?> / VT7/, . >-»4 > \> ■ \ ----- The Advent Craft and Activity Book Stories, crafts, recipes and poems for the Christmas season 'Ths Advent C te ft and A ctivity B ook The Advent Craft and Activity B ook g'tories, crafts, recipes and poems for the Christmas season Christel Dhom Floris Books Translated by Bernadette Duncan First published in German under the title Unser Advents- & Weihnachtsbuch by Verlag Freies Geistesleben This English edition published in 2012 by Floris Books © 2002 Verlag Freies Geistesleben & Urachhaus GmbFl, Stuttgart English translation © Floris Books 2012 Photos: Christel Dhom, Ramona Lamb-Klinkenberg and iStockphoto All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of Floris Books, 15 Harrison Gardens, Edinburgh www.florisbooks.co.uk British Library CIP Data available ISBN 978-086315-912-1 Printed in China Contents Preface 9 December 5 32 Christinas f^einoiri©^ 10 Elisen Lebkuchen 33 Origins of Elisen Lebkuchen 34 December i 12 Riddles 34 History of the Advent calendar December 6 36 13 Advent calendar with hessian bags 14 Making a St Nicholas Boot 37 Chocolate almond macaroons 15 Nibble nuts 38 Advent angels game 15 Legend of St Nicholas 38 December 2 16 Lebkuchen game 41 Riddle 41 History of the Advent wreath 17 December 7 n Making an Advent or door wreath 18 German Advent trifle 20 Star cake 43 December 3 22 Mistletoe traditions 44 December 8 Making a nativity scene 23 % Nativity figures: magic wool sheep, Making a magic wool angel 47 ox and donkey 24 Hazelnut cinnamon cookies 48 Traditional Christmas Stollen 26 Story of the Christmas mouse 48 Origins of the Christmas Stollen 27 December 9 50 December ^ 28 Advent muffins 51 Pentagon star lantern 29 Vanishing game 53 Orange jelly 30 December 10 5¥ Legend of St Barbara 30 Nativity figures: magic wool Mary and Joseph 55 Origins of the nativity scene 56 Butter biscuits 57 December ii 58 December 18 86 Walnut chocolates 59 Making Christmas cards 87 Guessing food game 60 Orange slice 89 Riddle 60 Christmas celebrations around the world 90 December 12 62 December 19 92 Hibernating pear cake 63 Apricot almond chocolates 93 Story of the Christmas rose 64 Riddle 93 December 13 66 Obstacle race game 93 December 20 9^ Star lantern 67 Chocolate peanut crunchies 68 Making a magic wool star 95 Legend of St Lucy 68 Story of the beautiful silk scarf 96 December iq- 70 Wolf's tooth cakes 99 December 21 100 Hot spiced oranges 71 History of the Christmas tree 72 Homemade wrapping paper 101 Riddle 73 Homemade gift tags 102 December 15 7^ Dried fruit slice 103 A few thoughts about presents 104 Nativity figures: Gift box 105 magic wool shepherds 75 December 22 106 Date macaroons 77 Torch detective game 71 Felt poinsettia flowers 107 Riddle 77 Lebkuchen slices 108 December 16 78 Story of the little fir tree 109 December 23 110 Chocolate coconut truffles 79 Story of searching for Father Christmas 80 Tissue-paper angel 111 Riddle 81 Christmas almonds 113 December 17 82 Riddles 113 December 2<i m Making beeswax candles 83 Marzipan balls 85 Nativity figures: Baking pizza game 85 magic wool baby Jesus 115 Vegetarian festive menu 116 The Christmas Gospel according to St Luke 120 The Twelve Holy Ni§hts 122 Tradition of the Twelve Holy Nights 123 December 31 12^ Legend of St Sylvester 125 Sesame crackers 127 Crispy sticks 128 Apple-peel game 129 January 1 130 Good-luck pastries 131 Making candles from leftover beeswax 132 January 6 m The Christmas Gospel according to St Matthew 136 Kings cake 137 Three kings tableau 138 Ideas for Three Kings Day 140 Riddles 141 Answers to ■Riddles m Index of poems m Further "R^eadlng and ■Resources m