All set for the countdown to Christmas!

The first window will be opened and the first Christmas story told on Thursday as December heralds the return of Stone Advent Windows.

The giant community Advent calendar will again be revealed day by day in Stone shop windows in the lead-up to Christmas. The chosen theme this year is Christmas stories from around the world and storytellers are all set to tell the stories at the opening of each window.

Most of the stories will be opened by representatives of the nations from which the story originates. For example, the King Wenceslaus story window on Friday 2nd December will be opened by local resident Hana Plant, who is from the Czech Republic.

The first window will be opened by Stone mayor June Price on Thursday 1st December and the Bishop of Stafford will open the final window on Christmas Eve after a carols and storytelling walk past all the Advent Windows in the town.

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An unusual window will be opened on 19th December about the Christmas truce in the First World War when German and British troops sang carols and played a football match.

There will also be Christmas carols and stories each Saturday in December at the Crown Hotel from 11.30am to 12.30pm. The stories from this year’s windows will be told on Saturday 3rd, 10th and 17th.

Here’s a full list of the businesses taking part this year. If you go along, please send any photographs or reports to news@alittlebitofstone.com 

All the windows will be opening at 11am, except Radford Gallery on December 20th which will open at 10:30am.

1 Annunciation (Israel/Palestine) – Dunoon

2 Good King Wenceslas (Czech Republic) – Shear Genius

3 Silent Night (Austria) – The Blue Rooms

4 Sun The Candle (Holland) – Royal Exchange pub

5 Mary visits Elizabeth (Israel/Palestine) – M Jacqueline

6 Poinsettia (Mexico) – Crazy Daisies

7 Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (USA) – Katherine House Hospice charity shop

8 Joseph’s Dream (Israel/Palestine) – Birchill & Watsons pharmacy

9 The Christmas Cherries (Wales) – Fleur’s tea rooms

10 Papa Panov (France/Russia) – Pour les Pieds shoe shop

11 Birth of Jesus (Luke 2:1-7) Israel/Palestine – The Mill restaurant

12 The Little Match Girl (Denmark) – Baileys

13 The Fourth Wise Man (USA) – Gr8 Kitchens

14 Schnitzel, Schnotzel & Schnoozle (Austria) – Wikijum

15 Shepherds & Angels (Luke 2:8-20) Israel/Palestine – Chantilly

16 The Grumpy Shepherd (England) – Yarn Gathering

17 Saint Nicholas (Turkey/Greece) – Queen Bees

18 The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (USA) Crown Hotel

19 The Christmas Truce (Belgium) – Home & Colour

20 Visit of Magi (Matthew 2:1-12) Israel/Palestine – Radford Gallery

21 Befana (Italy) – Zeta

22 Escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-18) Israel/Palestine – Katherine House Hospice

23 The Baby in the Dough – Hammersley’s

24 Temple Presentation (Luke 2:21-40) Israel/Palestine – Christ Church