Advent

Celebrating advent is a great way to remember what Christmas is all about in the middle of the holiday rush. It starts early, stirring up the Christmas spirit long before December 25—maybe even before our calendars are scribbled full!

What is Advent?

Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning coming or arrival. At Christmastime, we use it to point to the Advent of Christ.

Traditionally, advent begins after Thanksgiving, four Sundays before Christmas. One candle is lit for each Sunday to represent the Light that is coming into the world. The candles glow more and more brightly each Sunday until all five are lit on Christmas Eve.

The emphasis of advent is on waiting. Celebrating it helps us step into the shoes of the prophets and patriarchs who hoped for the Messiah before they could see Him. As we wait for all the candles to be lit, we wait for Christ to come as if for the first time and anticipate His second coming. With each reminder of His approach, we feel the same eagerness to see Him arrive and appreciate His great gift more as we prepare for Christmas Day.

How Do You Do It?

Advent is easy to celebrate. Buy an advent wreath or set up five candles and gather with your family or roommates every Sunday evening to light them. Read parts of the Christmas story together, pray, sing carols, or recite poetry. Take turns lighting the candles and reading each week.

Many people use an evergreen wreath with colored candles for advent, a custom that started in Germany and Scandinavia in the 1600s. The evergreen stands for life in Christ, and each candle helps tell the Christmas story. The first candle is for prophecy, symbolizing the waiting period of the Old Testament. The second is for Bethlehem, representing preparations to receive the Christ child. The third is the shepherds' candle, celebrating the act of sharing Christ. The fourth is the angels' candle, heralding God's love and arrival. The fifth candle is the Christ candle, ushering in the redemption of the world.

Have fun with advent! Be creative and build your own advent wreath. Ask your church for materials to help you celebrate. The main thing is to find ways to remember Christ and the coming fulfillment of His promises.

Advent Quilt

If you have young children, make advent a month-long countdown with an advent quilt. Gather scraps of material—from old sewing projects, worn out clothing, old sheets, etc.—and cut them into 24 Christmas shapes, such as stars, wreaths and snow men, large enough to hold note cards. If you're feeling really creative, try cutting out shapes of buildings, a stable, stars, angels, livestock and people to make the town of Bethlehem. Number the pieces.

Sew or hot-glue the shapes to a piece of cloth or felt, leaving openings at the top of each pocket. Hang on the wall in your child's room, the hallway, or over the fireplace. Get 24 note cards, divide the Christmas story into 24 parts and write them on the note cards. Put one in each pocket, in order. Get some candy—chocolate or candy canes are great—and put a piece for each child into every pocket.

Every evening after dinner, let your children take out the card and give out the candy. Read that night's part of the story together.

Advent Chain

If you don’t have time to make a quilt, try an easy advent variation on the Christmas paper chain. Buy pieces of red and green construction paper and cut them into 23 4" -wide strips. Write the last 23 verses of the Christmas story on the strips, alternating red and green. Glue the first strip into a loop, link the next one through, glue it, and so on.

Hang the chain somewhere in your home or make one for each child's room. On December 1, read the Christmas story through the last 23 verses, then let your children take turns tearing off a loop and reading it each day until Christmas Eve.