2020 Catholic Advent Calendar for Families

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)

MakeTissue Paper Roses

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!

Read the Legend of "The Spider who Saved Christmas" by Raymond Arroyo, and create a spider ornament and add gold tinsel to your tree.

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)

 

 HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS & BLESSED NEW YEAR!

BOOKS I RECOMMEND FOR YOUR ADVENT READING 

{affiliated links are to support my time spent sharing these resources and keeping them free}

The Legend of St. Christopher by Margaret Hodges

Tommie DePaola has so many excellent books, and several for the Christmas season.

SAINT NICHOLAS STOCKING GIFT IDEAS
Traditional: Coins, Oranges, Chocolates and Candy Canes

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