Advent-Related Links

"Best Advent Ever" from Dynamic Catholic. Sign up to get daily emails with brief spiritual reflections, videos, etc. Only takes a few minutes a day, but really helps get into the spirit of Advent preparation.

Professor Carol's Advent Calendar. Music, poetry, art, and historical reflections. Sign up for delivery by email or read online at her blog. Carol often has great insights into the traditions associated with Advent.

The Pray More Advent Retreat from PrayMoreNovenas.com. Changes seasonally, so it's also the link for their Lenten retreat.

Advent: Around the Year with the Trapp Family

Did you know that the real Von Trapp family (made famous in the movie Sound of Music) were particularly fond of celebrating the Liturgical Year and in fact wrote a book about it? This is the Advent portion.

Advent Reading List from 4 Real Learning

Christmas Carol Unit Study with Picture Books

In finding out more about the carols I looked for resources that told the history of the carols as well as ones that brought the carol’s lyrics to life for my children in picture books. I am looking for a local copy of the out of print book, Christ and the Carols by William Reynolds in hopes of supplementing information from the Collins books and the internet.

To share this fun topic with my family, particularly the younger children, we have embarked on a study of carols. We are hoping to not only enjoy the joyous music during these 12 days of Christmas, but to learn more about the songs and their history and the musicians behind them while enjoying some lovely picture books each day.

Family Advent Customs by Helen McLoughlin

Marian Songs for Advent

O Night Divine: A Blog Dedicated to the Celebration of Christmas