Advent Calendar 2020-2021

Come relax on the first day of December with some joyful snowmen!

Lalitha Viswanathan ('22) gives instructions on how to wrap different types of gifts for the second day in the Advent Calendar. The gifts are now all wrapped and ready for the holidays!    ...

During Christmas time, one of the most exciting activities is putting up a Christmas tree. One of the most famous Christmas trees, located in Rockefeller Center in New York City, serves many more purposes than just to look attractive. In December of 1931, the Great Depression hit the American people hard. Christmas wasn’t looking good due to the fact that many people couldn’t afford to see family,...

The holiday season has arrived — a season that is supposed to be full of magic, joy, and giving. Although 2020 has unfortunately been far from that for many people, this holiday season can still be special. It’s easy to feel like gift-giving is a burden, especially since this year has been economically challenging for many families, but there are so many affordable and thoughtful gift options out...

If you think about it, when was the last time you really thought about the origins of all the holidays we celebrate this season? For the 5th day in the Advent Calendar, have some fun answering questions that will heighten your holiday spirit. To get the full experience, do not scroll to the bottom for the answers until you are done! Holiday Questions 1) When was the term "X-mas" invented? 2) What...

For the sixth day in the Advent Calendar, Max Gaffin (‘22) and Jacy Dickstein (‘22) review “Everything Holiday Movies” in preparation for the big and jolly winter season. Listen in for their reviews, opinions, and top favorites.

Santa Claus can be found everywhere throughout the holiday season. Sitting comfortably atop thrones in each mall, appearing in storybooks, television shows, and movies, consuming the minds of children all over the globe. Christmas simply would not be the same without him. This holiday staple has reached god-like status, making it easy to forget where he really came from. St. Nicholas, born in 280 ...

During the holidays, families and friends tend to gather in one place -- around the dining room table. We catch up on each other's lives, toast the holiday with a clink of our glasses and then eat ourselves into a food coma. Candy Canes: When talking about holiday foods, Candy Canes are on the top of my list! As soon as everyone’s Halloween candy supply runs low, the markets begin to mega-...

For the ninth day of the Advent Calendar, Santa Claus has a bag of presents ready to fill the empty spots under the Christmas tree....

For the tenth day of the Advent Calendar, try out the crossword puzzle below. It is designed with words for different religious holidays as well as words specific to the holiday season. When you complete the puzzle, remember if there is a two-word answer, there will be a space, a blank box, between those words on the puzzle. Remember to finish the puzzle before you scroll to the bottom for the answers! &nbs...

For the eleventh day of the Advent Calendar, Eastside presents the holiday spirit through a whimsical snow globe. With a log cabin surrounded by evergreen trees, towering mountains, and a white blanket of snow, the snow globe encompasses the seasonal spirit of December. ...

For the twelfth day of the Advent Calendar, Eastside presents great holiday finds at Trader Joes. Try out these different types of food during this holiday season as it is seasonal and delicious. ...

“Ho, ho, ho!” Every year, children will hear this greeting escape from Santa’s mouth as they try to contain their excitement to sit on his lap. But, as the holiday season is rolling around this year, there will be a different approach to Santa’s typical “lap chats". Every December, Santa can be found sitting in a large plush red velvet chair with gold trimming in malls or community events....

For the fourteenth day in the Advent Calendar, Max Gaffin (‘22) and Jacy Dickstein (‘22) recollect their favorite holiday traditions and funny memories growing up in December.

To me, the holiday season isn’t just about spending time with loved ones, but finding ways to give back to our community. During these difficult times it is important to give back to your community and to those who are in need. Here are five ways that you can give back to our community during this holiday season. 1. “Adopt a Family.” Adopting a family for the holidays allows you to pick a...

I can imagine it like it was yesterday- roaming the stores within the beautifully decorated mall, skipping to the joyful music as I held my mom’s hand so I wouldn’t get lost. I loved the holidays. When I was little I could not wait for the days where the delicate snow covered every inch of my dad’s car and I just knew school would be closed, the days when my house always smelled like warm...

For the seventeenth day of the advent calendar, Emily Boyle ('23) created a holiday playlist which is linked here. It is perfect to listen to while studying, relaxing, wrapping presents, or decorating for your festivities! Remember to log in or sign up to a Spotify account to enjoy the music. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3tHkuBKslY7tGkPFymsGA3?si=FPxMVcRnRguow5-hB_eivg  ...

The start of the holiday season brings a sense of excitement and happiness into the air. Everybody celebrates the holidays in their own unique manner. Personally, I love to watch the abundance of holiday movies that the world of entertainment has to offer. Whether it be a classic, an animated movie, or a holiday themed comedy, there are plenty of options to satisfy your desires, but of course some...

For the nineteenth day in the Advent Calendar, Lalitha Viswanathan ('22) makes a Christmas-themed charcuterie board. ...

Max Gaffin (‘22) and Jacy Dickstein (‘22) host a Holiday Game Night. Listen and play along as we challenge each other in trivia, jeopardy, “put-a-finger-down” challenges, and even some singing.

On a chilly December evening, you settle by the fireplace with a book and a warm drink in hand, while holiday songs play softly in the background. You take a glance out the frosted window and you notice tiny crystals of snow falling gently from the sky. In that moment, life is simply blissful and nothing can get in the way. As the holiday music fills your ears, you overflow with joy, happiness, and...

This easy holiday craft from Hammer and Stain is available here. However, most of the materials can be found around the house. Follow these instructions with photo guides to learn how to make one! Materials: 1. Wooden board 2. Three sponges or paint brushes 3. White paint 4. Green paint 5. Red paint 6. Stencil 7. Toothpick       Step One: Paint Background...

Perhaps the most magical moment of winter is when the first snow comes. Not only is the sight of snow covering everything in a serene blanket a beautiful sight, but it also promises a simple and frosty one ingredient treat with it. My childhood has been marked by the greatest snowfalls, and I vividly remember spooning maple syrup onto the fresh snow and making chewy maple taffies. To make these candies, you...

2020 may be filled with many unfortunate things, but at least the beloved original Netflix series, Sugar Rush, has come out with a new Christmas edition season, with six episodes, perfect for getting into the holiday spirit. Sugar Rush Christmas is hosted by Hunter March and judged by Candence Nelson, founder of the world’s first cupcake-only bakery, Sprinkles, as well as Adriano Zumbo, one of...

Eastside wishes you a happy holidays and a joyful Christmas on the twenty-fifth day of the Advent Calendar. Watch the video to see the holiday card!

During the holidays, cheer and love is in the air as we take a break to relax from school. Perched on a white birch tree, winter cardinals fall in love in snowy weather. Enjoy this depiction of the season's joy with Melissa Vital's ('23) painting for the twenty-sixth day of December. ...

As the 2020 holiday season comes to an end, odds are you’ve received some amazing gifts from some amazing people. Show them your gratitude by writing a thoughtful message on any one of these printable thank-you card templates. Holiday Card 1: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sMvnMgZOdKWA-2_1qZIkp2qfLQugHY0b/view?usp=sharing Holiday Card 2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xZmkecsmpcoC3U32rgae-sj4TFtpWEHz/view?usp=sharing Holiday...

Enjoy the holidays with Brielle Lampf's ('23) holiday cards. Lampf made all of the holiday cards below for her family. Eastside encourages you to spread the holiday cheer and write some kind messages to your loved ones during this joyful time. ...

COVID-19 ruined a lot of things this year. Christmas wasn’t an exception. For many people around the world, they had to spend the holidays alone to self-isolate and social-distance themselves to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (rightfully so). My COVID-19 edition of Christmas wasn’t as bad as others since my family spent it the way we usually do: with our grandparents. We opened our presents...

The global hype during the holiday season inspires people to get together in small and safe social environments this year, taking precautions due the pandemic. The city of brotherly love is one of the best places to be during the holiday season. Aside from the usual decorations and the multitude of stores that you can explore with appropriate face coverings, during the holiday season there are booths...

It’s important to not dwell on the ups and downs that emerged in respect to the unanticipated year that is 2020. However, what we can do is stay hopeful about what is to come in the future. As 2020 (and more importantly—Eastside’s Advent Calendar) comes to an end, remember to keep this promising mentality about 2021. Now I know what you’re thinking. The coronavirus will not just disappear bec...