The first light of advent is the light of stones, stones that live in crystals, seashells, and bones– Rudolph Steiner
Advent and Christmas are big ones and it can feel overwhelming to know where to start to create traditions that feel authentic and healthy when commercialized Christmas is everywhere. This year after the big move back home to Canada, I’ve felt called to dive in and solidify our family’s traditions so that we can get into the magic of each holiday in a way that becomes familiar and comforting through the years. For Advent, this has meant creating a guide of stories, songs, crafts, and family activities that leads the flow towards Christmas. I’ve dug into the inspiration of my childhood which is rooted in celebrating nature and Waldorf education.
Advent and Christmas for me are about celebrating the light in the darkness. The imagery in Waldorf Advent stories and songs does this beautifully building week by week a connection between the celestial light of the cosmos and the inner light of humans on earth. The four weeks of Advent celebrate the kingdoms of nature.
Week 1- Crystals, shells and bones
Week 2- Plants
Week 3- Animals
Week 4- Humans
Each week is a time to engage with the different kingdoms, notice what they bring to the earth, and through that foster gratitude for their unique gifts. Another big figure in Waldorf Advent is Mother Mary. I see her as the embodiment of the sacred feminine, a celestial mother carrying the light down to earth.
By working from a place of stories, noticing what is happening in nature, creating feelings of coziness, love, and warmth. Christmas can take on meaning past commercialism, which is inclusive to those who are religious or not. I love to think of the ancient Celtic celebration of mid-winter and see how those traditions became intertwined with the later Christian holiday. In that way the coming of the Child of Light is connected to the midwinter Solstice (or Summer Solstice in the Southern hemisphere), creating a narrative that highlights the magic of nature and our place as humans within that magic.
The question then is how to create a space where children feel a personal connection and agency within the traditions. I look to their interests, questions, and my intuition. The traditions and rituals while guided by me are a co-creation with them. I have a framework, but some days we might not do what is planned or the plan will change depending on what the children are working through on that day. I love structure and I get so much joy sharing the stories, crafts, and activities with the kids, the hardest part for me is letting go of expectations. But those times of letting often lead to new insights and moments of shared learning which deepens the family connection.
Here is what I’ve prepared for the first week of Advent, the week of crystals, shells, and bones.
Each day includes a daily advent gift. On homeschool days the gift ties in with a craft along with a story. Each week in our homeschooling rhythm I perform the story 3 times with felted puppets, on the last day I invite Phoenix to be the puppeteer and he loves telling the story, often with new insights and plot twists.
The 6th day being St. Nicholas Day, includes a St. Nicholas story, craft, and activity.
I hope you enjoy xo
Week 1- Crystals, Minerals, Shells, Bones
1st Sunday
Setting the Scene
– Advent Garden, Kids wake up and find a few wonderful changes around the house, there is a little Advent garden table set with a creche and a floor of moss. Crystals shells and bones are in a small basket to be added by kiddies (each week they will find new treasures displayed in the basket, to add to the Advent garden until on Christmas, crystals, plants, animals and humans are represented)
-Advent present banner is out, with first gift (Xmas PJs)
-Advent Calendar, The homeschooling story table is set with deep blue silk.
There is an Advent calendar as a backdrop, depicting a snowy day and starry sky. The story scene is set for the 1st advent story using felted puppets and nature objects.
-Advent Wreath-There is a vase of red roses on the nature shelf. The shelf has been cleared except for the shells, crystals, and bones, to make room for the Advent wreath to come.
-Go for a family walk and collect pine boughs. Bring them home and make an Advent wreath with 4 wax candles.
In the evening, light the first candle and do Advent poems and songs (See poems and songs at the end of this post)
Mon- Homeschool Day
Advent gift- Gold and silver block crayons
Story- Advent Garden (See below)
Craft- Make paint by crushing up mineral pigments and adding water.
Advent Garden Story -adapted from story by Cynthia Kennedy
“Mother Mary was preparing for Christmas. It was time for her to weave a robe for the Child of Light who was soon to be born.
Among the stars, she wandered, and they gave her radiant threads of crystal for the Child’s robe. To the Moon, she went, and it gave her silver threads. Threads of gleaming gold the Sun gave to her. And so Mother Mary gathered all the lovely threads and began to weave. But alas! The threads slipped apart and could not be woven together. On her way went Mother Mary, searching, searching.
“Ah, dear stones and crystals,” said Mother Mary, “you are so strong and firm. Can you help me to weave these threads into a robe for my child of Light?”
“No, Mother Mary. We will mark your pathway to the stable and give you sturdy ground for your footsteps, but we cannot help you weave your threads.”
“Ah, dear plants,” said Mother Mary, “you are so lovely and green. Some of you are green even in the depth of winter. Can you help me to weave these threads into a robe for my child of Light?”
“No, Mother Mary. We will make you a garden where the Christmas rose can bloom, but we cannot help you weave your threads.”
“Ah, dear animals,” said Mother Mary, “you are so nimble and lively. Can you help me to weave these threads into a robe for my Child of Light?”
“No, Mother Mary. Our brother Donkey will help you on your long journey, but we cannot help you weave your threads.”
Now, Mother Mary no longer knew where to turn for help to weave her lovely threads. But lo! There came an angel to her and spoke softly, saying: “Mother Mary, you must ask the children for the love in their hearts. When the children of Earth send you their love, then you will be able to weave the Child’s robe.”
And that is just what happened. And now, each year at Advent we light up the darkness with love and help Mother Mary to weave the robe for the coming Child of Light.
Sing: “Over stars is Mary wandering,
In her mantle’s flowing folds,
Radiant threads of starlight woven,
For her little child she holds,
Throngs of stars behold her passing,
All the sky is filled with light,
With her hands she weaves and gathers,
Blessings for the Christmas night” (Karl Schubert)
Tue- Homeschool Day
Advent gift: Assorted crystals
Story- Advent Garden
Craft- Make calming magnesium bath salts with crystal wishes
See bath salt recipe here: https://mommypotamus.com/bath-soak-recipe/
Wed-Homeschool
Advent Gift-Cookie cutters
Story- Advent Garden
Craft- Salt Dough ornaments
See salt dough recipe here: https://mommypotamus.com/how-to-make-salt-dough-ornaments/
Thur-
Advent gift- Crystal making kit
See more on crystal making fun here: http://ouronesweetfamily.blogspot.com/2013/12/stones-and-crystals.html
Fri-
Sat- St. Nicolas Day
Advent Gift- Gold bells, oranges, chocolate coins, silver stars
Story-St. Nicholas and the Star Children, Wynstones Press (Winter)
“Once St. Nicholas rode across the clouds from a country where the sun rises in the morning to a country where the sun says goodnight in the evening. Up in the heavens, he met Mother Mary who was carrying the Christ Child in her arms and Mother Mary said to St. Nicholas: “Once again it is time that I take the Child down to earth for a while so that he can play with the children.” When she had said this, many little stars came along from all sides of the heavens and asked whether they could go with them down to the earth.
“Yes,” said Mother Mary, “but only if the moon will show you the way, for I cannot carry you all under my cloak.”
When St. Nicholas heard this he rode off to the moon: “Good evening, dear Moon.”
“Good evening, St. Nicholas.”
“Dear Moon, will you please show these little stars the way to the earth.”
“Yes, willingly, if the sun comes along too.”
St. Nicholas rode to the sun. “Good morning, dear Sun.”
“Good morning, St. Nicholas.”
“Dear Sun, will you please help to take these little stars down to the earth?”
“What do they want to do there?”
“They want to play with the Child of Light and the children of the Earth.”
“That is how it should be,” said the Sun.
And now the sun placed himself on one side of Mother Mary and the Moon on her other side. The Moon took the little stars in her lap, and the Sun held the hand of the Child of Light who was sitting in his mother’s arms. Thus they went together down to the earth, but St. Nicholas rode on in front of them. He rode so fast across the clouds that he arrived on the Earth much earlier than the others. On Earth, he went from house to house and told everyone that the Child of Light would soon arrive, and he gave the children on the Earth presents so that they could play with the Child of Light.
Then the Child of Light arrived on the Earth accompanied by Sun and Moon. He jumped out of Mother Mary’s arms and showed the little stars the path to the children on the Earth, but when the little stars leapt out of the lap of the Moon onto the Earth, they had all become human children and played with the Child of Light and the other children on the Earth. It was a happy game, for the children of the Earth play more beautifully and happily when the Child of Light plays with them. Mother Mary looked on and smiled.
Many stars who had become children of the Earth stayed with the human children; and when Mother Mary took the Child of Light back into the heavens, many children of the Earth were allowed to go with her and the Child of Light, to live with the stars”
Activity- Shine our shoes using homemade shoe polish (older children could make beeswax shoe polish).
-Make St. Nicholas gift baskets of salt dough ornaments (baked on Wednesday), cards, oranges, gold coins and deliver to neighbours.
-Playfully ask children to hide while you fill their freshly polished shoes with treats. Then children take a turns being St. Nicholas while others hide.
Advent Wreath Lighting Songs and Poems:
“Winter is dark, yet each tiny spark
Brightens the way to Christmas Day.
Shine little light, and show us the way
To the bright light of Christmas Day”
(Traditional Waldorf poem)
“Advent, Advent a candle burns
Advent, Advent a candle burns
First one, then two, then three, then four
Then stands the light child at the door”
(See Winter, Wynstones Press for music)
1. “People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.
2. Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.
3. Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.
4. Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way”
(By Eleanor Farjeon, Youtube has many videos with the tune)
HeartSong 
Dear Raewyn, what a work of love! So thorough, so rich and all encompassing. There is so much to inspire and your links to other like minded sources broaden the network wonderfully. If parents just took one thing and one step into this pathway of connection, they would see the benefits as they grew their own confidence and connection. That’s the key isn’t it? Then all else flows. Beautiful Rae, you are a treasure in the world. With Love, Carol
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Thank you sooooo much for sharing this beautiful recipe. What a wonderful resource for families . My daughter is 16 now and this shines such a light on what she did with your mom ❤️
Love it !!!
Jody and Zoe
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Hi Jody and Zoe, Oh wow Zoe is 16! How time flies! I so loved getting to know Zoe the year I taught with my mom. What fond memories ❤ Thank you so much for your comment here. It really warms my heart to know you enjoyed reading this post. Love to you!!
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