Christmas is coming so you’re seeing Advent calendars everywhere. But what is Advent? What is an Advent calendar? Keep reading to find out more about the holiday tradition of advent. With lots of great books and ideas to help your family celebrate the season.
*Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the link. Please see my disclosure for more details.
What is Advent?
Advent happens the last few weeks before Christmas and is the season of anticipation of the coming of Jesus. It is observed in various ways throughout the world and is a time for families and communities to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.
The word advent comes from the Latin word adventus which means “coming”. Many observe this as a season of remembrance not only of Christ’s first coming long ago, but also as a season of anticipation of His second coming.
When is Advent?
Advent is traditionally celebrated during the four weeks leading up to Christmas Day. Though it always starts on a Sunday and ends on Christmas Eve, December 24. Because Christmas Day (December 25) occurs on a different day each year, the date of the first day of Advent changes from year to year, usually the Sunday nearest November 30.
Over the years, the advent tradition has changed and many don’t follow the religious calendar of Advent. To simplify, many will just celebrate during the month of December leading up to Christmas Day. These common Advent traditions will begin on December 1 continuing until December 24, Christmas Eve.
Some will combine the two by observing the Advent traditions on Sundays at Church. Then continue the personal advent traditions at home beginning December 1. This is typically what my family does.
How long is Advent?
The Advent season traditionally starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas each year. Because Christmas Day (December 25) falls on a different day each year, the length of Advent changes from year to year. It ranges from 21-28 days depending on how the calendar occurs.
However, commercially many don’t adhere to the religious calendar of Advent. In many homes we celebrate the season the same days every year beginning on December 1 until Christmas Eve on December 24.
What are the dates of Advent each year?
The dates of Advent in 2022 are November 27 – December 24.
The dates of Advent in 2023 are December 3 – December 24.
The dates of Advent in 2024 are December 1 – December 24.
The dates of Advent in 2025 are November 30 – December 24.
The dates of Advent in 2026 are November 29 – December 24.
Why is Advent important?
Advent is a time of remembering, celebrating, and anticipating the coming of Jesus Christ, who is the center of Christianity. While many choose to commemorate his birth on Christmas day, others use the whole season of Advent to anticipate his coming.
This is a great way for Christians to remember what the season is all about. All around us are reminders of gifts, spending, and busy-ness. Keeping daily traditions at home and in our church help us to remember that Christ is why we celebrate.
What do the 4 Sundays of Advent represent?
What the Sundays of Advent represent are a little different in every church congregation. Some focus on the second coming of Christ the first two weeks, while others focus more on Jewish prophecy of the Messiah. At week three and following, all seem to turn toward the coming of Baby Jesus with joy, peace and love.
Here are some of the common representations for each Sunday of Advent.
Week 1: Hope, promise
Week 2: Peace, faith, love, preparation, waiting, prophecy
Week 3: Joy, peace
Week4: Peace, love, adoration
How is Advent celebrated?
Advent is celebrated by Christians around the world in various ways. There is a large amount of symbolism and tradition with the celebration of Advent. Even churches that don’t tend to use a lot of symbolism or liturgy in their services throughout the rest of the year will take part in more symbolic practices during Advent season.
Different families and church groups will have their own traditions, but there are a few things that seem to be common. Some of these include:
- Advent wreath and candles
- Scripture reading and writing
- Advent Calendar
- Daily activities
- Advent books
Historically, and still in some congregations, many Christians will observe a fast during this time in preparation for the twelve days of Christmas and Epiphany on January 6.
Advent Wreath and Candles
An Advent wreath with candles is a very common tradition of Advent celebrations. Typically it is shown with a circle of evergreen garland with 4 or 5 candles in the center. There are usually 3 purple taper candles and 1 rose/pink colored taper candle. There is often a large white candle in the center as well.
The candles each represent one Sunday of Advent and are lit that day along with the previously lit candles. One candle is lit the first Sunday, two on the second Sunday, and so forth with all 5 candles lit on Christmas Day.
There is a lot of symbolism with the advent wreath and candles. The story gots that the wreath was originally made out of the wheel of a cart with the candles lit as a way to countdown to Christmas. Over the years, the tradition has changed. The circle is now a wreath and carries the symbolism of everlasting life and immortality because it is a circle of evergreen.
The candles can carry many meanings that are discussed as they are lit each week. Some churches will attach just the regular Sunday meanings to the candles I listed above, like hope, peace, joy, and love. While some attach other meanings like the following:
Week 1: Prophecy, Hope
Week 2: Bethlehem, the Bible, Peace
Week 3: Shepherds, Mother Mary, Joy
Week 4: Angels, John the Baptist, Love
Christmas Day: The Christ candle
Why are Advent candles purple and pink?
A lot of the advent tradition is rooted in liturgical practices of the church, so the colors of the candles also take on some of this tradition. Purple is a liturgical color of penance or preparation. Rose (or pink) is symbolic of Joy.
Three of the candles are purple for the overall season of preparation for Christ’s birth. Since the third candle usually represents joy, it is often colored rose. There is also often a fifth white candle to represent Christ’s purity.
Advent Scripture Readings
Scripture Readings for the Sundays of Advent are one of the ways that Advent is commemorated. The Scripture chosen will differ with the congregation. They could use the liturgical scriptures, or others chosen for the topic of each Sunday.
Many Advent devotionals will choose Scriptures for each day, so this is a great way to celebrate the Advent season.
Advent Scripture Writing
The past few years, I have chosen to do a daily Advent Scripture writing. I have also used these for copywork in my homeschool. This is a nice way to work on my (or my child’s) handwriting and meditate for a few moments on the Scripture and the story of Jesus.
I have come up with my own set of Scriptures for daily writing for advent. They aren’t long passages so they can easily be used for many ages. This practice has become a wonderful peaceful thing for me during Advent season.
If you’d like to join in on this practice, I’ve created pages to make it easy for you! Download my set of Advent copywork pages through this link.
Here is the list of Scriptures I have chosen:
- Psalm 77:13-15a
- Isaiah 7:14
- Isaiah 9:6
- Isaiah 11:1-3
- Isaiah 11:10
- Isaiah 40:3,5a
- Isaiah 52:7
- Jeremiah 33:15,16b
- Micah 5:2
- Zechariah 9:9
- Malachi 3:1
- Luke 1:41-42
- Luke 1:30-31
- Luke 46-49
- Matthew 1:20-21
- Luke 2:1,3
- Luke 2:4-5
- Luke 2:6-7
- Luke 2:8-9
- Luke 2:10-12
- Luke 2:13-14
- Luke 2:17-19
- Matthew 2:10-11
- Luke 2:28-30
- John 1:14
What is an Advent Calendar?
An Advent calendar is a way to build anticipation by creating a countdown to Christmas, usually starting on December 1. The idea is to have one thing to do or something to open each day leading up to Christmas.
It can be done in a variety of formats. From a stack of boxes, to a wall hanging, to a tree with ornaments, to anything else you want to use. Many people will buy them, but they are easy to make on your own as well.
Advent Calendar Ideas
The internet has a bajillion ideas for advent calendars. Many people will buy a pre-made calendar. I have included many ideas for that below. But for some quick ideas to use what you may already have, here are a few ideas.
- Make a paper chain.
- Add a piece to the Nativity Scene each day, adding Baby Jesus on Christmas Day.
- Fill 25 paper bags with a treat or scripture and open one each day.
- Place a special ornament on the tree each day – you could even make them.
- Wrap 25 books, number them, and open and read one each day.
- Make gift tags and number them. Hang them on twine like garland, adding one each day.
Traditional Advent calendars
Advent calendars that are just for fun
What is a Jesse Tree?
The Jesse Tree is an old Christmas tradition that started in medieval times to help tell the story of Christmas from creation to the coming of Christ. It is now used as a type of advent calendar tradition. Each day of December, a Bible story is read then an ornament is hung on a tree that goes along with it, ending with the Birth of Christ on Christmas Day.
The name of the Jesse Tree tradition comes from the Scripture in Isaiah 11. It talks about the Messiah coming from the line of Jesse, the father of King David, describing it like a family tree.
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
Isaiah 11:1-3a (NIV)
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
There are several great Jesse Tree resources out there that can be helpful. Here are a few.
Advent Books for Adults
If you’re looking for a great book to read this Advent season, it can be overwhelming. Here are a few of the best Advent books for adults.
Many of these Advent items and more can also be found at Christianbook.com.
Advent Books for Families
There are so many fantastic advent books for families to share at Christmastime. Here are some of the best.
Many of these Advent items and more can also be found at Christianbook.com.
Advent storybooks
Advent activity books
Advent devotional books
For other Christmas book ideas, check out my post about Christmas books for kids.
Other Ways to Celebrate Advent
There are many other ways to celebrate the season of Advent. Here are a few ideas:
- Learn about the history of Christmas.
- Learn about traditions of Christmas Around the World
- Attend a local Christmas play at your church or local theatre
- Go to a concert at your church with Christmas music
- Attend a performance of Handel’s Messiah
- Create your own holiday traditions with your family
- Attend Church services
- Do crafts with your kids that help you celebrate Christ’s coming
- Enjoy some baking of cookies, breads, and other traditional foods of the season
Making Your Own Advent Traditions
It seems every church, family, congregation, denomination, and any other group has their own traditions for celebrating Advent. So I hope you too will not feel boxed in by any tradition you grew up in or you see around you.
Find the traditions that you feel will bring your family into the Advent season and anticipate the coming of Christ. Every year that may be different!
My family doesn’t have a set way to observe Advent. I like to find new books, activities, and devotionals to work through each year. As our kids have gotten older, what they enjoy and comprehend has changed. If we have a busy month planned, then some days we will miss what I had planned. And that’s ok.
I like to do a variety of things during Advent. I often have some fun way to countdown to Christmas with an Advent calendar. It’s often Lego since my kids are a bit obsessed. We also do a devotional with daily readings as well as a storybook of some sort. And Christmas books are scattered in there too.
I can’t say what we do is ever very strict or traditional but it works for us and it helps us to enjoy the season and remember what it’s all about. I wish that for you as well. That you will see the large amount of beauty in this season and observe it in a way that gives you peace.
Closing
Advent is a beautiful time of preparation and anticipation of the coming of Christ. There are many ways to celebrate the season. With decorations like wreaths and candles as well as a ton of books to choose from.
The Scriptures and symbolism within Advent can capture our hearts to remind us of what this time is about. May you find joy and peace in this season and draw your family to the One who has come to save us.
How do you celebrate the season of Advent with your family? Comment below with your favorite traditions and resources!
Related Posts
Pick out some great Christmas Books to read with your kids!
Set up some great family Holiday Traditions this season.
Learn about other cultures and holiday traditions by studying Christmas Around the World.
Pingback: 75+ Ways to Create Holiday Traditions this Christmas - Homeschool Planning