but ever since I had my daughter it's become even more special. Having someone to celebrate the holidays with and continue on tradition is something I will never take for granted. Speaking of traditions, we started something new last year (which we will continue on with this year) and there is another tradition this year I want to start. Last year was the first time we observed and celebrated Saint Lucia Day which falls annually on December 13. It is said that Saint Lucia (also known as Saint Lucy) would bring food to Christians hiding in the catacombs in Rome while lighting her way by wearing a wreath of candles on her head. Saint Lucia day is widely celebrated in Scandinavian countries but I believe also in Italy and other parts of Europe. It is custom for the oldest girl in the family to wake up early on December 13 and make lussekatter and coffee and serve to the parents. Because Ava was 4 last year we did this together. We made lussekatter the day before which turned out beautifully. The morning of December 13 we woke up to make coffee and placed that on a tray with the beautiful lussekatter. Ava dressed in a white gown and red sash (and a makeshift wreath with electric candles on her head) so we could celebrate the life of Saint Lucia together.
There is a tradition I would like to start this year that I've slowly been teaching Ava about and it is called Saint Nicholas Day. This is widely celebrated in Europe (Germany, Netherlands, Russia, among other countries) on December 6. Saint Nicholas was born in the 3rd century in what is now known as Turkey. It is said he was born to rich parents but they died when he was young and so he used his inheritance to help the less fortunate. One popular story is that there were 3 women who were unable to marry because of a lack of dowry so in the evening Saint Nicholas threw 3 bags of gold through the window into their stockings warming by the fire so they would be able to marry and not be sold into slavery. On the evening of December 5 children across Europe (and other parts of the world) put out their shoes by the fire, christmas tree, or out outside their door and wait for Saint Nicholas to leave them treats. It is common for Saint Nicholas to leave chocolate gold coins, candy canes, other types of chocolate, oranges, and small toys. My mother celebrated Saint Nicholas Day in Germany as a child and I think it would be wonderful for Ava to experience it. So tomorrow evening Ava is going to leave out her shoes in hopes that Saint Nicholas will leave her some treats. Two nights ago I read a lovely story to Ava called "The Baker's Dozen" I recommend it to anyone wanting to get into the spirit of Saint Nicholas.
Leading up to December 6 I read about the life of Saint Nicholas to learn more about why people celebrate this day. He was born to rich parents who unfortunately died when he was young, leaving him with a large inheritance. He decided to dedicate his life to God and helping the less fortunate. It is said that there were 3 girls who would be sold into slavery because of a lack of dowry so Saint Nicholas threw three bags of gold in through their window at night into their stockings which were warming by the fire. I have really enjoyed teaching my daughter about the life of Saint Nicholas. We took out two books from the library last week. "The Baker's Dozen" and "The Gift From Saint Nicholas". Both stories were lovely to read at bedtime. On the eve of Saint Nicholas Day, my daughter Ava put her shoes outside the bedroom door. The look on her face when she woke up to treats in her shoes was a special moment. Ava received a chocolate mold of Saint Nicholas wrapped in gold foil, gold chocolate coins, a candy cane, hot cocoa, and an orange. Later on in the day after school we also put out a plate of speculaas cookies and oranges to enjoy while watching Christmas movies. Overall it was a wonderful day and I'm looking forward to celebrating this day more in future years.
