It’s happening, isn’t it? The month of December is picking up speed and is no longer obeying the standard rules of time. “Go ahead and try to keep up,” the month of December is taunting. “I dare you.”
Well, here’s a great big raspberry blown by me. Pfffbt! I didn’t do a thing a yesterday other than bake a roast and play with the kids and watch the Vikings get creamed by the Cardinals. (Ouch.)
There will be time. There will be time.
If not, there are always gift cards.
So here’s a question for you. Have you ever noticed that the stuff that St. Nicholas brings on his feast day is an awful lot like the stuff that he brings on Christmas? This is tricky terrain—the whole notion of why he comes on December 6th as well as on December 25th. How do you present it? (That is, what sort of deal have you cut with St. Nick?)
Look what my family received yesterday! Several shiny cans of Altoids!
(You may or may not have known this, but St. Nicholas is huge on crafting.)
Felicity had never tried these curiously strong mints before.
Yowza! When they say “strong” they do indeed mean strong!
I could be mistaken but I don’t really think she cares for them.
She did, however, enjoy the piece of Momma’s chocolate that Momma (reluctantly) snapped off and handed over.
I didn’t want to share but I did.
Because it’s Advent.
I call this shot “Blurry Photo of Yummy Chocolate with Bitten Thumbnail and Sudsy Dishes in the Background.”
I don’t know why I call it that. It just came to me.
But I do know I really like this chocolate.
(Does that mean I should put it away ‘til next Sunday? Yes, Virginia, I’m afraid it does.)
Happy 2nd Week of Advent! Let’s all make it count, okay?
Ed. Note: This is my 1,501st post!! That is just ridiculous.
ARGH! I forgot all about St. Nicholas Day! Why didn't you post this on Saturday night?!?!?
Is it OK for St. Nick to show up late, or should I pretend that the Virgin of Guadelupe brought the stockings next weekend?
Erin, that is entirely okay. Tell the kids that the Feast got shifted because of Sunday.
Or something like that.
They're kids! They don't mind it when Mom (and St. Nick) are late!
When it comes to living out the liturgical year, we are never behind. All for the greater glory of God.
Yikes … those mints are pretty strong to me. I would prefer the chocolate too 😉
that's so funny you asked about st nicholas "coming twice" – for us, he only comes once, and i just wrote a longwinded post explaining it! :-p
http://stsebastianprayforus.blogspot.com/2009/12/liturgical-gift-giving.html
its what works for our family, and we also plan to escape the confusion of Christmas Santa and St. Nick santa.
Christmas presents are from family, St Nicholas day gifts are from st. nick! although, i will say, i'm not sure how much we will insist on they're REALLY from st nicholas as he gets older…. does that make me a santa secret killer?
what do other catholic mamas do?
So far, we haven't had to explain anything because our oldest is only 5. But I have no good explanation so I'm hoping someone posts one. I'm going to go see what Mrs. 2nd Lt. had to say about it.
I asked the kids last night how St. Nick knew what everyone wanted and Grace said "Maybe he's in with Santa."
PS When child 1 was born, I proposed never doing gifts from Santa and was shot down my hubby in no time flat. I still struggle with how to reconcile the commercial and religious aspects of the holiday.
I love her expression. I think I've done the same..curiously strong..no kidding!
Please pass the chocolate, thank you! yum.
The idea of dark chocolate with a little sea salt intrigues me. I'll have to try this product. If you like that, you may want to try this recipe from Pioneer Woman's site. Her photos are so gorgeous that they are (sometimes) enough. 😉
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/10/chocolate-truffles-with-sea-salt/
For us St. Nicholas comes on his feast day as the patron saint of children and brings a little Christmas to the Advent season. We make Speculaas cookies the days before in the shape of gingerbread boys (for the three boys he brought back to life) and girls (for the three girls he saved from prostitution) and we also make a few cookies in the shape of St. Nicholas (we got the cutter from St. Nicholas Center site). We leave out a couple of cookies for St. Nicholas and his servant (who we call Peterbas, but some Rupert). We also put out a cold beer, a glass of milk, and some carrots (for his faithful donkey). The kids put out their shoes and all of them get chocolate coins (in honor of the coins Nicholas threw through the window for dowries), a new book and a few odds and ends.
The Kristkind (Christ child) comes on Christmas to bless our tree (we put it up Christmas Eve) and our gifts to one another. My husband begins reading aloud Dickens' Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve to put everyone in the proper frame of mind of generosity and gratitude.
HI Margaret! Just as these kidos don't know the difference of St. Nick's feast day-in our family, they have YET to pick up on why does St. Nicholas come twice? On Dec. 6th and Dec. 25th! B/c he just DOES, that's why! THey don't ask more quetions, they are kids who are getting gifts! c'mon!!! 🙂
God bless, happy and holy Advent,
Mary @ Cheerios
p.s. I actually forgot too! But to my surprise, my 7 year old didn't and I noticed shoes by the fireplace…hum, I wondered….why are those there?!? Then I Ran to get the yummy chocolate coins! they never picked up on it! phew!
Put chocolate in a photo and no one is going to care about what's in the background.
St. Nick brings our kids a book and some candy. Christmas presents are different, andmy boys have never asked the difference.
I love how you knew she'd maybe not like those mints, and had the camera ready…I don't think I'd think of that, great photos!!
We do candy coins, chocolate angels and we did a Veggie Tale St Nicholas this year too….and St Nicholas brought Bridget red Christmas tights too!
I agree with Sarah. Until you brought up the other stuff, all I saw was chocolate. And even after you brought up the other stuff, I had trouble seeing anything but chocolate.
The chocolate looked good. mmmmmm!
St. Nicholas ALWAYS shops the night before in a mad rush tom find something…..last year my poor teenage dd got gum, chocolate, popcorn, and hard candy. She turned to me, laughed, and said, "I guess St. Nicholas forgot I just got braces and am allergic to chocolate too." She had to give away EVERYTHING.
I don't bother telling them that Saint Nick comes twice. I fill up their stockings in honor of the big guy. 🙂
As for the posts, it's not ridiculous at all. I think I have over three thousand. 😉