Celebrating Advent with Little Ones
WAITING
Advent is all about the waiting (sorry if I just got that Megan Trainor song stuck in your head). But just like waiting for the birth of a baby in your own family, this waiting is overflowing with joy. Here are some ways we celebrate the waiting:
Advent Wreath
We keep our Advent wreath German-style: hanging from the ceiling, with white candles.
The circle (wreath) represents the eternal nature of God, who has no beginning and no end.
The greenery is a symbol of life, and in particular the evergreen branches represent eternal life. We like to add holly, as its thorny leaves and blood-red berries presage Christ's passion--a reminder that He came for our salvation.
Each candle has a particular significance.
The candle for the first week is called the Prophet's Candle, and symbolizes Hope.
The second candle, the Bethlehem Candle, calls to mind Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem.
The third week's candle, the Shepherd's Candle, symbolizes Joy.
The fourth candle, the Angel's Candle, reminds us of their message of Peace.
Jesse Tree
While everyone else hauls out their Christmas trees on the weekend after Thanksgiving, we bring out our little "Jesse Tree."
I love the constant reminder of our close connection to the Jewish people.
It's not too late to start one yourself!
Advent Calendar Chain
Each link has a verse of the Nativity story along with an activity for each day.
Our activities include:
Write a poem for Baby Jesus
Cuddle up with cocoa and a Christmas book
Make Christmas cards for grandparents
Go for a drive to see Christmas lights
LISTENING
Part of waiting is listening for the voice of God in our lives.
Also, listening to this beautiful Advent music!
I discovered this album through Amazon Prime Music, and it's breathtaking, peaceful, and joyous. Clicking the image will take you directly to Amazon, so if you have Prime you can play it for free.
MAKING
We were reminded in the first reading for our Jesse Tree that we were made in God's image--and since God is a creator, we are meant to create as well!
Here are some of our favorite Advent projects:
1. Making paper snowflakes. I finally figured out last year how to fold them properly.
2. Making Christmas cookies. Life stays simpler if you make them in advance and freeze them.
3. Making Christmas presents. We're overflowing with yarn and fabric and wood scraps and old sweaters to be re-purposed into new toys. I feel really strongly about homemade presents, because not only do they keep you from spending boat loads of money on Christmas (which is just silly), and not only are they more meaningful and personal than most anything you could buy in a store, they emphasize the spirit of Advent, of patient but productive waiting.
Not that we don't buy some gifts. But these are the special ones.
Not that we don't buy some gifts. But these are the special ones.
How do you celebrate the season of Advent?
I love your sentiment about homemade gifts and how it benefits the gives learning productive waiting. Powerful!
ReplyDeleteWe usually try to include acts of service in our advent, like packing a Christmas Child box (Samaritan's purse), making cards for nursing home patients, baking for the pastoral staff, that kind of thing.
With just a teen at home, we can go a little more deep with the spiritual stuff, which is cool. We typically use our church's advent guide, which has a short evening prayer liturgy that can be used daily with scriptures and prayers (and of course lighting the advent candles). We've had some great discussions about the texts.
Whoops I meant giveR in my first sentence. Coffee hasn't kicked in!
DeleteYeah, I get the coffee thing. :)
DeleteI love your Advent practices! We always participate with our church in giving presents to low income children in our area, but your idea of making cards for nursing home patients reminded me that I've never done that with my girls--and it's such an important work of mercy. When I was younger my sisters and friends and I used to go caroling at a local nursing home, and you could tell how much that meant to the residents. Thanks for reminding me!
How beautiful, Faith. Love the music and all the crafts to making the waiting meaningful. Your wreath is lovely.
ReplyDeleteWe don't do a lot of crafts or make many gifts anymore. We shop online and bake and there's the clearing of tables for the Creche and some space on the floor for the tree. Volunteering is at an all-time low for me now, but the kids go on their own to pack Christmas boxes and such. This year, it's lighting the candle and having dinner, conversation and prayers and a lot of patience!
Patience is really what Advent is about, isn't it? Though it's hard for me! I have a quote on my refrigerator about the importance of surrendering to God's will--"even to do nothing." So hard! But I think God gives us those times so He can simply take care of us.
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