The season of Advent is one of the most exciting and special times in the Catholic faith. It’s a time of hope and joy as we anticipate the coming of Christ, where we spend the entire season preparing to celebrate His birth. Advent also brings people together under a shared hope, deepening our connection with family and friends. This year, make it a priority to embrace the spirit of Advent with your family. Here are five ways to do so:
Discuss the History of Advent
First, sit down with your family and have a conversation about the history of Advent. While your family may already know that it’s the time leading up to Christmas Day, they may not understand the full meaning behind it. Helping everyone understand the history of Advent will make celebrating it more meaningful. Focus on discussing questions like:
- Where does the word “Advent” come from?
- What’s the meaning of Advent?
- Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th?
- What does the Bible teach us about preparing for the coming of the Lord?
Light the Advent Wreath
One of the most well-known Advent traditions is the lighting of the Advent wreath. The first day of Advent is on the Sunday closest to November 30th. On this day, the first candle, the candle of hope, is lit to represent the hope we have in the coming of a Savior. Each of the following Sundays leading up to Christmas Day, another candle is lit. Each one represents a different sentiment we have about the anticipation of the Lord, including peace, joy and love.
On Christmas Day, we light the center candle, which represents Christ. This candle is usually white to represent the purity, holiness and perfection of Christ and the light He brings to the world. Lighting the Advent wreath gives your family an opportunity each week to reflect and prepare your hearts for the birth of Christ.
Create a Reverse Advent Calendar
As much as Advent is a season of joy and hope, it’s also a season of generosity and giving. A traditional Advent calendar acts as a countdown to Christmas with a little treat inside each day. To embrace generosity as a family, create a reverse Advent calendar.
Instead of a calendar loaded with treats for your family to enjoy each day leading up to Christmas, create a donation box that you can leave items in each day to give to someone else. These items can be given to friends, neighbors, church members or charities. On or after Christmas, your family can make a trip to each person, church or charity and give them the items. It’s the perfect way to count down to Christmas while sharing the love and joy of Christ with others!
Read Devotionals and Bible Stories
Devotionals and Bible readings are a central part of celebrating Advent with family. Devotionals provide families with a daily guide to exploring the season of Advent in a Biblical context. They usually include themed descriptions, Bible passages, discussions, prayer prompts and activities to help families dive deeper into the meaning of the season. Dedicate a time each day to sitting down together and going through a devotional. It makes celebrating Advent an intentional process, rooted in Scripture.
Make a Prayer Garland
Similar to a gratitude tree many families make during Thanksgiving, a prayer garland offers a way for your family to reflect on the season in a visual way. There are a couple of ways to create a prayer garland, and both will help your family members embrace the spirit of Advent.
The first way you can do it is to write down the name of a person, group or ministry on a paper leaf and add it to the garland. Each day leading up to Christmas, pull off one of the leaves and pray for whoever is on it. The second way is to have each family member write down a prayer and stick it on the garland each day leading up to Christmas. Either way, you’re encouraging a daily prayer habit and praying for others!
Located in the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, our Orlando Catholic school is committed to proclaiming the gospel Message of Jesus Christ. At St. Charles Borromeo, we believe in teaching the whole child and want students to love learning, helping them grow into well-rounded, contributing members of society. Learn more about us by contacting us here.