Understanding What Advent Really Means
Before diving into family Advent traditions, it's helpful to understand the foundation of this season. Advent comes from the Latin word "adventus," meaning "coming" or "arrival." The Advent season encompasses the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, typically beginning in late November or early December. This period serves as a time of spiritual preparation, anticipation, and reflection as we commemorate Christ's first coming and look forward to His promised return.
The traditional themes of Advent like hope, peace, joy, and love provide a framework for family discussions throughout December. These aren't abstract concepts but tangible realities that even young children can grasp through stories, activities, and intentional conversation.
Creating Your Family Advent Wreath
One of the most recognizable symbols of celebrating Advent with children is the Advent wreath. Understanding the Advent wreath meaning enriches this tradition and makes it more than just a decorative centerpiece. The circular shape represents God's eternal nature, without beginning or end. The evergreen branches symbolize eternal life through Christ, and the candles represent the light of Christ entering a dark world.
Setting Up Your Wreath
Materials you'll need:
- Four taper candles (traditionally three purple and one pink, though blue is also common)
- One white Christ candle for Christmas Day
- Evergreen wreath or base
- Candle holders that fit securely in the wreath
- Matches or lighter
- Optional decorations like pinecones, ribbons, or berries
Wreath arrangement:
- Place the white Christ candle in the center of your wreath
- Position the four Advent candles around the perimeter
- Arrange the pink candle (lit on the third Sunday) in a visible spot
- Add evergreen branches and decorative elements
- Keep the wreath away from flammable materials and never leave burning candles unattended
Weekly Lighting Ceremony
Each Sunday during Advent, gather your family around the wreath for a simple lighting ceremony. This becomes one of the most cherished Christian Advent activities families can share together.
Week One - Hope: Light the first purple candle and discuss how prophets foretold Christ's coming and how we can live with hope today. Share examples of times when hope sustained your family through difficulties.
Week Two - Peace: Light the first and second purple candles. Talk about the peace Christ brings and how we can be peacemakers in our homes, schools, and communities. Discuss practical ways to resolve conflicts peacefully.
Week Three - Joy: Light the first and second purple candles plus the pink candle (also called the Shepherd's candle). Explore the joy the shepherds experienced when angels announced Christ's birth and the joy we find in knowing Jesus.
Week Four - Love: Light all three purple candles and the pink candle. Reflect on God's ultimate expression of love in sending His Son and how we can show love to others during this season and throughout the year.
Christmas Day: Light all four Advent candles plus the white Christ candle, celebrating that the light of the world has come.
Daily Advent Devotionals for Families
While the weekly wreath lighting provides structure, daily devotional time deepens your family's Advent experience. Advent devotionals for families don't need to be lengthy; even five to ten minutes of focused time together can significantly impact your children's understanding and anticipation of Christmas.
Devotional Elements to Include
Scripture reading: Select passages that tell the Christmas story or prophecies about the Messiah. Start with familiar stories like the annunciation to Mary (Luke 1:26-38) or the birth narrative (Luke 2:1-20), then expand to include prophecies from Isaiah or the genealogy of Christ.
Discussion questions: Tailor questions to your children's ages and understanding levels. For younger children, ask simple questions like "How do you think Mary felt when the angel visited her?" For older children, explore deeper concepts such as "Why was it important for Jesus to be born as a baby rather than appearing as an adult?"
Prayer time: Encourage each family member to share something they're thankful for and one way they hope to prepare their hearts for Christmas. Consider keeping a family prayer journal throughout Advent to document requests and celebrate answered prayers.
Application activity: Connect each day's lesson to practical action. If you read about the shepherds sharing the good news, discuss how your family can share hope with neighbors or classmates.
Jesse Tree Activities: Teaching Scripture Through Symbols
Jesse Tree activities offer a creative way of walking through salvation history from Creation to Christ's birth. Named after Jesse, King David's father, the Jesse tree represents Christ's family line and God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture.
Creating Your Jesse Tree
Basic setup:
- Use a real branch placed in a vase or pot, a small potted tree, or a felt/paper tree on your wall
- Create or purchase ornaments representing different Bible stories
- Read one story each day from December 1-24
- Add the corresponding ornament to your tree after each reading
Sample ornament progression:
- December 1: Apple (Creation and the Fall)
- December 2: Rainbow (Noah's Ark and God's covenant)
- December 3: Stars (Abraham and God's promise)
- December 4: Ladder (Jacob's dream)
- December 5: Coat of many colors (Joseph)
- December 6-24: Continue through Moses, David, the prophets, and culminating with the nativity
Children especially connect with Jesse Tree activities because they're visual, hands-on, and tell stories. Even toddlers can participate by hanging ornaments, while older children can read the passages themselves or create their own ornament designs. This tradition transforms your home into a teaching space where biblical literacy grows naturally through repetition and creativity.
Service Projects: Living Out Advent Themes
A Christ-centered Christmas isn't complete without serving others. Family Advent traditions that include outward-focused service teach children that celebrating Christ's birth means sharing His love with those around us.
At Uintah Basin Christian Academy, we emphasize that Christian education extends beyond the classroom into how we serve our community. These service activities demonstrate to children that faith isn't just something we believe, it's something we live out through action.
UBCA Christmas Traditions: Building Community
While many Advent practices happen at home, connecting with your church and school community enriches the experience. UBCA Christmas traditions center on celebrating Christ together and creating memories that strengthen our school family.
Throughout December, students at our Christian school participate in chapel services that explore Advent themes. Our annual Christmas program allows students to share the nativity story through music, drama, and Scripture reading, demonstrating to the wider community what they've learned about Christ's birth.
These community celebrations remind children that they're part of something bigger than their individual families. They learn that Christians throughout history and around the world have celebrated Advent together, united in anticipation of Christ's coming.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Advent Celebrations
When should we start celebrating Advent as a family?
Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas, which typically falls in late November or early December. However, families can begin preparing their materials and discussing Advent traditions whenever it works for their schedule. The first Sunday of Advent is the official starting point for lighting the Advent wreath and following a daily devotional guide.
What if we've never celebrated Advent before and it feels overwhelming?
Start with just one tradition this year. An Advent wreath with weekly lighting ceremonies requires minimal preparation but creates significant impact. As your family becomes comfortable with this rhythm, you can gradually add other elements like daily devotionals or Jesse Tree activities in subsequent years. Remember, celebrating Advent with children is about quality time and spiritual focus, not checking boxes on a to-do list.
How do I explain Advent to very young children who don't understand waiting?
Use concrete examples they already understand. Connect Advent to how they wait for their birthday; each day brings them closer to the celebration. Create a visual countdown they can see and touch, like a paper chain where they remove one link daily or a chart where they add a sticker each morning. Emphasize that just as waiting for special days is exciting, waiting for Christmas is about anticipating Jesus's birthday.
Can we still do fun, secular Christmas activities while observing Advent?
Absolutely! A Christ-centered Christmas doesn't mean eliminating all festive traditions. Decorating, baking cookies, watching Christmas movies, and attending community events can coexist with spiritual practices. The key is ensuring that Christ remains the focus and that commercial or secular activities don't overshadow the reason for the season. Consider how even fun traditions can point back to Jesus, for example, discussing how gift-giving reflects God's gift of His son.
Conclusion: The Gift of Intentional Celebration
Celebrating Advent with children is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give your family. In a culture that often rushes straight into Christmas festivities, choosing to observe this season of preparation sets your family apart. You're teaching your children that anticipation has value, that waiting can be purposeful, and that Jesus's arrival is worthy of thoughtful celebration.
At Uintah Basin Christian Academy, we partner with parents to provide Christ-centered education that extends beyond academics into every area of life. Just as we integrate biblical principles throughout our curriculum, we encourage families to weave faith into daily routines, especially during significant seasons like Advent.
If you're looking for a school community that values biblical literacy, character development, and Christ-centered education, we invite you to contact us. You can schedule a tour to see firsthand how we partner with families to equip children to be followers of Christ through excellence in education.