This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BigLotsHoliday #CollectiveBias Check out how we celebrate Advent Season.
Thanksgiving is over and we barely put up the leftover Turkey and stuffing. We had so much fun with Family and Friends that we are slithering right into the next holiday event. Christmas!! Stay tuned, I will share one of my German Christmas Traditions with you below.
Yes!! Christmas is just around the corner. I’m telling you right now, you better make your list, checking it twice and don’t blink or you’ll miss it! Each year I try to incorporate many of my German Christmas traditions to keep the kids exposed to many different holiday traditions. I also miss my family at home in Germany this time of the year very much so keeping the traditions alive means a lot to me.
Last Sunday was the First Advent. One tradition that we have in Germany is the Advent wreath, which has 4 candles and Christmas decorations. Advent is the time before Christmas. The 4 Sundays before Christmas are called Advent Sunday and each Sunday a candle is lit until all four candles are glowing in full pride, then you know that Christmas is near.
It’s such a fun tradition that I love to share with family and friends and I’m surprised how many never heard of Advent Season before. We burn our candles at the breakfast table and often leave it lit during the week (while we are home).
The traditional way of celebrating Advent is to put a wreath with greenery, usually from your real Christmas tree that is sitting outside on the porch, waiting for its debut on December 24 (I know, that’s another tradition, that one… I don’t really follow, I love my tree too much and have to have it in the house way before Christmas Eve).
We decorate the wreath with ornaments, nuts, fruits whatever you like and always make sure we leave room for 4 candles. Most of the time the Advent wreath decorations are red or golden in color but nowadays everything is a go.
As time moved on, I left Germany and created my own traditions I love to keep some old ones alive and add new ones for my family. Our new tradition that I added once my kids got older is that we create a new Advent “wreath” each year. Long gone are the traditional greenery wreath centerpieces and we make our very own Advent centerpiece each and every year.
I don’t think we ever had the same centerpiece ever and my oldest is now 21. It’s so easy to make, the key is to always have 4 candles, doesn’t matter what size, what shape or what color. This year I grabbed a platter some snow and 4 candles at big Lots and it can’t be any simpler than that. Each of the kids picked an item they loved voila… Our Advent Centerpiece is completed! Isn’t it beautiful?
The holiday season is just around the corner and Big Lots has everything you need to prepare your home for the season! That’s where we started our shopping and we got everything we needed for our Advent Centerpiece as well as a few other decor items to decorate the rest of the house.
We usually decorate on Black Friday while others are out shopping, I grab my kids and start decorating the house. It usually takes an entire day but it is so worth it. We share stories, drink hot coco and listen to Christmas Songs, sometimes dance around, laugh and giggle. It’s so much fun.
Another family tradition is to head to Big Lots in the days prior to Thanksgiving and everyone helps picking out our Christmas Decor and the very special Advent centerpiece. The kids love to be involved and I love that I can get everything, conveniently and at a great price in one store. From small scale items to large scale items, Big Lots carries a wonderful assortment of high quality holiday items that are perfect for the season.
Now you know how we celebrate the holiday season, and now you know why we shop Big Lots to check more off of your list and get great quality, name brands, and trend right items, all at a great value.
Our store is always a pleasure to shop at, friendly employees that are always helpful and we get everything we need and want, sometimes even a lot of snacks from home, my home in Germany. Totally love shopping at Big Lots and I think that would be one Christmas tradition I would miss if the kids ever wanted to shop elsewhere (which hopefully will never happen!!).
From our house to yours, wishing you a peaceful and enjoyable Advent Season, build your own memories, make traditions and build your Family values. Merry Christmas!!
Do you celebrate Advent Season or have a special Christmas Tradition that you just love? Please share it with me below, I can’t wait to hear all about it.
Keri justice says
We always get out and decorate our Christmas teee the Saturday after thanksgiving! And my son and I baked our first batch of holiday cookies yesterday as well too! Happy Holidays!