Family Advent Activities

Preparing for Christmas 

Sunday, November 27th (2022) is the first Sunday of Advent;  Advent ends on December 24th. This is my 3rd post about Advent.  Many people around the world celebrate this time in preparation for Christmas. Celebrations can use an Advent calendar, an Advent wreath, and family prayers.  For the last 2 years, I’ve written about preparing for Christmas. First,  I wrote about simply ways to celebrate Advent. For more information see   Simple Ways to Celebrate Advent: Wreaths, Calendars, & Activities .  Possible scripture readings for each Sunday of Advent are also available.

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Last year I spent more time discussing one of my favorite things, random acts of kindness. Our world desperately needs kindness and it costs nothing really. Whether you’re religious or not, make the season a time of giving.  So I discussed simple acts throughout the month of December to share kindness and to really get into the spirit of Christmas:  Advent acts of kindness .   I shared a free list of suggested activities and kindness tags for children.

I’ve updated the December calendar for 2022, for those who like to use calendars. All printables are also available blank for you to fill in your chosen acts of kindness.

Today’s installment we’ll look at more family activities for the season. Some of the more spiritual Advent activities have already been discussed in prior posts, and this year I’m adding others that are just plain family fun. The holiday season is the perfect time for families to spend time together and enjoy our gifts of family, friends, love, and nature. You may want to add some of the suggestions for your family holiday tradition or make your own list designed for your family. I included some of my favorites such as seeing the Nutcracker ballet. If you’re not into ballet, change it to a holiday event your family enjoys. Below is a list of suggested family activities sized 11″ x 14″.

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Advent and Preparing for Christmas in Our Hearts

I.  Start a gratitude list or journal

In  research by UC Davis psychologist Robert Emmons, author of Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier, he studied the effects of gratitude on physical and emotional health for over 10 years. Being grateful increases our well-being physically by lowering blood pressure, increasing our immune systems, decreasing aches and pains, and helping us sleep longer. It can also promote healing and dealing with a difficult situation.  Download free printable Gratitude Journal or journal online at LiveJournal.com  or Penzu.com.

II. Make your own Advent candle display to light each Sunday of Advent. Light an Advent candle each Sunday in December and read scripture and/or say a prayer.

Below is my 2017 Advent candle vignette.  You can buy an advent wreath or just set up candles with a few decorations to fit your home decor.

  2017 Advent

III.  Make your own Advent calendar. Fill in with any of the suggested activities

A. The December 2022 blank Advent  calendar is available here.

B.  If you want to use individual bags or envelopes for each of the 24 days, here is a free printable for The 24 Days of Advent. Print on 8.5 x 11 card stock and cut out the 24 days.

24 Days of Advent Download

I’ve been smitten with Scandinavian gnomes for Christmas and made a Gnome Advent Calendar.  You can use it as a wall calendar or again print on card stock and cut out the days.  It is sized 8.5″ x 11″.

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IV.   Participate in a Giving Tree as a family. Buy presents together and deliver

V.  Read the nativity scriptures in the Gospels

Matthew 2: 1 – 11 and Luke 2: 1 – 20

VI.   Donate and volunteer for local Holiday Food Drive

VII. Visit a nursing home and sing Christmas carols or just visit residents

VIII.  Volunteer and serve as a family at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Click on the map below to go to the Homeless Shelter Directory to find ones close to you

IX.  Donate towels and blankets to an animal shelter

X.  Buy a small gift for a child in the long-term care wing of the hospital and a bouquet of flowers for the child’s mother

XI. Send care packages or holiday cards to troops overseas

Family Activities Your Family Will Enjoy

XII. Watch The Nutcracker Ballet

Personally, I love the Nutcracker Suite: both music and ballet. I’ve watched it more times than I can count on television and on DVD.  I’ve happily seen it live several times.  The first time was back in the 1990’s at the gorgeous Fox Theatre in Detroit. (This gorgeous movie palace was built in 1928 as a flagship movie palace in the Fox Theatres chain with over 5,000 seats. Many decades later it was almost torn down  as it deteriorated. At the time of its refurbishment in 1988, it was the largest remaining movie house in the world and is now a jewel setting for performances of all types.)

The music by Tchaikovsky always seems magical to me, and I do love the costumes and dances.  Check online for DVD’s of the ballet or on YouTube.  I personally have a DVD copy of a 1977 American Ballet version with Gelsey Kirkland and Mikhail Baryshnikov.  I first saw it on PBS  as they showed it annually for about 10 years through the 1980’s. Baryshnikov is extraordinary – that’s my humble opinion.  It’s my favorite version and I watch it every December. Below is a link to this movie on YouTube:

XIII.  Take a drive to see Christmas lights.

XIV.  Make Christmas tree ornaments

Country Living has a great post on 70 DIY Christmas ornaments you can make including dried orange slices like the ones I made several years ago.

A dried orange slice on a ribbon.

Christmas Crafting with Dried Oranges

XV.  Cut or choose a Christmas tree.

My little Christmas tree is happy in a larger pot by the front porch.

XVI.  Make a popcorn garland and decorate the Christmas tree.


XVII.  Have a family baking day to make cookies to share with others.

This is the perfect way to remember friends and neighbors .

XVIII.  Make hot chocolate and tell/read stories.

I am big fan of books and reading. If your family doesn’t want to hear a story read, give them individual books according to their interests and abilities.  Personally, I still love a good story and story teller.

XIX. Watch your favorite Christmas movies and eat Christmas cookies.

XX. Go sledding, ice skating, and/or riding in a sleigh.

If your family is the outdoor, athletic type, find fun winter sports that appeal and have fun!  Not into skating?  Take a ride in a sleigh or horse and buggy.

Take a carriage ride at the Haile Village Center during December

I always have a package of goodies for David, my carrier.  And he looks for them! (He wasn’t hard to train.)

Baked Gifts for Christmas, Birthdays or Special Events #baked #gifts #pumpkinbread #sugarednuts

XXII.  Hang plain popcorn or cranberry garlands outside on bushes for the birds.

I enjoy this even more than putting them on the tree.  I do love to watch the birds in the yard. If you live up north, your feathered friends will appreciate this. Do not put salt or butter on the popcorn.  A package of fresh cranberries is also not expensive this time of year. Just use a large eye needle  and dental floss as thread.  Works great.  For more information see  DIY Cranberry & Bay Leaf Garland.

XXIII. Attend church and or school Christmas concerts.

I love Christmas concerts of all kinds – small children in school programs, church choirs, and professional groups. I’ve enjoyed children singing Carols, the Rockettes kicking in sequence, and The Vienna Boys Choir sounding like angels.

I was in the church choir throughout school and in the school choir in Junior High and High School.  I had heard the Hallelujah Chorus growing up and loved singing it and other songs from The Messiah composed in 1741 by George Frederic Handel.  I’ve gone to numerous concerts through the years listening to choral presentations.  In my current small town I have not found a church choir that performs Handel, but I listen to it on CD and enjoy Christmas Carol concerts.  Not into Baroque music, no problem. Check out local Christmas music programs that might make your family happy.

On YouTube, A fantastic performance of the Royal Choral Society: ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Handel’s Messiah.

XXIV. Have a silly, Christmas- themed family photo shoot.

Have fun as a family!  You’re making memories for your children.

I hope my suggestions help inspire you to make a bucket list for your family this holiday. For those who would like to list their own Advent Family Activities, below is a blank form for you to fill in.  God Bless!

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Are you really ready for Christmas?

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If you liked this post, you might like:

Simple Ways to Celebrate Advent: Wreaths, Calendars, & Activities

Advent Acts of Kindness

2018 Advent Candles

#christmas #advent #candles #vignette #display #decorations
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Carol

I was raised in Tennessee but have lived in Florida for many years. Love my small home in the Tampa Bay area and its developing garden. My decorating style is eclectic - some vintage, some cottage, all with a modern flair. Pursuing a healthier lifestyle. Spent many years in social services but am happily retired.

20 thoughts to “Family Advent Activities”

  1. This is such an incredibly good list I know I’m going to return to it! You list many things we already do but I think I may well be stringing cranberries for the birds. (Always wanted to do it inside but fruit flies take over!) Your advent calendar printables are wonderful too. Oh, LOTS is wonderful. Thank you for this!

    1. My dear Jeanie you have again made my heart happy with your kind words and support. Sometimes when I get carried away writing I wonder, is it something you would want to read? Thanks for being you!

  2. We strung popcorn on string last year and my boys were ready to quit after just a couple of minutes! Lol. I loved doing something so “old fashioned” with them though.

  3. I am so happy you are sharing this wonderful post. I make an Advent wreath every year and sadly that tradition seems to be almost gone. Everything is going commercial and taking the time for being still and praying and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas is so hard to find.
    Thank you,
    Kippi

    1. I know I just get tired of all the Santa-izing of the holidays. Christmas movies usually mean a story about not believing in Santa. It’s not Santa’s birthday. Sorry I got carried away.

  4. I loved the Random Acts of Kindness advent, I’m doing an activities advent this year. We are doing fun things such as visiting reindeer, craft things but also charity things to such as donating food to a food bank, toys for children and some pampering items to a women’s refuge. I think it’s important to do things for others especially at this time of year. #MMBC

  5. What a great and thorough post of things to do for Advent. While my children were growing up, we read a series of story books that were biblical fiction, and my children looked forward to the reading and lighting of the candle each night. 🙂 Now, I organize the Advent traditions/reading for our church. 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Tuesday Turn About!

  6. Lots of good ideas!! Thanks so much for linking up at #AThemedLinkup 6 for All Things Christmas.

    1. There are several free to use photos from a few contributors at Pixabay. I do remember loving Jill’s photos.

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