What is Advent? This Year, Let’s Celebrate Christmas Intentionally.

My kids are eagerly awaiting Christmas day.  Right now, all they can think about are the toys they’ll be receiving.

In order to build on that anticipation and celebrate our Christmas season intentionally, we’ll be observing advent this year.

Growing up, advent wasn’t a tradition in my home so I never knew what it was or the meaning behind it.  Over the years I’ve seen many different people speak about advent and most recently, pinterest has been brimming with advent calendars.

I figured it was a cute way to count down to Christmas with the kids.  When I started to reasearch it, I found out it was something much more beautiful than that.

What is Advent?

Advent is a period of time that starts four Sunday’s before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve.

The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming.”

Within the period of advent, as a family, the true reason for Christmas is celebrated intentionally.  For four weeks, we’re remembering the thousands of years God’s people were anticipating and longing for the coming of Jesus.

This is done by reading scripture, making crafts, baking, and singing from day 1 to day 25 leading to the birth of Christ.  As a Christian, it’s a time to also focus on His second advent.  Our hope and faith in His return.

How My Family is Celebrating Advent This Year

Advent starts this coming Sunday, December 2nd.

To celebrate, I’m going to make this mason jar advent calendar.

They’re just my style and will work perfectly with the advent study we’ll be going through called, Truth in the Tinsel.

Truth in the Tinsel is an ebook with daily scripture reading and ornaments to make with the kids.  I’ll gather the weekly craft materials and put them in mason jars ready to go for our evening study.

Day by day, the kids will get excited to work through the mason jars as they’ll be able to visually see Christmas day drawing near.   What’s great is that they’ll also truly understand what we’re celebrating.  The birth of Jesus.  My prayer is that we can rejoice in this season and savor every little bit of Christmas.

Here is a youtube video the author put together to explain the book a little bit.

Doesn’t that sound like fun?  I’m excited to start.

Advent Candles

Traditionally, candles are used in observance of advent.  Built around a wreath, there are 3 purple candles, one pink, and one white in the center.

One candle is lit for each week of advent.  So on week 1, candle one is lit.  On week 2, candle one and candle two are lit… and so forth.

The outside candles represent hope, peace, joy, and love. The center white candle represents Christ which is lit on Christmas Eve.

For our purposes, we’re just going to use four candles like the first picture above and light them on each day we start our study.  I think it will be a nice touch and I’m sure my boys will love taking turns lighting them and putting them out as well.

Morning Advent Study For Mama

As my morning devotional this month I’m excited to have started an advent study by Good Morning Girls.

I really enjoy the studies put together by Good Morning Girls as they teach inductively.  You read through the word, analyze the scripture, and apply it to your life.

I’m really going to enjoy this one and a great thing about it is that it’s free.  What a blessing, indeed!  The study started Monday, but it’s never to late to start!

By being intentional this year and observing advent, the excitement and warmth of Christmas can be felt in my home as we truly recognize the birth and coming of our King!

Do you celebrate Advent?  Please share any studies you use or traditions you keep.  I’d love to hear about new studies for the years to come 🙂