Christmas & Advent - Exodus Books

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The Christian year begins with the birth of a baby. No one knows the exact day Jesus was born, but the date of December 25th was specifically chosen and introduced to Christian believers in order to counter the pagan feast of the "sun god," which was a popular winter solstice festival held in Rome. Instead of trying to coax the sun to return North again, this Christian theological corrective was meant to celebrate the source of true light in our dark world: the Son of God.

It was not until the fourth century that people began to celebrate Christ's birth. In keeping with Old testament feasts and festivals, it was designated a feast day called the Feast of the Nativity. The celebration began with a special Mass in honor of the remembrance of His coming, first called "Christ's Mass," later simply "Christmas." It was Christ being celebrated, not the day!

Later, the four week period before December 25th was declared a sacred and holy season. It was called "Advent," which comes from the Greek through the Latin and means "to come." It was a special time, designed to remind us that the Old testament saints had anxiously awaited the Messiah for centuries, and to provide a period of preparation that would allow time for reflection before the celebration of His birth. Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas day, our actions and activities should remind us of our need for Jesus.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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Parent Categories

Just for Fun

Holidays / Church Calendar

Christmas & Advent

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Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Related Links

Corrigenda Denuo
Is Christmas Christian? Here's a list of articles to discuss the topic.
Readings for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany
from the pastors of the CREC
Truth in the Tinsel
Advent ebook for young kids (affiliate link)

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Picture Books,

4th grade (Ages 9-10)

	An Edwardian Christmas by John S. Goodall from Atheneum for Preschool-Adult in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
	Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Fritz Eichenberg from New Directions for 2nd-4th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman from Holiday House for 2nd-4th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Edward Ardizzone from David R. Godine for 2nd-4th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Children's Theatre A Reproduction of the Antique Pop-Up Book by Franz Bonn from Viking Press for Preschool-4th grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Christmas Trees A New True Book by Kathy Henderson from Children's Press for 2nd-4th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $5.60 (1 in stock)
	Countdown to Christmas by Bill Peet from Golden Gate Junior Books for Kindergarten-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Gift of the Magi and Other Stories by O. Henry, illustrated by P. J. Lynch from Candlewick Press for 4th-10th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $15.29
	How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss from Random House Christmas Stories for Kindergarten-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $14.44
	Ice Bird A Christmas Legend by Pauline Innis, illustrated by Wesley Dennis from Robert B. Luce, Inc. for 2nd-4th grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
	Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien, introduction by Bailie Tolkien Centenary Edition from William Morrow & Company for Kindergarten-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $27.20
	Life of Our Lord by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Rachel Taft-Dixon from Grosset & Dunlap for 4th-7th grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
	Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats from Puffin Books for Preschool-6th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Nativity by Julie Vivas from Voyager Books for Preschool-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Night Before Christmas - Coloring Book by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by John O'Brien 81st edition from Dover Publications for 3rd-5th grade in Literary & Fantasy Coloring Books (Location: COL-LIT) $4.24
	Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann from Gramercy Books for 2nd-6th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Nutcracker by Warren Chappell First Edition Thus from Schocken for 2nd-5th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann from Unicorn Publishing House for 4th-8th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann from Crown Publishers for 2nd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Nutcracker retold by Jean Lee Latham, illustrated by Jose Correas from Bobbs-Merril Co for 2nd-5th grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
	One Wintry Night by Richard Jesse Watson from Baker Books for Kindergarten-5th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Quomodo Invidiosulus Nomine Grinchus Christi Natalem Abrogaverit How the Grinch Stole Christmas in Latin! by Dr. Seuss from Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers Christmas Stories (in Latin) for 3rd-6th grade in Latin Resources & Reference (Location: FL-LATREF) $10.40 (1 in stock)
	Santa, Are You For Real? by Harold Myra; illustrated by Dwight Walles from Thomas Nelson Publishers for Kindergarten-4th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Tell Me the Story by Max Lucado, Ron Dicianni, Timothy Botts 1^st edition from Crossway Books for 3rd-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Three Gifts of Christmas by Jennie Bishop Har/Com from Warner Press for 4th-6th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Tomie dePaola's Book of Christmas Carols by Tomie DePaola First Edition from Putnam Juvenile for Nursery-4th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long from Puffin Books for 1st-4th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $7.64
	Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas by Madeleine L'Engle from Shaw Books in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
	Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect by Richard Schneider from Abingdon Press for 1st-4th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY)
	Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect by Richard Schneider from Abingdon Press for 1st-4th grade in Christmas & Advent (Location: HOLIDAY) $12.74
	Why the Chimes Rang by Raymond MacDonald Alden, illustrated by Rafaello Busoni from Bobbs-Merril Co for 1st-4th grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)

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