We put candles in our windows each fall and keep them there through Christmas, New Year’s, and the winter. I love the feeling of warmth and hospitality they send forth each night when we light them. So I especially loved An Early American Christmas by Tomie dePaola.
I confess I’m not generally a big fan of Tomie dePaola books, but I just adore An Early American Christmas. This story about a family who brings the candles in the window tradition to their New England town is a hard to find, but well worth the effort.
An Early American Christmas
A German family moves to a New England town where no one celebrates Christmas. (If you aren’t familiar with church and early American history, this was common long ago in some parts of New England.) This new family celebrates and the book tells the story of all they do to prepare in the fall and up until Christmas.
They make bayberry candles to burn in the window, harvest their food, make mounds of cookies, carve a new figure for the creche, and decorate their home.
And then they put the candles in the windows and begin to sing on Christmas Eve.
What will the town do?
An Early American Christmas is a wonderful book to add to your Christmas reading!
Homeschooling Ideas
Geography – Label the states that comprise the New England region on a U.S. Map. You can also locate New London, New Hampshire, which is mentioned in the dedication.
Home Economics – What are bayberries? How are bayberry candles made? Watch a YouTube video that shows the process. Find some bayberry candles locally so you can learn what they smell like.
Home Economics – What is a root cellar? How is one made? Find an article or video about how people would have created these in New England.
History – Learn more about Christmas history with the Christmas Fun Fact Cards. You can also learn about these facts with the Christmas Copywork.
Art – Cut out white paper ornaments. Paint walnuts with gold paint to hang on your Christmas tree. String popcorn or dried apple rings for your tree.
Cooking – Make soft pretzels from scratch!
Bible – Read aloud the account of Jesus’ birth from Luke 2.
Homemaking – The Christmas family put candles in the window to light the way for the Christ Child. Put electric candles in one or more of your windows to send light into the darkness.
Music – What is the name of the Christmas hymn on the last page? Look up the hymn and sing all the verses. If you prefer, write out the verses using the Advent Writing Pages or Cozy Christmas Writing Pages.
Christmas in the Country | Picture Book Activities
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