Everything Advent!

A beautiful Advent snowfall in front of our church last year.

Looking for ways to keep the Advent in the season this year, instead of just the holidays?  You've come to the right place!  This is where you'll find ideas, links, and suggestions to include our faith in this wonderful time of the year.

First a little background on what Advent actually is.  It means 'coming' and it is the time when we prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas.  We are actually preparing for three arrivals of Jesus:  We remember how he came into the world as an infant, both human and divine, to save us from our sins by dying for us on the cross; we prepare a place for Him to dwell in our hearts now, and to receive Him in Holy Communion; and we prepare for His final coming at the end of days.  So, we actually have three Christmases to prepare for, Jesus's arrival 2,000 years ago, His arrival in our lives today, and His arrival in the future.  The only question is, when He arrives, will we be ready to let Him in?

Advent is the first season in the liturgical year (the church's yearly cycle) so it is completely appropriate to wish your family a, "Happy New Year!" on the first Sunday of Advent.  Although we say that it is four weeks long, it usually isn't.  The only time that Advent is four full weeks is if Christmas falls on a Sunday.  This is because there are four Sundays of Advent, but not necessarily four full weeks.  If December 25th happens to be on a Monday, Advent is really only three weeks and a day, because the fourth Sunday of Advent would actually be the morning of Christmas Eve!

An Advent wreath is a great tradition, and we had several last year!

So, how do we have a truly meaningful Advent when, especially with all of the holiday rushing, it is over in the blink of an eye?  To be honest, it takes a certain amount of commitment and discipline to intentionally slow down, pray, and really nurture our faith during this beautiful, but often hectic, time of year.  I find that the best ways to do so usually involve setting times that aren't negotiable and are very simple to pull off.  I also like to emphasize some of the saint day celebrations during Advent, such as St. Nicholas or Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Some years we are able to do many of these, and other years we simply pray special prayers together every night.  The ideas below are meant to serve as a list of ideas with the hope that some of them will connect with you and your family.  You do NOT need to do all of them, or even many of them, to have a meaningful Advent.  Pick a few that you know you can do, make it work for your family, and enjoy the season.  After all, we're preparing for a wonderful guest.  There should, before anything else, be joy in that!

Remember where we're headed!

Advent reading:  Go here for a list of my favorite Advent books.  I borrow many of these from the library every year, and sometimes our favorites will show up on St. Nicholas day or Christmas morning!  We usually read as a family several nights a week, so during this time of the year, it might as well be an Advent or Nativity themed book!

Coloring Pages:  

Here are some Advent themed wreaths and calendars from Activity Village.  The Advent wreath has four candles, three purple and one pink, that are lit every Sunday of Advent.  The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday, reminding us that the time of waiting is almost over.  The wreath, much like the calendar, helps us count down until Christmas.

Check out the links to many Advent themed coloring pages and activities over at The Catholic Toolbox.

These Jesse Tree ornaments from RCA can be colored and then cut out and hung on a branch.  The Jesse Tree traces Jesus's lineage.  It is named for King David's father, from whom Jesus was descended.

Domestic-Church has the Jesse Tree images and Bible readings to go along with them.

Advent Wreath:  Go here for an Advent Wreath craft for young children that will be safe for them to keep in their rooms.

Celebrating the Saints:  Go here for ways to celebrate the saints during Advent!

Have a Blessed and Happy Advent Season!

Carolyn