South Avenue and Holland Road have been bringing joy to residents and visitors with their annual Advent Windows displays since 2017. The 2024 display looked bigger and better then ever.

This evening, the community gathered outside number 54 South Avenue to celebrate together. The organisers provided hot chocolate, mulled wine, and mince pies. A raffle was organised by The Abingdon Bridge, a local charity supporting young people in Abingdon. Donations given for the Advent Windows will also go to The Abingdon Bridge.

People gathered, drinking their mulled wine or hot chocolate, to hear carols from an Abingdon choral choir.

The stars were bright overhead and the window displays were amazing.

So many people want to take part that there are usually three or four houses displaying Advent windows each day. On December 1st, three windows were revealed. This particular display is located on Holland Road.

There’s an activity sheet and trail for children where they have to find candy canes. Here’s one of them – look, it’s in the dog’s mouth!

This window celebrates the Nativity (the birth of Jesus about 2020 years ago), and the Christian hope that God is with us.

Can you see more candy canes? At Christmas we mix the religious elements with other traditions like Father Christmas who gets stuck down the chimney and a reindeer with a red nose,

and presents, crackers  and much more besides.