Nontraditional Advent Candles

Advent is a special time of year, marked by the anticipation of the coming of Christmas. For many families, the lighting of the advent wreath is a beloved tradition that adds to the excitement of the season. The advent wreath is typically made up of four candles, each representing a week of the season leading up to Christmas. However, not everyone has access to an advent wreath or may prefer a different approach to celebrating the season.

Kristin from Simply Klassic came up with a unique and rustic twist on the traditional advent wreath by creating a candle setup without the use of a wreath. The setup features four pillar candles arranged on a bed of greenery and pinecones. The simplicity of the setup is what makes it so charming, and the use of natural materials adds to the cozy and rustic feel.

What’s great about this setup is that it’s versatile and can be tailored to fit any home decor style. You can use candles of different sizes, colors, and scents to suit your personal taste. The greenery and pinecones can be swapped out for other seasonal decorations like holly, berries, or even ornaments.

If you’re looking for a new and unique way to celebrate the season, this advent candle setup is a great place to start. It’s easy to put together, and the materials can be found at your local craft store or even in your backyard. Simply light a new candle each week leading up to Christmas, and enjoy the warmth and coziness it brings to your home.

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Lots of Americans seem to think that May 5 is Mexican Independence Day, but that holiday actually falls on Sept. 16.

May 5 is the celebration of the Battle of Puebla, in which the Mexicans defeated the French in 1862. Independence Day marks the beginning of their fight for independence from Spain in 1810. That was the day of what’s known as El Grito de Dolores, or the cry of Dolores, for when the Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the church bells at his church in Dolores and declared that Mexico should be free from Spanish rule.

They would fight for their freedom until 1821 when they finally gained independence.

Fabulous Classroom has a little of the history and ideas for celebrating the holiday for all age groups. There’s also a link to a good video in that post about the real story of Mexican Independence Day.

Twinkl also has a good tops about the history and different activities, discussion ideas, crafts and foods that can be incorporated into lessons at school or used at home.

I also found a few pins that no longer link to a website but include good information on Mexican Independence Day, including some questions for students to answer based on the reading. You can find more printables and questions for kids from TX Homeschool Mama on Etsy (also available in Spanish).

You can find a lot more paid resources about Mexican Independence Day at Teachers Pay Teachers.

Mexican flag crafts are a fun option for celebrating Mexican Independence Day (though the current iteration of their flag has only been in use since 1968). Kids Activities Blog has a free Mexican flag printable and a few different ideas for decorating it including dot markers and torn tissue paper.

You can also find some great Mexican crafts at Red Ted Art. The post includes all sorts of Mexican inspired projects including Day of the Dead crafts, Frida Kahlo pinatas and upcycled musical instruments. I love the giant paper flowers they shared from Honestly WTF.

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