Happy Advent

Today is the first day of Advent, according to the Celtic calendar, anyway. At least that's what my Celtic Prayer book says... As it happens, today is also my birthday.

Cindy writes of her conviction to "about the way my purchases affect people around the world." It's a conviction I share -- the thought of my girls playing with Barbies made by young women in sweatshops or wearing Gap clothes sewn by child slaves turns my stomach. There is also that part of me that would like to teach my children that Advent is a liturgical season centered around Jesus, not making a list for Santa Claus.

I spent a little time today thinking about it, seeing as Advent is upon us, and the holiday blitz is on in the stores. Much as I would like to boycott Christmas-as-we-know-it (bah, humbug to you too!), incremental change is probably more realistic. I'm also thinking that any change we implement has to be explained to four- and five-year-olds.

Here are some ideas I've come up with so far:

1) Simplify the shopping. OK, I basically hate Christmas shopping anyway, so I'm all for this one. Doe's school had a book fair this week, and I bought a bunch of very reasonably-priced books for some of her cousins. There are some things I know I won't be buying; I'd like to focus on one significant gift (a bike or doll house) for each girl. For me staying out of the malls and big-box stores helps. The abundance of cheap junk (made at what cost to some poor person halfway around the world?) is a real temptation, and it spurs my own acquisitiveness. Online is good; fair-trade online is better. I plan to check out some of the resources Cindy lists in her post.

2) Make some gifts -- or at least get the girls to add their artwork and creative touches to the gifts we give. I tend not to have the time, energy or patience for crafts, but maybe we can get some help from Grandma. Or take up some of the Advent Conspiracy's suggestions for relational gifts. If everyone gives one do-it-yourself gift, that's a few less presents to buy.

3) Give beyond our boundaries. The perfect gift for that person on your list who has everything? -- a gift in their honor to someone in real need. By now the adults in my family know to expect they're getting a llama for some family in Peru. This year I'm thinking Kiva gift certificates...

4) Get out and serve somebody. I'm thinking of how my kids can help with the big Thanksgiving dinner our church puts on every year. They're really too small to be involved with serving food, but we could set tables or greet the guests. Maybe we can get in a visit to a nursing home before Christmas.

5) Celebrate the real Christmas story. More important than the things we won't be doing or buying are the reason for doing it differently. We need to tell the story of Jesus' birth, and the story of how he changes us from people focused on our needs and wants to servants who delight in helping others. I'd like to start a family tradition of a brief devotional, possibly using an Advent wreath, to reinforce the story we want to tell. Along the way, I'd hope to incorporate discussions about why we're attempting to do things differently this year. I'd love to hear suggestions of resources you've used along these lines.

UPDATE: If you want to do some Christmas shopping that will do good in the world, check out CauseDepot (HT Tod).

UPDATE: Cindy shared an Advent calendar resource her family has used. Check it out here.

UPDATE: Sonja recommends this catalog: Heartbeats: Networking Women, Developing World and Minority Artists.