For our first 20 years as a family, we have been approaching the Advent season in a very busy way. We tried many random things we found online or heard that friends or family had enjoyed. There wasn't a lot of preplanning. The month was hurried with too many activities and trips to the store, occupied by unnecessary stress, and went by in a blur. We did make good memories, but it was always a season of anxiety.
1 Peter 3:4 "let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight."
The last two years I created a more meaningful way to implement activities that stemmed from peace, charity, and history. As a homeschooler, this is a time when we are able to cut back on certain subjects to make room for these activities, but they can easily be added in the evening. Each week includes adding a piece to the Nativity scene, putting up a kind of decoration, making a craft, playing a game, and learning about a Saint and his/her country's traditions. It worked so well for us, and we no longer felt anxiety in Advent. We came upon a rich tradition we wanted to continue: Living a slower, Liturgical life. The more I read about the rich history of Christmas around the world and Catholic Traditions, it became something I wanted to GIVE my children. The understanding why we do these things is also important. Reading from other moms who have a home that thrives and moves with the liturgical seasons, I saw an opportunity to have peace year round in our home, in our homeschool, in the way we approach life.
Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect."
I prepared something simple for us to do every day from lighting the first Advent candle to an Epiphany door blessing. It is very easy to add to a paper calendar. All the reusable supplies are in labeled bags in one bin to pull out year to year. I've begun working on a booklet and blog posts that will have extra details about the activities, but until then this is my summary of ideas for you to ponder.
1. CREATE AN ADVENT CALENDAR
The first step is to create a paper calendar for this year. Write in details for:
- The 4 Sundays in Advent and Holy Days of Obligation
- The Saints you want to celebrate, and their native countries.
- Christmas Eve & Day
- Any plans you made to visit family, friends, parties, etc.
Next, you can categorize each day of the week for something you'll take care of. This will help give you a theme to work with for breaking up tasks for decorating, baking, family time, and acts of charity. For example, Sunday=Holy, Monday=Trim/Decor, Tuesday=Giving, Wednesday=Prayer, Thursday=Village, Friday=Family, Saturday=Duty.
{Click on the calendars to enlarge and print a copy}
Then it is a fun tradition to have a Children's Advent Calendar which has pockets or boxes to fill with an item that is a clue as to what you will be doing each day! I write these items on my paper calendar as a reminder.
[Some add treats to these pockets, but I must say that little kids tend to have no restraint once they realize what is in there... and if you have many children it is way too much to add. I don't recommend it.]
2. GATHER SUPPLIES
Basic supplies for Advent Preparations for Christmas for our family are: A Nativity Set, Advent Candles, A Tree, Stockings, Craft & Baking Supplies, Advent Music, and Good Books!
A Nativity Set & Straw
- We put a few pieces of the nativity set in each week of Advent. It's really fun if you coordinate a small procession to carry in the statues while singing an Advent hymn.
- We also have a bowl of straw that we can place in the manger any time we've been charitable or offered something up for the Christ Child.
Even though I started this for the children, I think this is my favorite tradition of the season. It's been a good way for me as Mom to take a deep breath and quietly give to God the tasks I'm doing, one piece straw at a time, or sometimes a handful for the times I've held my tongue that day. It's a nice cozy place for Jesus when Christmas comes.
Advent Candles
- Use these candles during family prayer in your domestic church. The standard is 3 purple candles and 1 rose candle. They can be decorated with evergreens. Read about the symbolism. If you plan ahead, you can have them blessed on Candlemas (Feb 2). Do what you can in the phase of family life you're in. Praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, one decade a night M-F, could be a really good start if you don't have a routine yet.
St Nicholas Stockings & Letter Form
- If you want to participate in St Nicholas Day (Dec 6), you will either leave out your shoes (inside or out) or hang up stockings the night before, so he can leave a treat in them. Read about the story of Saint Nicholas. Traditional stocking stuffers are an orange, candy cane, chocolate, coins. Some families do more.
- Our children love to write a Letter to Saint Nicholas, asking for his intercession in prayer and including a short note of wants and needs. Then they have the fun of decorating it with markers, stickers, stamps, etc. We leave it in the stocking for him to take the evening before his feast day.
After all have gone to sleep, we slip downstairs to collect the letters and put them in a keepsake binder. We use the letters to check on how to help our children grow in virtue, learn about what they'd like for gifts, and ways we can pray for them. Sometimes St. Nicholas leaves a "feedback letter" to comment on what they've done and how they can improve, assuring the children he will pray for them. I print this form for the children to fill out, but it can be used for ideas to write your own.
{Click the letter to enlarge and print, or use for an idea.}
-Another option is to write a Letter to the Christ Child. Again, it can be put in your shoes or stockings for Saint Nicholas to bring to the Baby Jesus.
- To add a little holiday fun, I do leave glitter snow boot-prints on the floor from a kit I purchased. They would never believe that Mom would pour glitter in the house on purpose, so even my older kids who are wise to where the gifts come from are baffled by this sight. We leave a ornamental key on the front door wreath that only Saint Nick can use to enter our home, and this has helped eliminate the oddity or fears of someone coming through a fireplace, putting shoes on a snowy porch, or other strangers ability to come into our home.
A Christmas Tree
- The older I get, the more I wonder if the tree is necessary. However, my children have stated a strong desire for us to continue this tradition of decorating a fake evergreen in December, and place presents underneath it. So in my calendar plan, I use Mondays as a day to add a decoration, so it slowly transforms over the season. I try to have a couple occasions where we craft an ornament or make homemade garland.
- There are a few good books that you can read and make a coordinating ornament. One favorite, is adding tinsel and spiders, to remind us about "The Spider Who Saved Christmas" by Raymond Arroyo.
An Advent Music Playlist
- We are all hyper aware that the radio will play all sorts of "holiday music" this time of year, and most of it is secular. For the Catholic family, I recommend to limit that music, and have time in your home that is silent, instrumental, or play Advent music. I made a Sounds of Advent Spotify playlist you are welcome to add!
{SPOTIFY: SOUNDS OF ADVENT PLAYLIST}
{SPOTIFY: SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST}
GOOD BOOKS
- There's nothing like sitting by a candle or fire, snuggled up with a good book. Whether you are reading through Luke's Gospel of the Birth of Jesus, listening to an audio show of The Christmas Carol by The Merry Beggars, or flipping through the pages of the Chronicles of Narnia, you are sure to find joy in your heart. If you need to borrow something, be sure to request it from the Library far enough ahead of others with the same idea. Otherwise, it is fun to buy a book or two each Christmas to add to your home library.
Craft & Baking Supplies
- I think it such fun to have hands on projects with children. Even if you aren't an artsy person, this is such a gift of yourself to them. I have many themed ideas listed that you can look up here or online, and decide which ones you would like to try. I have ideas for baking, acting, crafting, gift making, candy crafts, ornaments, toys, and decorations. Make a list. Check it twice!
Craft Ideas:
Joyful Mysteries Coloring Pages
Snowglobe Ornaments
Embroidered Felt Ornaments
Homegrown Catholics Pinterest Board
MANY MORE IDEAS in my 2021 ADVENT POST
https://homegrowncatholics.blogspot.com/2021/11/2021-advent-and-christmas-activities.html
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I look forward to sharing with you posts about individual activities we've done. Please share in the comments if this was helpful, or if you found a new activity you enjoyed. I hope you find your peace, and don't feel like you have to do all the things. These are all suggestions. Think about what traditions you want to gift your family, and take the time to learn more about why these traditions exist.
1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Galatians 5:22-26 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
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