Writers Workshop: Counting down to Christmas

 prompt #3

The first of December is upon us! Describe an Advent Calender

or a special way you count down days until Christmas

When my children were young my sister-in-law gave us an advent calendar for Christmas. It was an Avon product that featured Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus sitting in their cozy cottage over steaming cups of hot chocolate. Santa is looking cheery while checking over the list once or twice. Friendly little critters are gathered around the cottage. Smoke curls invitingly from the chimney.  Snow is gently falling in gigantic flakes from the sky and adding to the frosting that covers the roof and ground. I love the little Swedish details along the roofline suggesting that Santa hails from the North Country. Below the picture are 24 pockets each decorated with a pink heart and white Holly leaves. A wee little mouse is the occupant of these pockets. Each day this mouse jumps a pocket (with the help of little hands) and helps the little ones keep track of how many days there are until Christmas. We always start with the little mouse in pocket #24 and move him backward until he arrives in pocket #1. Recently my daughter-in-law asked us why we counted backward. I told her it was because I had five little kids that were always asking, “Mom, how many days ‘till Christmas!”. I would tell them to go look at the calendar and see for themselves. They would soon figure it out and that would be about a thousand less times I would have to answer the question. We’ve counted Christmas this way for about 25 years. At the end of the holiday season I roll up this little calendar made of sturdy cotton until the first of December rolls around once again.

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