Christmas and Advent are a lot more fun when shared! (2011)

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Although our Zhangzhou apartment wasn't as big as the one in Kunming, we still put it to good use, sharing Christmas traditions with students and friends. (Left) Advent opened with Board Game Night, when 10 students played Careers and Life with us. (Right and Below Left) We also enjoyed a creative evening making greeting cards. (Below Right) Christmas isn't Christmas without lots of music, so one Sunday evening we sang together and enjoyed some of Vivian's holiday treats.

Here are some more photos of "greeting card night" and the night when students helped us to decorate our apartment and small Christmas tree. Below, you can see our Advent wreath; each Sunday of Advent we lit a candle and read about one part of the historic Christmas story. You can also see some candy canes. Friends in America sent a big box of these traditional treats with our son (who visited during his Christmas break at the university), and we passed them out to grateful students, along with a leaflet explaining the meaning behind the peppermint candy treat.

Both at our apartment (left) and on campus (center) during a showing of "Home Alone", Vivian always brought smiles when she handed out treats like homemade cake or cookies, or fresh strawberries. (Right) A jet-lagged Andrew helps Michael preview an important dialog before students enjoy "Home Alone."

(To learn more about Christmas, see these Christmas pages on our website: the traditional Christmas story, who is Santa (圣诞老人)?, candy canes, Christmas Perspectives (poem), and the pre-Christmas Advent season. Also look for Christmas wallpaper here. You'll also find movie study guides on this website for some great holiday films: A Snoopy/Charlie Brown Christmas, Last Holiday, White Christmas, The Grinch, Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life)

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