Eight Maids A-Milking...

Oil for Anointing at the Akathist to Saint Seraphim

On the Eighth Day of Christmas we remember Saint Seraphim and Saint Juliana

1.  Read (or retell) pages 30 and 31 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Read any other books your family may have on Saint Seraphim or Saint Juliana. 

2.  Place an Icon of Saint Seraphim and/or Saint Juliana in a prominent place.  It would be nice to add one to the centerpiece on the dining room table, on your feastday table, or in the icon corner.  You can also add some toy bears to your centerpiece in honor of Saint Seraphim!

3. Read your children the prayer to your Guardian Angel and consider helping them learn it by heart to recite before bed or when they wake up in the morning:

O Angel of Christ, holy guardian and protector of my soul and body,

forgive me everything wherein I have offended thee every day of my life,

 and protect me from all influence and temptation of the evil one. 

May Inevermore anger God by any sin. Pray for me to the Lord, 

that He may makeme worthy of the grace of the All-holy Trinity, 

and of the Most BlessedTheotokos, and of all the Saints. Amen.

4.  Enjoy eggnog, hot chocolate, milkshakes, or some other delicious treat made from milk

5. Work on a handcrafting project such as knitting, embroidery, sewing, needle-felting, etc.

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Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!