December
The Four Cycles of Life in December
Liturgical: Advent and Christmastide
Sanctoral: St. Nicholas, St. Lucia, Mary the Expectant Mother
Human: Sages; family milestones; history of Christmas traditions
Natural: Nesting/Home and Hearth
Memory Work: Advent Hymns, Christmas carols, practice Christmas folk dances and the Paradise play
Advent Activities: Advent Angels, create tree ornaments and wreaths, charity, caroling, Four Sundays of Advent wreath ritual (Advent prayer, readings, hymn, treat and Christmas story), Service acts for Sages (visiting a nursing home, etc)
1: Overview of the month, create a plan for crafts, gifts, outings, activities, etc.
2:
3:
4: Santa Barbara traditions
5:
6: St. Nicholas stockings and coin bags for charity
7: St. Ambrose traditions
8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception
9:
10:
11:
12: Our Lady of Guadalupe traditions
13: Santa Lucia traditions
14: St. Hardini
15:
16:
17-23: O Antiphons, confession
21: The Winter Solstice/The Winter Feast
23: Michel’s birthday
24: fasting then fish dinner and Paradise Play
25: Nativity of Our Lord-Mass, carols, gift-giving, charity, George’s birthday
26: Begin the 12 Days of Christmas catechesis and Christmas fun (baking, crafts, etc)
27: St. John, Apostle- bread and wine sharing of the love of St. John
28: Holy Innocents: Coventry Carol, bless children, pray for the unborn, crisis pregnancy charity
29: St. Thomas Becket
30 or first Sunday within the Octave of Christmas: Feast of the Holy Family- consecration of the family
31: St. Sylvester’s Ball with a performance (Christmastide or Time themed variety show or select play, such as “A Christmas Carol” or “The Golden Thread”), write real and fake New Year’s resolutions