ADVENT ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES
2020 Calendar
It's been a different kind of year, wouldn't you say? So I knew I couldn't just grab my same old activity slips for our Advent Calendar this year. There are a few things we can't or shouldn't do that had to come off the list. Here's a compilation of what we hope to do this Advent 2020 for inspiration or print and do it all with us! Don't feel like you have to do it all. You can highlight your favorites and come back to the list next year for the rest. There are a few activities you'll have to prepare or purchase supplies for, so be sure to review them before tucking them into your calendar system. There are so many ways to display these and ideas for winter fun, I'd love for you to comment what are your traditions.
* A list of Advent & Christmas book recommendations for families is at the bottom of the post.
Traditional Advent Activities to Consider
Advent Calendar - Countdown
Jesse Tree
Nativity Scene (move pieces in parts, see Sundays)
Straw for the Manger
Advent Candles
O Antiphons
Advent Journal or Devotional
Shepherd on the Search (vs Elf on
Shelf)
12 Days of Christmas
The following ideas can be printed and cut into strips to
tuck into your Advent Calendar system. You could also glue into a paper ring
garland to tear off each day. Otherwise, use as inspiration for activities
during Advent.
S Nov 29
Light
1st (violet) Candle: Hope. Add Angel to your Nativity Scene.
Go
to Mass, or watch online and make a Spiritual Communion.
Create
an Advent Music Playlist
Setup Nativity Stable and
Container of Paper Straw (Add
a piece to manger with every good deed)
Setup
Jesse Tree and begin daily scripture readings
Decorate
your Tree (if you don’t wait until Christmas) and put up Winter Decorations
*We bought Roll Your Own Advent Candles, and it was so much fun!
M Nov 30
St. Andrew (Patron Fishermen, Singers, Sore Throats and more)
Begin
St. Andrew Novena* aka Christmas Anticipation Prayer
*St. Andrew Christmas Novena: It is piously believed that whoever recites the St. Andrew Christmas novena prayer 15 times each day from the feast of St. Andrew (November 30th) until Christmas Eve will obtain the favor requested. You could make a Prayer card with 15 counting beads.
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen
Snack:
Seasoned Goldfish Crackers
Practice
Christmas Carols
Go
Ice Fishing
T Dec 1
Begin
creating Christmas Cards, consider handwritten letters. Pray for these
families.
Young
children can color Christmas pictures to send.
Write
a Letter to Saint Nicholas with prayer intentions, needs and wants. Put in Stocking/Shoe.
W Dec 2
Create
Paper Snowflakes and tape to windows!
Winter
STEM Project (such as Crystal Snowflakes)
Talk
about being unique, like a snowflake.
Th Dec 3
St.
Francis Xavier (Patron of Missionaries)
Donate
to a Mission Fund, or Adopt a Family in need for Christmas.
Donate
items to a shoebox missionary organization or church mission project.
Talk
about your family’s mission for 2021.
F Dec 4
1st
Fri Mass - Sacred Heart of Jesus
Renew
your consecration to the SHJ
Observe
a day of Fasting and Abstinence for Souls
Build
a Christmas Light Blanket Fort
S Dec 5
1st
Sat Mass - Immaculate Heart of Mary
Renew your consecration to IHM
Make
a Snow Grotto for your garden’s Mary Statue
Put
out your shoes/stockings for St Nicholas
HGC: St. Nicholas Day Ideas and Printable
Su Dec 6
Light
2nd (violet) Candle: Love/Faith. Add Drummer Boy, Trees, Misc to
Nativity Set.
Go
to Mass, or watch online and make a Spiritual Communion.
St. Nicholas Day: Check your shoes/stockings. Celebrate with Chocolate & Oranges!
M Dec 7
St.
Ambrose (Patron of Beekeepers, Beggars, Learning…)
Snack:
Honey Graham Crackers w cream cheese, berries and honey
Make
Homemade Lozenges: Honey Ginger Throat Drops
Donate
to a food shelf or homeless shelter.
T Dec 8
Solemnity
of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM (Mass)
Give
time or gift to a New Mother/Baby, or a Women’s Pregnancy Center
Make
Homemade Play Dough, with scents of the season oils or spices. Use cookie
cutters.
W Dec 9
St.
Juan Diego: Make a Paper Bag Tilma
Send
Flowers (or card) to Someone who may be Lonely
Th Dec 10
Holiday
Dice Game: Roll-a-Snowman, Roll-a-Holiday Story
Create
Your Own Holiday Song Mad-Lib or Joke
Hanukkah:
Jewish Festival of Lights (Dec 10-18), read about this tradition and light your
Christmas Tree!
F Dec 11
Drive
to see Christmas Lights (bring blankets, hot cocoa and popcorn)
Watch
a Classic Christmas Movie
S Dec 12
Our
Lady of Guadalupe (Patron of Americas, Mother of Mercy & Love)
Create
an OL Guadelupe Sun Catcher (<as detailed in link).
Su Dec 13
Go to Mass:
Gaudete Sunday (wear pink), or watch online and make a Spiritual
Communion.
Light
3rd (pink) Candle: Joy. Add Shepherd, Sheep and Animals to your
Nativity Set.
Create
cotton ball or pom-pom sheep for your Nativity set.
Snack:
Shepherd Hooks (candy canes) and Cocoa
Candy
Cane Bomb a parking lot (hook on car doors)
Feast
of St Lucy: Paint a St. Lucy Peg Doll; Bake Saffron Buns or
Cinnamon Roll Wreath and add candles
M Dec 14
St.
John of the Cross (read about him)
Make
Cinnamon Ornaments for tree, cut in cross shape.
Send
Greeting Card to a Priest to thank and encourage.
T Dec 15
Paint
a Nativity Scene on your Window (mix tempura paint and dish soap evenly)
Make
Paper Chain decorations or Popcorn Garland
W Dec 16
Visit
a Living Nativity
Build
a Lego Holiday Village
Help
someone in your “village,” such as shovel a driveway or take over a chore.
Th Dec 17
Create
Homemade Gifts
Make Ornaments: Wood Burned, Shrinky Dink, Origami, Bird Treats, and so many ideas online!
Make “I Spy” Nativity Ornament or Jar.
F Dec 18
Pajama
Day
Family
Game Night
Sleep
Under the Christmas Tree
S Dec 19
Cookie
Baking Day!
or Build a Gingerbread House
Su Dec 20
Light
4th (violet) Candle: Peace. Add Mary & Joseph to the Nativity
Set.
Go
to Mass, or watch online and make a Spiritual Communion.
Read
an Advent Devotional Aloud
Design
Bookmarks to hide in Library Books.
M Dec 21
St.
Peter Canisius (Known
for Adding to the Hail Mary, Advocating for Adoration, and Writing a Catechism)
1st
day of Winter: Go for a Winter Walk Outside
Spend
time in Adoration.
Pray
the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
Read
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)#522-526 [longer #422-534]
T Dec 22
Build
a Snowman, Snow Fort, Snow Painting…
Indoor
fun: Pin the Carrot on the Snowman, Marshmallows & Trebuchet
Snuggle
up with Cocoa/Tea/Nog by the fire or tree and Read Aloud
W Dec 23
Go
Christmas Caroling door to door, video chat, or sing with your family.
Christmas
Movie Marathon
Donate
Movies to a Hospital
Tape
a Popcorn Bag to a DVD rental box, or add a $1 bill in a return.
Th Dec 24
Christmas
Eve (Vigil Mass)
Light
5th (white) Candle: Christ Light.
Read the Christmas Story from the Bible
Have a family Nativity Play (record to share with family)
Create
a Christmas Music Play List and have a Dance Party!
F Dec 25 Christmas
Day
Have
a family procession, carrying in Baby Jesus for the Nativity Set.
Celebrate
with a Birthday Party for Jesus!
Begin 12 Days of
Christmas Celebrations and Traditions
- Light 12 Christmas Candles,
adding one each day to your dining table or window sill.
- Some families wait until
Christmas Eve to light their tree
- Hide your Wise Men (3 Kings), and/or
a paper star, in a different spot each day to find
- Donate toys you no longer play
with to make room for any new gifts.
- Spread the Good News:
*Send
Your Christmas Cards
*Leave
a Letter and Treat for your Mail Carrier
*Call
a friend and family member you didn’t see during the holidays.
Sun Dec 27 The Holy Family
Go to Mass, or watch online and make a Spiritual Communion.
Have some down time focusing on family.
M Dec 28 The Holy Innocents
Pray for an end to abortion and a special grace for expectant mothers to chose life.
F Jan 1 New Year's Day
Pick a Saint to pray with throughout 2021
Create a Family Mission Statement for 2021
May your resolutions be Spiritual first!
Jan 3/6 Feast
of the Epiphany
Add
Wise Men to your Nativity Set.
Bake
a Kings Cake with plastic baby hidden inside.
Epiphany Chalk Blessing on your door 20+C+M+B+21 (search prayer online)
- Joy to the World: How Christ's Coming Changed Everything (and still does) by Scott Hahn
- The Advent of Christmas by Matt Maher
- The Spider who Saved Christmas by Raymond Arroyo
- A Nest for the Savior: An Interactive Christmas Tradition
- Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent
- Saint Nicholas and the Mouse of Myra (a graphic novel)
- The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas by William J Bennett
- The Miracle of St. Nicholas
- The Baker's Dozen: A St. Nicholas Tale
I love keeping crafting and activity ideas on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HGCatholics/advent-christmas/
Here’s a fun Advent Calendar to make: http://homegrowncatholics.blogspot.com/2012/11/advent-stocking-tree.html