Christmas is coming. That’s no news to anyone of us at this point. However, this is the first year where Bubsi has a real sense what is going on, and this is wonderfully exciting to watch. During the run-up to Christmas, Bubsi has made a new friend: the advent lady, her advent calendar.
The story behind the advent lady
It was my mom’s idea. You see, we could have just gone to the store and bought a chocolate calendar every year. It would have taken us thirty minutes and cost us less than 10€. Very hassle free, tried, and tested. I mean, I had a chocolate advent calendar for as long as I can remember. Granted, they got more expensive over time as I enjoy expensive chocolate once in a while. Still, a November trip to the supermarket solved the calendar issue easily each year. Of course, Bubsi is more special than any other family member, including my mom. So while we happily munch our bought calendar chocolate every day until Christmas, Bubsi now has an advent lady.
Apparently, it is a Swedish tradition: the advent lady is an actual puppet, about the size of a primary school child. She hangs on our wall, and comes with lots of neat little pockets and rings. Inside these pockets or hanging from the rings are twenty-four actual presents, one for each advent day. Some presents are bigger, some smaller, all are handwrapped and personally chosen. The work! The money! To be fair, the work and money were shared amongst the family. Papa and I had to get six presents each, and my sister and parents four presents per person. Not too bad. And the advent lady does look lovely when filled up with goodies (see the pic). I might just be a tad bit jealous nobody did this for me. Where is my chocolate calendar?
What does Bubsi think?
Bubsi loves her advent lady. She likes unwrapping the presents and finding the numbers every day. In fact, I am rather amazed that the advent lady does teach Bubsi some skills, and is not just pure consumerism. Bubsi now safely recognises the numbers. She is also learning patience. The calendar is exciting, and within her reach. Yet, Bubsi (much to her chagrin) is only allowed one package per day. Plus, only the package with the correct number on it- she has been craving package 17 since December 2. While we do have the occasional debate over these rules, Bubsi is quite okay at following them. What a relief. And as we did not buy all presents ourselves, part of the advent lady’s contents also surprise us. So thank you, mom, for a good idea!
Advent lady at kindergarden
Funny trivia: Bubsi’s kindergarden also has an advent lady. We did not know this when the idea of our advent lady came about, as Bubsi only joined the place in fall. Some twenty years ago, her kindergarden had a Swedish intern who introduced the advent lady concept they are still following today. Instead of presents, the lady at kindergarden has little Christmas themed tasks for the kids. Every day a different child is chosen that is allowed to get a task from tge respective pocket. He or she then has to do what is written on the paper. Examples include singing Christmas songs, drawing Santa Claus, or telling a seasoned tale. Once the task has been fulfilled, the chid gets a little chime that they hang on the ring of the advent lady’s pocket of the day. By Christmas, the advent lady at kindergarden will make chime music whenever th wind passes through the hallway. How neat!
