If you have been following along with my articles over the past year, you have probably learnt that we are a family that lives by the motto of “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing”, and this is very true. However, we also have another motto that is a part of our everyday lives – presence over presents. For us as a family, it’s an easy motto to live by, thanks to us all sharing the love language of spending quality time, and is especially true when it comes to how we choose to spend our time during Advent. During the 24 days leading up to Christmas, I would rather focus on time together as a family over a small toy from a store-bought Advent calendar.
If you are looking for inspiration to move from a store-bought to quality time focused advent calendar this year, then have I got a list of you. Below I highlight some of the main experiences that we have done over the years. Don’t think they have to be anything glamorous or extravagant; actually, a number of my experiences we would typically do throughout the year; we just make an effort to make sure we do those things on that particular day.
An Advent of Experiences
- Buy a Christmas tree: Something that can be done every year, if you are buying a freshly cut one. However, three years ago, we purchased a small tree, so now, instead of buying a new one, the advent experience is to get the tree ready to be brought inside.
- Make some decorations: Take some time to make decorations for the tree or to display around your home. This activity could even be split over multiple days and include canvas paintings, salt dough decorations or an advent window.
- Decorate the tree: Who said you have to decorate the tree the day you bring it inside! I like to decorate the tree a few days after the tree has been inside to build up the excitement. We put on our Christmas Tonie (a creative one with several Christmas songs from our cultural backgrounds) and put the decorations up together.
- Dessert before dinner: This one is a favourite of my kids, and they would probably be happy if it was repeated a few times in the month. Pancakes or Waffles are always a big hit with my kids.
- Marshmallows on the fire: Another hit with our kids is to make a fire in our fire pit and sit outside roasting marshmallows. Don’t have a fire pit at home? Use one of the many public fire pits found at your local park or forest. If you prefer to avoid the fire, why not enjoy marshmallows and a hot chocolate in the garden or on your balcony.
- Ride a carousel: This is how I get my kids to the Christmas markets, with the promise of a carousel ride. As Christmas markets didn’t happen last year, we are all looking forward to the carousel this year.
- Samichlaus train: Just over the border in Blumberg, Germany, you will find an old diesel train that does special Santa train rides. We have done this the last two years, and my kids have loved it (although my daughter has been slightly afraid of St. Nikolaus). There is something similar in Zurich – the Märlitram – where fairies read stories (in german) while Samichlaus drives the tram through Zürich – something my kids would love to try this year.
- Go ice skating: Again something we would do in the winter season anyway, but by putting in our advent calendar, we have a dedicated day to go – usually the first time in the season.
- Invite a friend over for a playdate: Simple and effective.
- Bake some cookies for your neighbours (or friends): A great way to spread the holiday spirit and keeps the kids entertained. But if baking isn’t really your thing like me, you can also deliver little packets of chocolates instead or use the pre-made dough from the supermarket.
- Watch a Christmas Movie: Not something we have done yet, as my daughter has been a little too young for many of them. So this year, now that they are a little bit older, I am looking for some recommendations. As a kid, I loved Rudoph the Red Nose Raindeer and Claire has fond memories of Santa Claus the movie with Dudley Moore.
- Read a favourite Christmas story: I normally only bring out the Christmas books on the 1st of December. They stay for the Christmas period and are put away again till next year. Another variation some friends of mine do is a book advent, where they wrap up all the Christmas books and open one a day leading up to Christmas.
- Buy a Christmas present for Yourself: Even though we are about presence over presents, we aren’t anti presents. I give the kids 10CHF each, sometimes a little more and ask them to choose a present for themselves. It then gets added to the presents that will arrive on Christmas eve via the Postman – if you are interested in finding out more about this family tradition, check out my post from last year.
- Family Photo Time: This one, unfortunately, had to be tweaked last year due to Covid. But for the year’s previous and hopefully this year, we head to the Mall of Switzerland and sit on their big red Santa chair for our photo.
- Night walk with Head Torches or Lanterns: Another winter favourite and an excuse for the kids to stay up “late”. Although by then, it is dark by 5 pm.
- A Day in our PJ’s: Another thing that occurs periodically in our home, but the kids love to be expressly permitted to stay in their PJ’s by the advent calendar. And I love the excuse for a quiet day at home.
- Record a Christmas Message: For the last few years, we have succumbed and made family JibJab videos. Silly, but they give us a good laugh.
- Board Games Night: Board games are a big thing in our house! So to have an evening dedicated to the ones they want to play makes my kids very happy.
- Write and Send Christmas Cards: Usually, the kids will draw some pictures, and then we walk down to the post office to send them off. But for older kids, they could write a short message.
I hope you have found some Advent Calendar inspiration to help you move to a more experience-based holiday season. If you already do this kind of thing, I would love to hear if you have any new and interesting ones to add to my list!
