In my family, I wanted Christmas to mean more than just unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning.
I wanted the entire season to be filled with reflection, joy, and togetherness.
That’s where the Advent calendar comes in—it’s a beautiful way to focus on Christ every day leading up to Christmas.
Each day offers a chance to share the story of Jesus, reflecting on His arrival in Bethlehem and His promised return.
The word “advent” simply means “arrival” and signifies the arrival of someone important.
In Christian tradition, Advent is the four-week season when we anticipate and celebrate the arrival of Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah and King.
Christians from all backgrounds use Advent to focus on hope, peace, love, and joy.
Everyone celebrates a little differently, but the heart of Advent is the same—looking forward to Jesus’ arrival and the hope He brings.
Advent carries two powerful meanings for Christians.
First, it celebrates Jesus’ arrival as a baby in Bethlehem, marking His humble entry into our world.
Second, it reminds us of the promised second advent, when Jesus will return to renew all creation and reunite Heaven and Earth.
This time of waiting mirrors the early believers’ anticipation of the Messiah, as we, too, look forward to His return and the restoration of all things (Revelation 21:1-5).
This wooden Advent calendar makes a charming addition to any table, shelf, or mantle.
Its freestanding design adds holiday warmth to your decor without needing wall space.
Wall-mounted calendars with pockets are ideal for larger gifts!
These let you sneak in gifts that peek out, adding excitement to each day.
Repurpose a shoe organizer or canvas bags for a custom DIY calendar.
It’s a great way to get the kids involved in decorating and personalizing each pocket.
I love keeping paper tubes from toilet paper or paper towels on hand for fun DIY projects.
They’re perfect for creating unique, eco-friendly Advent calendars that add a crafty touch to holiday decor.
Check out this two amazing DIY ideas from itsalwaysautumn.com and supermakeit.com
Now, the fun part—what do you fill your calendar with?
Here are some ideas for everyone in the family:
These add fun variety while keeping it personalized and festive!
As we journey through the Advent season, my prayer is that this tradition fills our hearts with the hope, peace, joy, and love that only Christ can bring.
Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Him, using this season to renew our faith and embrace the hope we have in Him.
May the Advent season guide us in reflecting on His first coming and joyfully awaiting His return.
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