Solstice Calendar

My husband grew up with an Advent Calendar. Every day his mother would dole out butterscotch candies that were pinned to it. A few years ago, he mentioned it to me, saying that it was a tradition he enjoyed and missed. We don’t celebrate Christmas, so we needed to come up with something that would work with our beliefs and holidays.

We ended up with a Solstice calendar. I’m not certain why I felt it necessary to hand stitch all of the tiny pieces of felt on, but it does look nice. The same ribbons that we use to hang it tie the calendar when it is rolled up. It’s also quilted, so it’s rather sturdy.

It happens that the Winter Solstice is not always on the same calendar day, so the last row of pockets has snaps so that we can change numbers or pictures. Rather than have the calendar be about receiving a treat, we made it about the gift of giving, with the idea that after receiving something nice yourself, you would pass it on by doing a kindness for someone else. The little face showing in the first pocket is a simple shape gnome. I realized after I finished the calendar that we needed a visual representation to move each day, so I grabbed one of our handmade toys. The little gnome has lived in the calendar ever since.

This year, we have added a small piece of paper to each pocket with a special thing to do. Some of the items are fun things and some are of a more giving nature.

1. Put together Holiday Helper gift
2. Make wreath for front door
3. Ornament Swap
4. Buy  2010 Solstice Ornaments
5. Hang outside lights
6. Paper snowflakes
7. Mail holiday cards
8. Make gingerbread house
9. Make fudge
10. Surprise Daddy’s coworkers with fudge and food
11. Make cut out cookies
12. Buy a holiday treat
13. Drop off food at fire station
14. Torch lit hike
15. Leave cookies for mailman
16. Surprise someone with baked goods
17. Deliver Goodies to Neighbors
18. Hot chocolate and games
19. Drive around to look at holiday lights
20. Celebrate the Solstice Party
21. Make Yule log
22. Open Gifts