Opening an Advent Calendar is a tradition in our household and yesterday, December 1st, was the day to begin taking turns for 5-year-old Lily and 10-year-old Isaiah. Our family calendar consists of 24 little boxes surrounding an empty manger. Each box has a number on it and contains a little magnetic surprise—a star or lamb, camel, wise man, etc., one for each day.

Last year Lily went first and Isaiah got to be the last opener on the 24th when the baby Jesus appears and is placed in the middle of the crowded Christmas scene. This year Lily was excited to put the calendar up again and wanted to go first. I reminded her how disappointed she was last year that Isaiah got to go last and what that meant. When Isaiah saw the calendar going up, he nonchalantly said he’d take the even numbers, easily predicting the final outcome of that strategy. I said that it was Isaiah’s turn to go first this year and that we would keep switching every year.

Lily has been counting the boxes around the calendar ever since, with special attention to the even numbers (the “brown ones”) and can’t wait to wake up each morning. Unlike last year, there was no fussing between the two grandchildren about taking turns this year. This acceptance is simple evidence of two consolidating and more centered periods of development for these children at fully five and fully ten years old than at four and nine. The peacefulness also reflects the children’s deeper cognitive appreciation for ritual and tradition.

Chanukah traditions are also part of our holiday attention and appreciation with the reading of the story, eating latkes, and playing dreidel. Chanukah begins this year on December 12th, so counting days ‘til then and counting each of the eight days of the miracle and the lighting of a candle each day on a menorah adds to the numbering of days and of blessings. The first day of Chanukah will come the day before the third Sunday of Advent, also a candle-lighting day. Kwanza also follows a tradition of candle lighting, each day after Christmas for seven days, and is part of our grandchildren’s heritage.

Lily especially loves a book we’ve read often throughout the past year: Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat: A Chanukah Storyby Naomi Howland, a very fun melding of fairy and folk tale that’s appropriate as a read-aloud for ages 4 and up and as a reader for ages 7 and up. It tells a delightful story of caring and sharing when there’s not enough to go around. It’s also a cautionary tale about what can happen when people try to take advantage of a precious gift without knowing how best to take care of it. Thanks to a strong and wise heroine, all ends well, and a Chanukah feast ensues.

Enjoy with your children and grandchildren whatever holiday traditions you will be engaged in this month, and may blessings of peace and light prevail.