JESUS

"The journey to Bethlehem by donkey, while we are waiting for Baby Jesus" is celebrated each and every year all over the world.
We have all seen the paintings of the little family: a heavily pregnant Mary riding the donkey and Josef walking next to them, making sure his family was safe, as any good father would.

Baby Jesus became Jesus Christ and was the first "Christian" together with his disciples and others, who followed him.

December is the month, where we all wait for Baby Jesus, so let us take this opportunity to learn about him, to celebrate in our home with family and friends, but also to learn about the unsung hero of this journey, the donkey.

It might be beneficial for you to establish activities both morning and evening from the 1st of December until the 24th of December.

MORNINGS:
Buy, or create, a "Christmas Calendar Candle" with 24 numbers on it.
Light the candle, for that day, and let it burn, while the child is eating breakfast.
Bring a "Vegan Christmas Chocolate Calendar" and let the child find the right number of the day, open it and eat the chocolate.

EVENINGS:
I am quite sure, it will be appreciated if you, together with your child, prepare some delicious "Christmas Food and Drink" according to the situation in your family (all of it vegan, or course):
Cinnamon Buns
Marzipan and Chocolate Sweets
Pancakes with Apple Pieces and Cardamom
Cookies with Cinnamon and Chocolate
Roasted whole Apples with Cinnamon
Rice Pudding with Cherry Sauce

When the child has eaten, it is time for reading.
Get your hands on as many books about Christmas, as you can find/borrow, and create a cosy reading nook. Talk to the child and try your best to answer the questions, which always come up...
If possible, you might want to visit a church during December, especially if they have educational classes for children.

After the reading, provide your child with paper and pencils to make small drawings, inspired by the book just being read aloud.
Note the date and year on the back of the paper, and keep the drawings in a folder; just for fun!

BEDTIME:
For bedtime stories through December I would recommend anything that has to do with donkeys; those unassuming four legged friends who carry many heavy loads every day. Often they are not treated very nicely by us humans, and some are kept in inhumane conditions.

Take the opportunity to educate your child about donkeys, who are sweet, funny, have very strong family bonds, have strong emotions and just want to live happy and peaceful lives, like we all do.

Do some research for your area, and if possible go visit a "Donkey Sanctuary" a few times during December. Bring apples and carrots. Donkeys love them!

Hopefully this will inspire you to "Adopt a Donkey" and provide financial stability to a little grey-furred friend, who loves apples and carrots and human affection.

When you get to know a donkey, you get a true friend.

THE 21st OF DECEMBER:
Now it is time to set up the "Christmas Tree" and for that everyone needs "Vegan Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine", whether you go and buy a tree or find one in a forest shop.

THE 22nd AND 23RD OF DECEMBER:
Those two days is all about making decorations for the tree. Remember, Baby Jesus came with a warm and compassionate heart to help those in need, so all kinds of hearts should be on the tree.

THE 24th OF DECEMBER:
Just before bed is the time to put presents under the tree, and/or to prepare some more. A little goes a long way: it is the thought that matters, not the monetary value of the gift.

Remember to put the "Adopt a Donkey" certificate under the tree in reverence of the little donkey, who carried Mary and Baby Jesus safely to Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago.

Wishing you all a happy, peaceful and quiet Christmas wherever you are and who ever you believe in...