VAIL VALLEY, Colorado — Winter has now settled upon us here in the Vail Valley. The first week of December is usually marked by a frantic rush to hang garlands, string twinkling lights, and get those Christmas cards to the post office. It also marks the beginning of Advent, time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Christmas.

Advent is celebrated in as many different ways as there are countries around the world. Some people may include Advent as a part of their regular Sunday church services, or perhaps they mark the days of Advent with a calendar chock full of sweet treats waiting to be discovered behind a tiny flap.

Author, Judith Swisher and illustrator, Nancy Baay, have created a new book that commemorates the myriad Advent celebrations that take place in our world. They have marked each day of Advent with a legend or story in celebration of the season, as well as a beautiful keepsake ornament, and contained them all in a beautifully-rendered picture book for children.

The Vail Daily recently talked to Baay about her book and what Advent means to her and her family.

1. Vail Daily: How did you go about collecting and illustrating the stories for your book “Celebrate Advent”?

Nancy Baay: The author, Judy Swisher, started collecting Advent legends from around the world many years ago when she and her family hosted several foreign exchange students. Judith wrote the stories, and I designed an ornament and a border for each story.

2. VD: How did the creation of Christmas tree ornaments become a part of your book?

NB: Ornaments were Judy Swisher's idea. To my knowledge, they are not necessarily a traditional component of Advent, but rather, our chosen symbol for each story.

3. VD: Many of the legends are centered around nature and wildlife. What is the significance of this?

NB: I think this significance must derive from the Folkloric origins of many of them, from times when people lived and worked in close association with animals, plants, and birds, and quite naturally chose to include them in stories heralding the birth of the Christ Child.



4. VD: What does Advent mean for you and your family?

NB: We celebrate Advent with the lighting of candles — one for each Sunday.

5. VD: What was your favorite Christmas story as a child?

NB: “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas” was my favorite story. I still read it to my grandchildren every Christmas Eve from the same book that my Dad read it to me from. (1937 edition!) I think it is the illustrations that I love so much. The illustrator, Thelma Gooch, captures Clement Moore's poem so beautifully!



6. VD: Have your Christmas traditions changed since you were a child?

NB: Our traditions have evolved over the years as our children have grown up and started their own. Often Christmas includes travelling to be with grandchildren. Each year is different, but still full of excitement, love, and even skiing on Christmas day!



7. VD: What would you like to see become a new Advent tradition in the future?

NB: Nothing would please us more than for the reading of “Celebrate Advent” and the hanging of the ornaments to become an annual tradition. The juxtaposition of secular and scriptural stories in this book provide a rich foundation to understand this most special season of “expectation and preparation.”

“Celebrate Advent” is available at The Bookworm of Edwards. Besse Lynch works at The Bookworm.