We have never really celebrated the advent season in our home. I don’t know why exactly, it just wasn’t a tradition for my husband or I growing up. This year I decided it was something I wanted to incorporate into our family tradition.
Of course, being the procrasitnator that I am, I didn’t really think about the actual advent calendar set up until yesterday. So off to Hobby Lobby I went to get some supplies. As we arrived at the store Ethan (5) said “Hobby Lobby? This is a store full of boring stuff!” I suppose to little boys that is true. Anyway, I got everything I needed and worked last night. At this moment I’m still not completely done, but I wanted to throw this idea out there this morning in case anyone else wants to start an advent tradition with their family.
Supplies:
1/2 yard felt
1 spool embroidery thread
Needles for the thicker thread
1 spool of ribbon
Step 1: Cut out 25 pieces of felt, 6.5\
Step 2: Whipstich the sides of the felt to make an envelope
Step 3: Embroider numbers 1-25 for each day of Advent
Step 4: Cut a two small slits in the back of your envelope and insert the ribbon.
Step 5: Add all your envelopes to the ribbon. Then as each day passes, tuck the envelope inside itself so your family can easily countdown Christmas!
The most important part of the advent celebration is focusing on the coming of Christ to earth to save us. Setting aside time everyday between now and Christmas to discuss the importance of Christ coming to Earth is a wonderful way to instill the real meaning of Christmas into the hearts and minds of your family. A suggested reading schedule from Focus on the Family is as follows:
First Week
Sun. Is. 40:1-5
Mon. Is. 52:7-10
Tue. Is. 40:9-11
Wed. Gen. 3:8-15
Thu. Gen. 15:1-6
Fri. Deut. 18:15-19
Sat. Ps. 89:1-4
Second Week
Sun. Is. 11:1-10
Mon. Zech. 6:12-13
Tue. Mic. 5:2-4
Wed. Mal. 3:1-6
Thu. John 1:1-8
Fri. John 1:9-18
Sat. Mark 1:1-3
Third Week
Sun. Luke 1:5-13
Mon. Luke 1:14-17
Tue. Luke 1:18-25
Wed. Luke 1:39-45
Thu. Luke 1:46-56
Fri. Luke 1:57-66
Sat. Luke 1:67-80
Fourth Week
Sun. Is. 7:10-14
Mon. Luke 1:26-35
Tue. Is. 9:2-7
Wed. Mt. 1:18-25
Thu. Luke 2:1-20
Fri. Mt. 2:1-2
Sat. Luke 2:21-35
I plan to put a couple small candies in each day’s envelope as well as a slip of paper indicating which passage we will be reading that evening. I will be modifying this schedule to fit into the 25 days before Christmas.
Some of you might already have Advent traditions, I’d love to hear about them. Since I’m new to this any input would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Keri,
I bought a little inexpensive calendar from Oriental Trading. The children take turns putting up one of the items for the nativity scene from the pockets each day. I made slips of paper for each scripture reading to go in the pockets. You might also have some fun googling the term “Jesse tree” if you are not familiar with that.
I read this with interest. I chose the easy way out.
Well, I tried to take the easy way out but they were all sold out! Smarter parents had thought ahead
I am going to look up Jesse Tree and check that concept out. I was so convicted about keeping Christmas about Christ this year. I’m glad someone else I respect celebrates advent with their kids. I hope you all have fun tonight starting your nativity scene!
Great idea, Keri! You did a great job!
(I’m so excited because I actually have something to add!)
Anyway, growing up, we did a mini-version of Advent. I know that the version we did comes from Colombia, but I’m pretty sure its a Latin American Catholic tradition. Its called “Novenas” which translates to Nines. It consists of getting together the nine days before Christmas in anticipation of the birth of Christ. There is some singing but mostly its reading of scripture (I believe Luke in particular, but not sure). Its easily my favorite Christmas tradition and the one I miss most by not being home. There is a certain joy in coming together for fellowship in expectation of the birth of Christ especially when it consists of a tradition that’s been in my family for a long time.
A-C I bet you have good things to add all the time!
I loved reading about Nines. I hope we are starting a tradition with the boys that they will have fond memories of. They are already having tons of fun and we’ve only done it for 2 nights. We’ve started in Isaiah where the prophet fortells the coming of Christ. I think we get into Luke the week before Christmas.
If you are ever in the mood to do advent you are welcome to skype in with us or come down when finals are over. I’ll be praying that you do well on your exams!
Thanks Amy!
awww thank you, you’re so sweet!
I’m hoping to continue this tradition with my future kids. Of course I’ll have to teach The Fiance and (future) kids Spanish first, but that’s just a minor detail, right?
On another note, you and the boys (all 3 of them, ha!) are always welcome here.
I love your envelopes, they look so nice! Thanks for the Scriptures, I am going to use those. We have a wooden Nativity calendar with 25 doors that the kids take turns opening each day.
Thanks April! i think I surprised my own family that I had actually used a needle and thread.
A nativity sounds like a neat idea too. Ethan has liked having the Scripture reading at night. It’s given us a chance to explain passages in Isaiah that we probably would not have thought to discuss before.
Looks great! How do the envelopes stay closed? Just the felt? Maybe I can handle this!
We’ve used an advent wreath for the last 3 years, and our kids love it. You can google the instructions/purposes. We love how the light “grows” more and more until Christmas day, which is a great way to talk about different John passages. This year we’re reading from Jon Farrar’s advent devotional, which is nice, too.
Each evening at supper, we light the candle(s), read the devo, and put up another figure on our nativity set.
I love the idea of putting the Scripture in the envelope, too, to have them thinking about it during the day!
Sorry this is so long….
Hi aimee,
The envelopes just kind of hang mostly closed. It’s not the greatest system. I might add a little button for next year. I’ll have to look for Farrar’s book after Christmas and give that a try next year. Do you use an actual advent candle thing or do you just light some candles?
I’m going to have the kids put the nativity together next year on their own. That seems like a great idea.
Thanks for all the tips!
So excited to read about this! I wanted to start this tradition with this bring my daughters first Christmas but didn’t know a whole lot about it. We just bought a little cheap one because we waited too long and all the nice ones were sold out! I’m going to use those verses to read each day.