Advent is almost here! If you’re still deciding on what kind of traditions or activities you would like to incorporate this year, I’ve created a list of Advent ideas for you to choose from. If you’ve been Catholic for awhile, you know that one of the beautiful things about our Catholic is how many devotions and traditions we have. Unfortunately, it can also be a little overwhelming! That’s why I decided to narrow it down to the most simple and beautiful devotions. Pick one or two that suits your family. Remember, the whole point of advent is to bring you closer to God, not to stress or spend a lot of money! Trying new things is meant to be fun. If you find a new tradition, that’s great! But don’t be afraid to drop things that don’t work for you or your family.
1. Pray the St. Andrew Prayer — Also known as the Christmas Novena, this prayer is said 15 times a day from November 30 to Christmas. Prayer below with free printable.
2. Read the Gospel of Luke — The book of Luke in the Bible has 24 chapters, so this is the perfect way to get closer to Christ. Simply read one chapter a day from December 1 until Christmas Eve (free checklist above).
3. Put up a Jesse Tree — The Jesse tree is a popular tradition, and it’s one of our family’s favorite ones. It walks you through the lineage of Jesus. You’ll read a passage from the Old Testament every day leading up to the birth of Jesus on Christmas. To do this, get a small table tree. (We have this one from walmart.) Each day, you’ll put a small ornament on tree. This Jesse Tree devotions we use comes with a specific set of ornaments, each corresponding to a reading. You can purchase them or make your own. HERE is a full guide on all the different ways to do the Jesse Tree.
4. Light an Advent Wreath — The Advent wreath is one of the oldest and most popular Advent traditions. Each candle represents one week of Advent, reminding us to wait with hope, peace, joy, and love as we get closer to Christmas. For my ideas for Advent wreath, devotionals and candles CLICK HERE.
5. The Giving Manger — This is such a sweet tradition for little kids! Use a small, empty wooden manger and keep straw handy. Whenever one of your children does a good deed, let them put a piece of straw in the manger. This shows them that their good works create a sweet place for Jesus to rest. You can buy a wooden, keepsake set or you can make your own manger and use yellow yarn for the straw. My mother did this for us as kids, and it is one of my favorite memories! Here is the one we use.
6. Celebrate the Feast Day of St. Nicolas — Observed on December 6, the feast day of St. Nicolas is usually celebrated by having children set their shoes out the night before. Parents fill their shoes with chocolate, coins, oranges HERE are some fun treat ideas for Saint Nicholas shoe ideas. Also some times Christmas Pajamas so they have them for the whole Christmas and Advent Season. CLICK HERE for my blog with lots of other ideas for Saint Nicholas feast day! or my video below explains more too!
7. Celebrate the Feast Day of St. Lucy — St. Lucy is traditionally associated with light, so we celebrate by making hot chocolate and going to see Christmas lights! I have a video on traditional St. Lucy celebrations you can watch here. I also explain everything HERE in this blog.
8. Celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe – I’ve been to Guadalupe to see the tilma, so Our Lady of Guadalupe has a special place in my heart. I’m looking forward to incorporating new traditions for her feat day this year. All my ideas are HERE in this blog or my video below will help too. Here are some fun goodies for Our Lady of Guadalupe. The feast of the Immaculate Conception is also a great day to celebrate.
9. Go to Confession — The Church only asks that we go to confession once a year, but it’s beneficial to go more often. Advent and Lent are excellent times to go! Here is my easy guide on how to go to confession.
10. Offer Something Up — Advent has historically been like a mini Lent, a time when we wait in darkness for the coming of Christ. Traditionally, Catholics would offer something up or fast. (Not to the same extent as Lent, but something small is appropriate.)
11. Mary on the Mantel – is a great way to prepare for the coming of Jesus! Every morning Mary has a mission for the kids to do to help her prepare for the coming of Jesus. These are so sweet my kids love seeing what mission they have that day! These sell out quickly, so be sure to grab them fast Here (10% off entire order with code CATHOLICMOMSLIFE) is the one we have! I explain it all in my YouTube video below!
Advent Checklist – Here is a great way to give back and draw closer to God during the advent season. Simply cross of the activities you want to do with your family during the Advent season! If you would like your free printable CLICK HERE.
Below are ALL the different Catholic Devotions from above feel free to print them off HERE and go through them with your family!
Do you have any favorite Advent traditions? If so, drop a comment below! I hope you have a fruitful Advent!
Here is my gift guide for children.
I hope you enjoyed these ideas I would love to hear your ideas too!
3 Responses
Hi Heather,
This is Myrna Carandang from the Philippines. FIrst came to know about the Jessee tree!
Here in the Philippines it is just the popular traditional Christmas tree. And more than a giving manger, we display our what we call ‘The Belen’ or the ‘Nativity Scene’ with Mary Joseph
and Baby Jesus, the Shepherds and Three Wise
Men. Also we put up the customary ‘Parol’ or the
Big Star symbolising the Star of Bethlehem. I don’t know if you have any Filipino acquaintance because these are what you will normally see in a typical Filipino home aside of course those usual
dazzling Christmas Lights. Here in our country
the Yuletide is curiously observed rather early. During the time when power rate was not as high and costly as the current times, there are many houses that put up their lights at the onset of
what we fondly call the BER Months, which is
yes SeptemBER. So the practice snowballs onto October and by November, especially after All Saints’ day and All Souls’ Day, the communities
the country in fact is already vividly on Christmas mode! This is so unique to us Filipinos that is such an incredible surprise to the foreign eyes like, “What! Christmas already in September lol!” But yes oh yes we love the Christmas Season that much! No matter the hard life and lean days may seem, when this season approaches to one’s utmost best. Our churches are packed full at the well-loved 9-day Novena Dawn Masses! Truly a Season of Hope! Advance Merry Blessed Chritmas
to you and your beautiful family! ????????????????????
Insert: …when this season approaches * IT IS CELEBRATED *…
Thank you for all you do! just finished printing out all advent lists!