Autumn is coming to an end and the last dry leaves are falling from the trees. It’s getting dark outside earlier and earlier each day, and the weather is getting colder. We snuggle up in scarves and shawls and start wearing cosy jumpers, woolly hats and gloves. From time to time a few snowflakes flutter down. They tickle us on the nose, as if to tell us that something magical is coming.
It won't be long now until winter sets in, and with the winter comes Christmas. I’m sure you’re already looking forward to it. All the lovely smells, pretty lights and beautifully wrapped presents. Christmas trees and snowmen and sleighs and Santa. Decorations, carols and mince pies. That festive feeling that something magical and miraculous is going on.
I'm really excited! My mum says that Christmas is actually a little miracle every year. She says we should treat Christmas like a miracle and look after it carefully. I don't know if it's true, but my mum says Christmas isn’t really about presents.
Apparently, it’s the time before Christmas that’s most important. A time of preparation and looking forward. It is called Advent and it starts four Sundays before Christmas Day. When Advent starts, we collect fir branches and weave them into a wreath. We decorate it with sprigs of holly with red berries and stick four candles into it. On the first Sunday of Advent, we light the first candle. On the second Sunday, we light two candles, the next Sunday three, and the next four. When all four candles are burning on the wreath, Christmas Day is just around the corner. That’s when I start feeling butterflies in my stomach from all the excitement.
Another thing that happens when Advent…
