Wait! Before Advent ... Saint Andrew!

Our Thanksgiving Table

(All links in the text are re-linked at the bottom of this post.)

Have you finished all your turkey, yet?   Ours is slowly being digested.  Last night was turkey soup, today is turkey casserole.  I do love the leftovers from Thanksgiving...but my kids seem to be tiring of turkey!  Maybe we'll resort to tacos later this week.

My slow roast turkey was another hit - whew!  It is pretty easy, but I made the mistake of needing my oven that morning to make a breakfast casserole.  Need to rethink that for next year.  Maybe an intant pot breakfast instead.

With the turkey almost gone, it must be time to start thinking about Advent!

Why is Advent my favorite time of year?  I'm not exactly sure...maybe it is in my contrarian nature to want to do something different from the culture. I do love the slowness of it, which is ironic because my actual days are a little crazy during early December.  Maybe it is the reminder to take it slow and really dig into the season of waiting and expectation.

Is there some link between how we approach Advent and how we live the rest of the year?  Perhaps.  We do live in Advent days...days of waiting for the coming of the King.

Frey enjoying the
Thanksgiving feast...
with a little kitty helper

Advent traditionally begins the Sunday after the Feast of Saint Andrew (Nov 30th).  So this year, it will begin on Dec 2nd.  But let's not overlook dear Saint Andrew in our rush to get to Advent!  Saint Andrew was fishing with his brother, Peter, when he answered Jesus' call to follow him, and thus became Christ's first disciple.

Because he is very closely associated with Scotland, and we have Scottish heritage, we lean toward those customs, but you can certainly find customs from the other cultures he's associated with (Greece, Russia, Amalfi in Italy, and Barbados).

Share the story of Saint Andrew's life with your children.  Many Saints' lives books will feature him.  The pickings are a little slim for individual books about his life, but I found a couple.  There is a Kindle book (I haven't read it, so I can really vouch for it - but it is only 99 cents!).  And another written for Scottish children by Lois Rock.

Here's a little kid-friendly video that will give you and your kids a quick overview of Andrew's life:




What other ways can we celebrate this last feast day before Advent?

Scottish Stovies -
doesn't that look delicious?!

• 
      
• Enjoy some Scottish delights: shortbread (buy it or make it), Scottish Stovies, or serve fish for dinner.

• Hang a Scottish flag (or the flag of one of the other countries that claim him as a patron saint)

• Draw a Scottish thistle (a guided tutorial)

Of course right on the heels of St. Andrew's feast (especially this year!) is the beginning of Advent.  Time to begin planning what you and your family might do.  In the next day or two, I'll start posting some ideas to get your family started!  Until then you can check out my Church Year page and follow the links under "Advent".

Blessed Feast of Saint Andrew!

Links from the text:

• Kindle book - Saint Andrew,  and this one by Lois Rock
• 5 Things You Didn't Know About St. Andrew  
• Scottish Shortbread Recipe
• The Order of the Thistle
• Draw a Scottish Thistle
• Craft a Scottish Thistle to wear
• Wear a thistle (a Scottish custom) - here's one you can make!