My family absolutely loves the autumn into the Christmas season. We are always out and about in the forests and National Trust parks over the fall and love to see the crisp nights come in, watch the sunsets, and get excited about our winter plans.
Advent is a special time in the Christmas calendar, which begins on Sunday, November 27 to Saturday, December 24. The purpose of Advent is to look toward the most incredible moment, the birth of Jesus.
We all know by now that Jesus wasn’t really born on December 25, but that was the date chosen to remember His special birth during the time of the reign of Constantine, the Roman Emperor.
Advent is a remarkable time that reminds us of and grounds us in four truths of Scripture. These are hope, peace, love, and joy; each of these is remembered in the reading scriptures and, for some, the lighting of candles.
But how do we celebrate Advent? As a mother of three small children, our Advent will maybe look a little different than yours if you have grown children or no children at home. But every family, whether there are two of you at home or 15, has traditions for different times of the year.
Some of these may have stemmed from your own childhood home and some from research or conversations with friends. But maybe you don’t have Advent traditions yet? Well, you have come to the right place!
Maybe some of these will encourage you to celebrate Jesus just a little early and meditate on the incredible scriptures prophesying and revealing Jesus’ birth.
1. Get an Advent Calendar
First and foremost, the most exciting part of Advent for my littlest (and possibly my husband) is to get an Advent calendar. We always purchase one with little chocolates inside, but recently we have been adding to the list by purchasing a toy-themed one also.
This year, our little boy was gifted a Paw Patrol Advent calendar and was so excited by the idea he opened it all in one day. Kids eh? That being said, he has spent many hours a day playing with Chase and Rubble as he creates danger, excitement, and rescue for them.
But of course, Advent is not only about the chocolate or sweeties. It’s a great time of the day as they open their little sweetie to remind them of a Christmas story, a prophecy, or a moment from the birth of Jesus. Maybe that time could be used to memorize a Bible verse together.
2. Hang an Advent Wreath
Having an advent wreath in your home is a lovely way to celebrate Advent. Each Sunday, a candle is lit in remembrance of the weeks that pass. The first candle is usually purple and is a symbol of hope and a reminder of the anticipation of the coming Messiah.
Usually, Isaiah is quoted at this time. The Second candle is also purple, and it symbolizes faith. Sometimes it is referred to as the Bethlehem Candle, as it refers to the scriptures depicting the journey Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem while pregnant with Jesus.
A pink candle is usually the third candle, and it is often referenced as the Shepherds Candle bringing joy. This might be my favorite week as it reminds us of how the world rejoiced as Jesus was born.
A new life was birthed physically, but also in the souls of those who heard, a new hope and joy renewed in them.
The final candle in week four is also purple, and it is a symbol of peace, directing us to the verses found in Luke 2:14, “Peace on earth, and goodwill toward men,” often this is called the Angel Candle.
The candles do not need to be colored. If white, pink, or green is all you have, go for it. God won’t mind the colors of your candles. However, let’s be safe, friend. If you have small children, candles may not be a good idea.
Why not get your hands on some battery-operated candles and have them glowing safely on the table or in your living room, where little hands won’t get hurt and everyone can take part in the moment?
3. Make an Advent-Themed Craft
Another option for celebrating Advent could be to make a different Christmas craft each Sunday. Spending the day as a family creating Christmas baubles, snowmen with cotton balls, painting a Christmas scene, or Paper ornaments and snowflakes from paper bags.
I know some of us mothers are grimacing at the chaos, but friend, think of the time you will get with your kids when they are not facing a screen!
It would be worth picking up cotton balls for days and washing away glitter for weeks as you spend time crafting and chatting with your children.
Pop the kettle on, put out some popcorn, sweeties, or chocolates and spend all evening tucked up around your kitchen table reminiscing about silly memories from the week or talking about Jesus’ birth.
Pray together and seek God for your family. It would be a magical moment for you all and one I guarantee you and your kids will remember forever.
4. Create Christmas Cards
A fourth option could be to spend time creating Christmas cards, and if you are not the creative type, you could use an online website and take a picture and create from there using a template designed already.
Alternatively, you could purchase cards that donate to a local charity and then spend a day writing all your cards, praying over each family or group as you write.
5. Get a Christmas Tree as a Family
Every year we have a Christmas tree party. A day when we go and collect our tree, and then pop music on, laugh and eat nibbles, and decorate our home for Christmas. This is a family event my parents started with us, and now my husband and I carry on with our children.
This seems like a silly idea, but this is one event we do at the start of Advent that our children love the most (and plan for us). They get to choose where we put the decorations and help within their capabilities.
It is a little bit of magic at the end of the day when the house is decorated, we have cleaned up from the snacks, the fairy lights are lit, and we are all cozied up and happy on the sofa together.
Moments like that are priceless, and we get to see the twinkly lights all through Advent, a great reminder that we are a home of light and not of darkness because Jesus is welcome in our home.
6. Give to Others
The last two are possibly the most important for our family. We are people who like to serve and help others all year round.
However, coming up to Christmas, we are intentional about choosing projects our Children can be involved in to support our local community and those far off.
This year, we got involved in Operation Christmas, a shoe box appeal by the Samaritan's Purse. Alongside this, we will also donate gifts to our local community donation point for children and parents in the area who are struggling to purchase food and presents this year.
This is a brilliant way to explain to your children the sacrificial nature of Christianity and the principles behind loving your neighbor.
Our kids go to stores and carefully choose gifts they think other kids would love, and then we spend time wrapping them and talking about the benefits of blessing others.
Friend, we live in a world that needs Jesus, that’s for sure, but we also see so many folks who need a hand up, not charity, but a gift. Especially now with inflation rates and price increases.
Even if all you donate is one tin of vegetables, but you do it with a God focus, that could go a long way in helping another out.
Look how far Jesus was able to spread some loaves and fish! If you are in a position to help, I would urge you to. Kindness breeds kindness.
7. Read the Nativity Story
Lastly, spending time reading and praying with your kids over Advent is such an important and special thing to do.
Inviting God into your home and thanking Him for the love, joy, hope, and peace that is offered to us during the Christmas season and all around us is the foundation for your children to stand upon. It is vital that we include God in all we do.
Friend, I hope some of these ideas resonate with you, and while I am enjoying all of the festivities on the run-up to Christmas, I hope some of these will bring some joy to your home also.
May you be blessed this Advent season.
For further reading:
Does the Variety of Advent Calendars Distract Us from Their True Meaning?
What Is the Obsession with Advent Calendars?
‘Tis the Season’ Meaning and Why We Say It
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/dikushin
