My sister and I had this advent calendar growing up. Before Lego and Hot Wheels and Play-doh and Playmobil, etc., all came out with toy advent calendars, we got to move this bear around his fabric panel house. The bear has a snap on the back and all the places in the house have the reverse part of the snap. We took turns moving him to a different place each day according to the directions at the bottom of the panel. Each day he looks for Christmas until he finally finds it in the living room. We loved it! Ah the simple days back in the 80s!
My kiddos were still using that same bear up until we lost almost everything in the 2018 Paradise Camp Fire. And then, last year, I commissioned my mother (who had made the original) to make another one. I found the vintage fabric panel on eBay. I can only assume that I paid about 25 times the original price for it. 🤦🏻♀️ Oh well, nostalgia is worth a lot of money apparently. I was actually thrilled to be able to find the vintage fabric, eBay is pretty amazing like that.
Looking at it now, I see that as the bear is looking for Christmas, he is finding pieces it all over the house. Family traditions like baking cookies, hanging stockings, reading Christmas books, building a snowman, and the like, are found all along the way. Christmas isn’t just one day, happening on December 25. Christmas is all the little things leading up to that day and the days following too. This decoration reminds me to take a step back, a deep breath, and enjoy the moment. The moments of prepping for Christmas are part of the magic. If I choose to see the to-do list as part of Christmas then all those tasks become more enjoyable, less stressful and more like Christmas ought to be, a time of hope, and joy, and peace, and love.
🎄 What is your favorite nostalgic Christmas item?
heavens to betty 
I love this!
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Thanks Betty! Merry Christmas 🎄
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Beautiful! My most nostalgic Christmas items are…events…making homemade wreaths and decorating a live Christmas tree 🙂 Because those were extended family affairs when I was growing up.
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That’s so wonderful! 🎄
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My favorite item has changed over the years. Right now, it’s probably ornaments. I enjoy reminiscing about the memories associated with each of them.
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My parents bought my sister and I a dated Hallmark ornament every year when we were growing up. We always got one in our stockings. They were one of my favorite things. We started our collection over for our own kiddos the year after the Paradise Camp Fire. I decided to get myself one this year too!
Hallmark Keepsake Christmas Ornament, Year Dated 2021, Frosty Friends https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0915465NB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_2HNJSHE8NWJRJ54N45BM
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It was fun seeing you and your sister enjoy this advent activity, and even more fun to see your kiddos enjoy the original Beary Merry Christmas. I was very excited for you that you found the panel again, and of course I am glad this tradition can continue with your kids with the new updated , yet very much the same bear calendar. (The colors on the second panel are much more rich and bold than the original panel ) Merry Christmas.
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Thanks for making the silly thing twice!
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Beautiful and heartwarming advent calendar. It’ll get passed down to your children and they’ll love it just like you guys. Your mom is so talented!! Ebay is amazing for finding rare items…and good researching to find it.
So true that Christmas is more than just the actual day; thanks for the reminder!
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Girl ! This is so precious ! I love it 💕 . Even though I’ve never seen this particular thing before it still resembles so many childhood things we
Used to have haha and made me feel nostalgic too! Such a gift you were able to create another . 🙏🏻
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Thanks 😊
Merry Christmas 🎄
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