December 8: Christmas in England!
2nd Option for Day 8. The original Day 8 has been moved to Christmas Day, Dec 25th, for you to enjoy all week until New Years. When you scan the new 3rd edition Day 25, you will also find that info there too. (But also find it below for those still using our 1st edition advent cards)
Read: Lucy & Tom At Christmas by Shirley Hughes
Also Read: Snow in the Garden: A First Book of Christmas by Shirley Hughes
Enjoy this flight through of this delightful book. Also find more books to enjoy today below.
Additional Books about England:
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Enjoy this Full Story Audio of the book 1st published in 1833:
The Wind in the Willows Christmas Illustrated by Michael Hauge (pair our Wind in the Willows Guide, and special Christmas Coloring Page too!)
Enjoy this music singing the song that the field mice sing in the book, the Wind in the Willows.
Tom Smith's Christmas Crackers: An Illustrated History by Peter Kimpton (Crackers are a UK Christmas Tradition)
I found a video from 1987 TV show of The Wind in the Willows, during Winter that could also be a nice one to watch. The animation is very unique! find more info about the video below.
The Wind in the Willows
Title: Winter Haunts
Season: 3 Episode: 13
Original Air Date: March 24th 1987
Studio: Cosgrove Hall Films
Summary: Snowed in at Toad Hall, the four friends recall the episode in which Mole mistakenly thought his house was haunted. Toad, who is proud of his illustrious ancestors (despite Badger's revelation of how one of them made his money in candles), maintains that a few still haunt the Hall, but no one takes him seriously. Deciding to play a trick on them, Toad retires early to bed, then dresses up as a ghost and waits in the cellar to surprise the others. However, the trick suffers a setback when, before going to bed, Mole locks the cellar door. Toad remembers the secret tunnel.
MORE BOOKS TO READ:
The Village of Lights by Mitchell Stevens
Tom Smith's Christmas Crackers: An Illustrated History by Peter Kimpton (Crackers are a UK Christmas Tradition)
Here is a documentary telling the story of the Christmas Cracker of the UK:
Bears Stays up for Christmas by Karma Wilson (They make popcorn garlands)
The Popcorn Tree by Carolyn Mamchur
The Friendly Beasts: an old English Chrsitmas Carol by Tomie dePaola
Paint: Popcorn Garlands, included in our 3rd edition
If you would like to try other variations of this, here are some fun tutorials for you. The simple popcorn garland above is easy and that is why it is the main craft for today. The lady below uses beeswax to coat the thread, and finds it to be really great for the thread! fun tip there.
I also found a really cook Crochet Version of a Popcorn & Cranberry Garland, so this would be a really fun idea to dive into maybe next year after you create a real popcorn garland. It is my hope that I can give you loads of inspiration for this year, but also for you to come back year after year with this Advent.
Here is a tutorial really focusing on the popcorn kernel:
Cook: Apple Scones with Tea, recipe included in 3rd edition plans.
Also enjoy watching a similar recipe being made for all this visual learners out there.
1st Edition plan for December 8:
Download today’s FREEBIE: Gingerbread Girl & Boy Coloring Pages! Also included in 3rd edition (plus so much more!)
Read: The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa E.
Make: Gingerbread Men Cookies
I have now added a no-chill gingerbread recipe to the 3rd edtion.
Craft: Milk Carton Gingerbread Houses or DIY Gingerbread House/Cookie Ornaments. I found some fun inspiration for you here, and here from Pillar Box Blue Blog. <—- this one has a free house template that is very fun! I have included it in the above photo. A great additional craft with this free template would be felt embroidery art, or ornaments!
Where did Gingerbread Men originate from? England!
Read more here on wikipedia about Gingerbread.
“Gingerbread men were first attributed to the court of Queen Elizabeth I, who served the figurines to foreign dignitaries.”
Read more about Gingerbread Men here.
Some more optional books to read about Queen Elizabeth 1 of England:
Elizabeth I, the People's Queen by Kerrie Logan Hollihan
Who Was Queen Elizabeth? by June Eding
Good Queen Bess: The Story of Elizabeth I of England by Diane Stanley