Books provide a wonderful way for parents and children to share the holiday season. Here's a calendar full of ideas for activities and books to go with them each day in December:
Dec. 1:
- Start counting the days with an Advent calendar, with surprises for each day.
"Christmas Deer," a calendar from the North, by April Wilson (Fulcrum); "Animals Advent," by Lisa McCue (Random); "Silent Night," by B. Schroeder (North/South); "Visiting Santa's Workshop," by P. Strickland (Putnam); "Victorian Advent Calendar," Penny Ives (Putnam); and "Village Christmas," by P. Fix (Dutton).
- Make your own Advent calendar. Or, plan a "Twelve Days of Christmas" calendar, with flaps to open from Christmas Day, Dec. 25, through Epiphany, Jan. 6, (Twelfth Night or Three Kings Days). These 12 days celebrate the journey of the Magi to Jesus' birthplace in Bethlehem. Some ideas for making Advent calendars appear in:
"Christmas Around the World" by Mary Lankford (Morrow); "My First Christmas Activity Book" by Angela Wilkes (Dorling Kindersley).
Dec. 2:
- Begin a holiday diary or a "Sampler of Our Family."
Use a brightly colored journal or make your own, with lined paper and a cover made from holiday wrapping paper. Each member of the family can record his or her favorite holiday sights, sounds, pictures, sketches, poems or messages as a remembrance of the holiday season.
- Use a plain tablecloth on one table and have markers available so that all your guests can write messages and wishes for the coming year. Pack it away until next year and relive the personal experience.
- Use ideas from "Hark! A Christmas Sampler," by Jane Yolen and Tomi de Paola (Putnam).
Dec. 3:
- Fill a basket with holiday books, old and new. Plan to read from it each day of the month. Share a picture book at bedtime; tell a story at dinner or after dessert, or have a read-along for family night.
"A Midnight Clear: Stories for the Christmas Season," by Katherine Paterson (Lodestar); "Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol," illustrated by Quentin Blake (McElderry), or the same title illustrated by Roberto Innocenti (Harcourt Brace); "It's Better To Give: The Autobiography of Santa Claus," edited by Jeff Guinn (Summit Group); "Hold Christmas in Your Heart: African-American Songs, Poems and Stories for the Holidays," compiled by Cheryl Hudson (Scholastic); "Among Angels," poetry by Nancy Willard and Jane Yolen (Harcourt Brace); "Family Read-Aloud Christmas Treasury," Alice Low and Marc Brown (Little/Brown); "A Real Christmas Collection," by Susan Hill (Candlewick); "Waiting-for-Christmas Stories," collected by Bethany Roberts (Clarion).
Dec. 4:
- Plan a gift for a shut-in, those at the homeless shelter or in a retirement home. Call administration or local government agencies for places where help is needed. To adopt a Sub-for-Santa family, call 801-988-4204. Make a list of the names, ages and particular needs of each family member. Note preferred times and locations for delivering the gifts or performing the services. If your family cannot do this alone, include others in your neighborhood or social group. Assign tasks from your lists. Everyone should have a job; even the smallest member of the house who can stuff bags with gifts or groceries. Decide if the items will be delivered personally or can be left as surprises. If making a personal visit, include an appropriate song or special message. Practice some Christmas carols and perhaps make verses just for your group.
"Simply Christmas: Great Ideas for a Noncommercial Holiday," by Noel Pax and Mary Thompson (Holiday) offers some inexpensive ideas.
Dec. 5:
- Now is a good time - before the rush of the celebrations - to add to your child's growth chart. You don't have one? Find a door frame or empty wall where each child can stand and mark his or her name, measurements and the date. If this is a place that is likely to be scrubbed away (perish the thought!), then hang up a strip of paper that can be rolled up and put away until next year.
Dec. 6:
- Holiday books are in full array at bookstores. Buy a new one (or more!) for the family this season. You may want to add a little note in the front of the book, recording where, when and by whom the book was selected. Following are some more of my favorites that are on the shelves:
"The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey" (Candlewick). Susan Wojciechowski has written a story to be remembered for many holiday seasons to come. When a gloomy woodcarver tries to create the scene at Bethlehem for a lady and her small son, he learns from the child - and his own remembrances - what special day it was. P.J. Lynch's illustrations are stunning.
"The Baker's Dozen," retold by Aaron Shepard with pictures by Wendy Edelson (Atheneum), is a Dutch colonial tale of Saint Nicholas and the baker who learns to give a little more than the "dozen."
"The Tale of Three Trees," by Angela Hunt and Tim Jonke (Lion Press)m is an American tale about three trees that wanted to become something special . . . and they did!
"Gift of a Traveler," by Wendy Matthews and Robert Van Nutt (Bridgewater), is a story of a child who finds the special gift for a Christmas tree.
"The Remarkable Christmas of the Cobbler's Sons," by Ruth Sawyer and Barbara Cooney (Viking), explains the true spirit of Christmas, as told by a master storyteller and illustrated by one of America's best artists.
"Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters." This award-winning book by Patricia and Fred McKissak, illustrated by J. Thompson (Scholastic), is two stories of holiday celebrations in the South, both in the plantation house and in the slave quarters.
"They Followed a Bright Star," byUlises Wensell and Joan Alvaradra (Putnam), is the story of those who stayed behind to work and watch while others went to the birthplace of the Christ Child.
Dec. 7:
- Watch for holiday concerts, theater presentations, recitals and pageants offered in your community. Libraries and bookstores may have wonderful storytellers, puppet plays and activities for children - sometimes older readers, as well.
"Nutcracker," by E.T. Hoffman, illustrated by the following: Lisbeth Zwerger (Picture Book Studio); Maurice Sendak (Crown); Kay Chorao (Knopf); and Vladimir Vagin (Scholastic).
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is available in book form by Barbara Robinson (Harper) and also on cassette. But performances of the play are also on TV and video.
"Amahl and the Night Visitors," by Gian Carlo Menotti, illustrated by Michele Lemieux (Morrow), and "Amahl & the Letter from the King," adapted by Chitra Gajadin and Rabindranath Tagore (Boyds Mills), are books based on the opera written by Menotti in 1951.
"A Christmas Carol: Adapted for Theater," illustrated by Stephen T. Johnson (Andrew & McMeel).
"Babes in Toyland," based on an operetta by Victor Herbert and Glen MacDonough, adapted by James Howell, illustrated by Allen Atkinson (Harcourt).
"The Little Drummer Boy," by Ezra Jack Keats (McMillan).
"The Random House Book of Stories from the Ballet," G. McCaughrean (Random).
"The Miracle on 34th Street," by Valenine Davies. The Harcourt Brace edition is illustrated by Tomi de Paola.
Dec. 8:
- Time to begin decorating the house and yard. There are many people who are single, elderly or shut-in who would like to be a part of your festivities. Include them in your holiday fun; for example, ask them to tell about celebrations of the past. They could help decorate cookies or hang tinsel, too. A tiny tree or wreath to hang in their home (with homemade decorations and wishes from each member of your family) would be a wonderful remembrance of a special evening together.
"The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza," by David Shannon (Scholastic), is the story of a man who goes overboard in decorating his house until the neighbors finally have to step in and take over.
Dec. 9:
- Hang up lots of mistletoe for lots of kisses!
The legend of the mistletoe stems from the kiss as a symbol of peace and assurance.
The word mistletoe comes from the Saxon mistltan, meaning a "different twig." The Bretons held mistletoe in contempt, believing it was once a tree and was used to make the cross on which Christ was crucified. They believe that after the crucifixion, the mistletoe shrank into a bush of shame. Another legend tells of Freya, the goddess of love and beauty, whose tears appeared as the waxen white berries on the plant when her son Balder was wounded by a dart from the mistletoe. When her son finally recovered, the goddess decreed that the plant would never again be used for evil purposes.
In parts of England, the Christmas mistletoe is burned at Twelfth Night, Jan. 6, lest all who have kissed under it never marry. Throughout Europe the sprigs of mistletoe are hung over house and stable doors to prevent the entrance of witches. The early people in Louisiana bayous hung it over their door frames to rid themselves of conjurers.
Today, we hang the mistletoe for a kiss, certainly ignoring the legends of the past.
"Mistletoe," by David McPhail (Dutton).
Dec. 10:
- Visit an elementary school holiday celebration. Nothing fills the heart like watching children sing and celebrate in the classroom or a special performance. Call your local school or the district offices for times and locations. (Remember to send a thank-you note to the teacher and children following the performance.)
- Teachers: Inviting grandparents, the elderly and shut-ins to your performances will add much to their lives as well as give the children a "special audience."
Dec. 11:
- Make an audio or video tape and send it to someone who will not be with you this holiday season. Plan ahead. Decide what will go on the tape. Unrehearsed spontaneity may be fun, but a plan will ensure that it becomes a golden nugget. Include messages, history, songs and verse, things that will become keepsakes. Grandparents love to hear the little ones' voices and recitations, and new families will delight in grandparents recalling the celebrations from the past - even the "funny stuff." Mail your tapes soon so they arrive early enough to be shared often.
Dec. 12:
- Learn a new Christmas carol in preparation for an evening of family caroling. The word carol comes from the Middle English carolen, meaning to sing joyfully. Historically, carols were introduced by St. Francis of Assisi as part of formal church services.
- Research the history behind some of the traditional and contemporary holiday music, such as the following four, which date from the Renaissance or before: "Joy to the World," written by Isaac Watts, a Congregationalist minister; "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," written by Charles Wesley, brother of the founder of Methodism; "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," written during the Civil War by Henry W. Longfellow; "Away in a Manger," attributed to Martin Luther but probably not written by him, was first printed in a children's book in 1885.
"Silent Night: A Christmas Carol Sampler," with embroidered illustrations by Belinda Downes (Knopf).
"This Is My Song! A Collection of Gospel Music for the Family" (Random).
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas: Songs of the Season for Young People," arranged by Dan Fox. Illustrations are from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, (Arcade).
Dec. 13:
- As you continue to decorate, find some of the traditions of Christmas greenery.
The Christmas tree is common today in the home and in community settings, but each country has traditions surrounding it. The decorated fir tree predates Christianity, when greenery, especially shrubs and trees that remained green throughout the winter, symbolized the triumph of spring or life over death. At the center of plays or pageants depicting Bible stories was the "Paradise Tree," hung with fruit, representing the forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden.
As the plays became communal and more elaborate, the Paradise Tree remained the focus of beauty and a place on which to hang the treasures of the season: fruits, strings of popcorn and cranberries, miniature treasures, tinsel, balls and toys, angels, candles and the star on top, representing the Star of Bethlehem.
"Christmas Without a Tree," by Elizabeth Rodger (Simon & Schuster).
"Pearl Plants a Tree," by Jane Breskin Zalben (Simon & Schuster), is an introduction to the Jewish holiday Tu b' Shvat and other tree-planting celebrations around the world.
"The Star Gift," by Flavia Weedn and Lisa Weedn Gilbert (Hyperion).
"Night Tree," by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Ted Rand (Harcourt Brace).
"The Christmas Tree: The Heart of Tradition and Yuletide," by Barbara Segall (Potter), presents legends, trimming and modern-day alternatives.
Dec. 14:
- Holiday cards should be mailed now - with or without the family newsletter! The history and background of the traditional greeting card is interesting. The first Christmas card was printed in England around 1843, when Sir Henry Cole commissioned artist Joseph Cundall to lithograph and color by hand a thousand cards. Christmas cards were introduced in the United States in the late 1870s by Marcus Ward & Company of London. The enterprising Americans soon found their own artists and printers to make this a money-making commodity.
The family newsletter has no such history (even though it has become a popular part of our Christmas-card tradition ).
"Letters from Father Christmas," J.R.R. Tolkien (Houghton), is a collection of letters and pictures Tolkien created for his own children. This book has real envelopes and replicas of his written work and sketches.
"The Envelope Mill," by Haila Harvey (Summit), offers some ideas for making your own envelopes for gift giving.
Dec. 15:
- Study the chronology of the holiday season as part of your celebration. Here are some events to add to your own traditions. (Taken from "Christmas Around the World," Lankford).
6 B.C. - Approximate date for the birth of Jesus.
A.D. 280 - Approximate birth date of St. Nicholas.
A.D. 320 - Pope Julius I, proclaims Dec. 25 the official celebration for the birthday of Christ.
A.D. 567 - Council of Tours establishes Advent time as a sacred season for fasting.
1561 - First printed reference to Christmas trees in Germany.
1643 - British Parliament officially abolishes the celebration of Christmas.
1818 - "Silent Night," written in Obendorf, Austria.
1822 - "A Visit from St. Nicholas," written by Dr. Clement Moore.
1836 - Alabama is the first state to declare Christmas a legal holiday.
1843 - "A Christmas Carol," written by Charles Dickens.
1856 - President Franklin Pierce decorates first White House Christmas tree.
1857 - "Jingle Bells," written by J. Pierpont.
1937 - First postage stamp to commemorate Christmas is issued in Austria.
1949 - "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," recorded by Gene Autry.
1962 - First Christmas postage stamp is issued in the United States.
1966 - Kwanzaa founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga.
Dec. 16:
- Begin making Christmas cookies.
"Mouse Cookies," (Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond), is a collection of 10 easy recipes and a cookie cutter from the book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" (Harper Collins).
"The Gingerbread Doll," by Susan Tews and Megan Lloyd (Clarion).
17 - Share a classic picture book, "The Littlest Angel," by Charles Tazewell, illustrated by Paul Micich (Ideals). This marks its 50th year in print. It was first introduced by Helen Hays and has sold more than 5 million copies.
18 - Learn how to say "Merry Christmas" in five other languages:
Glaedelig Jul - Danish
Joyeux Noel - French
Feliz Navidad - Spanish
Meri Kurisumasu - Japanese
Glad Ju - Swedish
19 - Put a log on the fire and call it YULE!
The yule log is a long-standing tradition that started in Scandinavia, where a huge log was burned to honor the god Thor. The English burned a log with much merriment, fun and games. They believed that by preserving a piece of the log each year, they could protect their homes from fire.
20 - Read some new books about Santa:
"The Story of Santa Claus," by Tom Paxton, illustrated by Michael Dooling (Morrow), is a beautiful tale of the man who makes toys. The oil paintings are exotic.
"Santa Calls," by William Joyce (HarperCollins).
"Santa Cow Studios," by Cooper Edens and Daniel Lane (Simon & Schuster). This is the latest edition of a very "pun-y" bunch of cows who, in this case, go to Hollywood. Many laughs with this one.
"Santa's Christmas Journey: A Scrolling Picture Book," by Penny Ives (Hyperion), is a roller story that will wait for the youngest hands to turn and tell.
"The Santa Clause," by Daphne Skinner (Hyperion), is the novel made into a movie last year starring Tim Allen.
21 - Learn a few names for Santa Claus:
Saint Nicholas - Belgium
Father Christmas - England and Finland
Sinter Klaas - Holland
Julenisse - Norway
Grandfather Koleda - Bulgaria
22 - Observe the winter solstice, usually around Dec. 22, by lighting an extra candle or lantern. This is the day when the sun is at its greatest distance from the equator. It is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Solstice is the Latin term for "sun standing still."
"Solstice: A Mystery of the Seasons," by Jan Adkins (Walker).
23 - As you turn on the lights on this "Christmas Eve-eve," make a special wish for world peace.
24 - Read Clement Moore's " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas." There are many versions that will bring out the humor and fun of this poem.
"Papa's Christmas Gift: Around the World the Night Before Christmas," by Cheryl Harness (Simon & Schuster), is the story of Santa's Christmas Eve trip, showing us the world in 1822, the year that the poem was written.
A locally published story, "A Most Unusual Christmas Eve," by Charles Knowles, illustrated by Teresa Knowles Collins, has delighted the author's children and grandchildren for years.
25 - Read from the Bible and other stories about the birth of the Christ Child.
- Plan tableaus of the journey and of the stable.
"A Child Is Born: The Christmas Story Adapted from the New Testament," Elizabeth Winthrop, illustrated by Charles Mikolaycak (Holiday).
"The First Christmas," by Nonny Hogrogian (Greenwillow).
"Mary the Mother of Jesus," by Tomi de Paola (Holiday).
"Glorious Impossible," with text selected by Madeleine L'Engle and illustrations of the frescoes from the Scrovegni Chapel by Giotto (Simon & Schuster).
"The Story of Christmas," by Barbara Cooney (HarperCollins).
"The First Christmas," with illustrations that are paintings from the National Gallery in London (Simon & Schuster).
"The Nativity," by Ruth Sanderson (Little Brown).
26 - Read about Kwanzaa, which is a celebration of black heritage, cultural strengths and traditional values. Try some of the crafts. Kwanzaa is Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.
"Kwanzaa: A Family Affair," by Mildred Pints Walker (Lothrop).
"My First Kwanzaa Book," by D. Chocolate (Simon & Schuster).
"The Seven Days of Kwanzaa: How to Celebrate Them," Angela S. Medearis (Scholastic).
"A Kwanzaa Celebration," a pop-up book (Little Simon).
"Kwanzaa Crafts," Judith Corwin (Watts).
27 - Plan a progressive dinner with some of your friends or neighbors. Choose three or four homes where you will eat. Each home will serve one of the courses; for example, the first house serves appetizers; the second the salad; the third serves a main course and the fourth, the dessert. Make this especially festive by choosing a menu that represents foods from different cultures or celebrations.
28 - Enjoy the games and puzzles that are new this year:
"Maurice Sendak's Christmas Mystery" (HarperCollins) is planned for ages 3-8. It is a little picture book with visual clues to help solve the mystery, which is in 54 jumbo-sized puzzle pieces.
"The Little Women Book: Games, Recipes, Crafts and Other Homemade Pleasures," by Lucille Recht Penner (Random).
29 - Prepare a holiday feast for the birds:
According to an ancient French legend, a brown bird came to the manger in Bethlehem and stayed near the fire, flapping its wings to warm the Christ Child. The heat of the fire colored the birds' feathers red, and that is why the robin has a red breast.
This is the season to treat our feathered friends to a feast of crab apples, suet balls, pine cones coated with peanut butter or popcorn strung on trees.
30 - This is the day to read about (and play in) the snow.
"Snowballs," by Lois Ehlert (Harcourt), has some wonderful ideas for making snow families.
"Snow Riders," by Constance McGeorge (Chronicle).
"The Snow Story," by Melvin Leavitt (Simon & Schuster), is about a boy who writes in the snow with his boots and leaves many memories for his grandchildren.
"When Will It Snow?" by Bruce Hiscock (Atheneum).
"Snow Angel," by Jean Marzollo (Scholastic).
31 - Today is New Year's Eve, or Watch Night. Sometimes it is called St. Sylvester's Day, in remembrance of the pope at the time when Christianity was declared by the Emperor Constantine to be the official religion of the Roman Empire.
This is a good night for everyone to write a wish or two on a strip of paper and put the strips in a bottle. Cap or cork the container and pack it away with the holiday decorations to open next year.