Lauren Ducommun

Here’s my Advent & Christmastide Checklist!

Since we started school in July, we are going to take the month of December off because it’s typically such a nice time of year in Texas and it is so nice not to rush through Advent and Christmas. I like to prep for Christmas early, by November, so that we can truly rest and enjoy Advent.

Tip: You don’t need a big budget to celebrate Advent and Christmas. You also don’t need all the things, or unit studies (which I don’t typically recommend). You can easily get four white tapered candles from Walmart for $3.50, print liturgies from online, and borrow picture books from the library book. I am able to source many of the books, vinyls, or cookie molds mentioned below used on eBay for a portion of the price. I recommend starting small, and each year adding a new book, recipe, or decoration.

Here is a checklist of things I like to have done by mid-November:

Order Advent & Christmas Books

It’s nice to buy these in the off-season, as you can typically find more affordable used copies on eBay and BetterWorldBooks. I buy a few new-to-us Christmas books each year. This year I bought: The Glorious Impossible by Madeline L’Engle, Lucia: Saint of Light by Katerine Hyde, The Christmas Stories of George MacDonald, and The Expected One by Scott James.

Some of our favorite Christmas books are:

• Sacred Seasons: A Family Guide to Center Your Year Around Jesus by Danielle Hitchen
• Promises Made Promises Kept by Marty Machowski
• Cajun Night Before Christmas by Trosclair
• The Story of Holly & Ivy by Rumer Godden (illus. by Barbara Cooney)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
• The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola
• Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Little Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• Jan Brett’s The Nutcracker
• Texas Night Before Christmas by James Rice
• We Three Kings by Gennady Spirin

Print and Make Copies

I keep a binder where I store all the recipes, craft tutorials, liturgies, Nicene Creed, or copies of pages from Advent books. This keeps me from scurrying about last minute trying to find that one receipt or what we are supposed to read on feast days.

Order Decor & Gifts

I find I am more relaxed in December when I’ve finished the bulk of my shopping before Advent begins. Here’s a list of things I try to have on hand:

• Purchase all Christmas gifts & stocking stuffers by November 29th
• Christmas ornaments (each year I buy us and the kids their own ornament)
• Christmas dress (I usually buy a used velour Hanna Andersson dress off eBay)
• Garlands and wreaths (I keep an eye out at thrift stores)
• Soy and phthalate-free Christmas scented candles
• Restock tapered candles, as needed
• Kraft paper roll, ribbon, and extra tape (for wrapping presents)
• Mittens or tuques (for Advent)
• Cotton pajamas and/or wool leggings (for Advent)
• Advent calendar set up (for Advent)
• Christmas vinyls (for Advent) – This year I bought The Nutcracker Suite off eBay.
• St. Nicholas shortbread cookie mold (for St. Nicholas Day) – I bought mine off eBay
• Chocolate coin candy, peppermint sticks, and oranges (for St. Nicholas Day)
• Wool socks or new mud boots (for St. Nicholas Day)
• White dress (for St. Lucy’s Day) – I’m having a hard time finding white girls dresses larger than size 8.
• Frozen tamales (for Christmas Eve)
• Christmas crackers (for Christmas breakfast) – The cheapest I’ve found are from Hobby Lobby.
• Dye-free candy and kit for gingerbread house
• Dye-free sprinkles (for Christmas and Epiphany) – I bought these sprinkles for cookies and this decorating sugar for King’s Cake.
• Non-perishables for Christmas feasts (i.e. frozen whole chicken, pickles, olives, crackers, Jello and pudding for trifle, ginger ale, etc.)
• Ingredients for baking cookies (for 12 days of Christmas)

Let me know how you celebrate Advent and Christmas!