Advent: Community Traditions

So, today I’m putting the pressure on you. What are the traditions your community does each year that you love to celebrate?

Does your town have a parade? Do you have a night you light up the town square? Is there a caroling event or a church program?

Share your notes, thoughts, or links in the comments and let’s see how communities around handle the holidays.

Oh, and I thought I’d let you know. If you live in Arkansas and are looking for a great source of “what’s happening around the state?” Let me encourage you to subscribe to Onlyinark.com. They put out articles all the time on the topics of culture, food, travel, events, sports and more. But, each week, they do a digest of what’s happening and at holidays they compile a list of where to find lights, fireworks, pumpkin patches, etc. So if you subscribe, you get a weekly digest sent to your email every Friday morning.

Cover image photo cred to Chris Babb, my good friend, and communications partner in crime. Love this shot he captured last week at the Arkadelphia Christmas parade. That really was a great place to call home! Each Christmas they have a community parade (on the heels of bringing home back to back State Football Championships), holiday shopping day, a special box for letters to the Northpole, Christmas programs at all the schools (including elementary elves!), chili and cinnamon roll days, quiet days when the college kids are gone and the town is just a little slower, and neighborhoods twinkling with lights and warm cups of hot chocolate. Hallmark should really consider a movie there!

• December 1 – What is Advent
• December 2 – Nativity
• December 3 – Lights
• December 4 – Fruitcake
• December 5 – Ornaments
• December 6 – Cards
• December 7 – Smell
• December 8 – Office Party
• December 9 – Gift Exchange
• December 10 – Family Pictures
• December 11 – Stocking Stuffers
• December 12 – Party Food
• December 13 – Favorite Tradition
• December 14 – It’s Christmas when…
• December 15 – Christmas Wear
• December 16 – Christmas Cookie
• December 17 – Christmas Carol/Music
• December 18 – Christmas Charity
• December 19 – Community Traditions
• December 20 – Bah-Humbug
• December 21 – Grown-up Christmas List
• December 22 – Elf on the Shelf
• December 23 – Nostalgia
• December 24 – Christmas Eve
• December 25 – Christmas Day – How will you spend the big day – where will you be? Who will you be with? What’s on your mind?
• December 26 – Dreams for the Year Ahead