The first light of advent is the light of stones—light that shines in seashells, crystals and in bones
The second light of advent is the light of plants—plants that in the sun rise up and dance
The third light of advent is the light of beasts—all await the birth from greatest and in least
The fourth light of advent is the light of man—the light of hope that we may understand

For the last 25 years, a wreath and four candles and these simple verses I learned from my boys’ teachers in the Waldorf school have helped me track the fast moving days in December.

Advent calendars were also part of the season ritual. When my grandmother was alive, she would gather all her grandkids in her living room where she had black tea in her fine China and petite buerres out for us. She brought out sparkly advent calendars and handed them out. But…. some had verses in them and no-one wanted those. So a few tears and trading later, we all went home with one. I wanted tradition and memories for my kids as they grew up so they got store bought ones with pictures in them as babies, but once they heard from friends that they had chocolate advent calendars, the picture ones were no longer cool. Those days seemed to go by much faster.

I painted one this year and a flood of memories came up for me as my boys are now men and two of them are not even in the country this month.

But focusing on the meaning of advent has helped me to stay in relationship with the ever-demanding shopping season and it helps me consider how I am rethinking how I celebrate this time of year—to be both emotionally and financially responsible.