Celebrate Advent!

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A Prayer for Momma & Cranberry Relish Recipe
RECIPES, TRADITIONS Marion Westra RECIPES, TRADITIONS Marion Westra

A Prayer for Momma & Cranberry Relish Recipe

“As I reflect all the years back, I believe it to be about December of 1935. It had been a cold winter, and we lived in a little four-room house. It was one of the best things that came in a small package. Money was as scarce as hen's teeth, but there was a lot of love in that home.” Near-centennial, Marion Westra, shares a holiday memory and a family favorite recipe: Easy Cranberry Relish.

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Walk Through Lent With Joy!
TRADITIONS Rebecca Grabill TRADITIONS Rebecca Grabill

Walk Through Lent With Joy!

Walk through Lent with Joy with this printable Lent calendar for kids and adults.

Those of you who are familiar with Lent and what it’s all about will understand why the title: Walk Through Lent with Joy, is surprising.

Lent is a time of penance and repentance, of fasting, of giving up joy … isn’t it?

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

—James 1:2-3

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Flower of the Holy Night: How Poinsettias Became the Flower of Christmas
TRADITIONS Kristin Nitz TRADITIONS Kristin Nitz

Flower of the Holy Night: How Poinsettias Became the Flower of Christmas

Explore the history of the most iconic Christmas flower—the poinsettia.

Every Christmas, poinsettias sit in pots trimmed with foil. But in their native habitats along the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America, some wild cousins of these holiday decorations can grow to a height of thirteen feet or more. That’s why gardeners in subtropical regions around the world can shape and trim poinsettias to become hedges, shrubs, or even small trees. With the proper care, every poinsettia could grow up to be a bush of some kind as long as the ambient temperatures stay above…

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Welcome to the Joy of Advent!

Welcome to the Joy of Advent!

We want you to have the most meaninful Advent ever

With that goal in mind, we developed daily readings that run from December 1st to the feast of the Epiphany on January 6th. We’ve been using these readings and carefully selected songs for years in our own home, and now we offer them to you as a daily email subscription. They will not appear on this site, but are offered exclusively to those who want to share in this Advent Journey with us. In the true spirit of Christmas, the Joy of Advent subscription is completely free.

Are you ready to experience Advent as you never have before? If so, subscribe here. Or freely explore our website.

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Explore All Our Holiday Resources

  • Traditions

    Family traditions, history of holiday favorites, explore traditions from across the globe.

  • Recipes

    All your favorite holiday foods from a perfect Christmas ham to Grandma’s traditional cut-out cookies.

  • Stories

    Dramatizations, meditations, stories to bring the Christmas and Advent seasons to life!

  • Family Advent

    Ideas and inspiration to make this holiday season meaningful for the whole family.

  • Gifts & More

    Find resources and tips for every area of life, including seasonal gift guides and one-of-a-kind treasures!

  • Crafts & DIY

    Nothing says Christmas like crafts! Here you’ll find home decor, handmade gifts, crafts for kids, and so much more.