Time: Sunday afternoon 3 - 5 p.m.
Let's get together for a early Christmas event in the great outdoors with other Geocachers and celebrate this time of the year in a different setting. We will have a fire and wood stove burning in a enclosed kitchen shelter at the Sibbald Lake Day Use Area. Nonetheless dress according to the current weather on that day and bring anything to keep you comfortable. There is an outhouse available on site.
This is NOT the yearly Christmas event with gift exchange, just a social get together to celebrate the season with friends.
The Event Hosts will provide:
- Hot chocolate and the fire(s)
Attendees will bring:
- Your favorite Christmas cookies to share (preferably homemade, but store bought will do as well)
- Chair, mug for your hot chocolate
- Any trimmings for your hot chocolate (i.e. marshmallows, etc.)
- Some Firewood if you have access to it (do NOT buy any), this will make for a longer and bigger fire as the hosts loading space is limited.
The Tradition of Advent
Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas (or sometimes from the 1st December to Christmas Day!). Advent means 'Coming' in Latin. This is the coming of Jesus into the world. Christians use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas.
There are several ways that Advent is counted down but the most common is by a calendar or candle(s).
There are many types of calendars used in different countries. The most common ones in the UK and USA are made of paper or card with 25 little windows on it. A window is opened on every day in December and a Christmas picture is displayed underneath. When they were first made, scenes from the Christmas Story and other Christmas images were used, such as snowmen and robins, but now many calendars are made in the theme of television programmes, sports clubs, LEGO, etc. Some of these types of calendar even have chocolate under each window, to make every day in December that little bit better! I used to like those when I was little (and still do now!!!)!
Some European countries such as Germany use a wreath of fir with 24 bags or boxes hanging from it. In each box or bag there is a little present for each day.
Other calendar types used are with candles.
There are two types of candle(s) that are used to count down to Christmas Day in Advent. The first looks like a normal candle, but has the days up to Christmas Day marked down the candle. On the first of December the candle is lit and burnt down to the first line on the candle. The same is done every day and then the rest of the candle is burnt on Christmas day.
An Advent Crown is another form of candles that are used to count down Advent. The crown is often made up of a wreath of greenery and has four candles round the outside and one in the middle or in a separate place. Sometimes a more traditional candelabra is used to display the five candles. One candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, two are lit on the second Sunday and so on. The middle or separate candle is lit on Christmas Day and represents Jesus, the light of the world. In Germany this fifth candle is known as the “Heiligabend” and is lit on Christmas Eve.