When houses and streets shine festively in the dark, when at home it smells invitingly of cookies and finally, finally the first little door of the Advent calendar may be opened, then the Anticipation for Christmas with each day.
Children especially enjoy Advent with all its customs and secrets. But what exactly is it all about? We go with you on a journey of discovery to the origins of the Advent season.
Children and adults alike will find the meaning of Advent clearly explained on this page. Because those who know the meaning can better grasp the magic of this special time and celebrating the festive traditions together with the whole family brings even more joy.
Why do we celebrate Advent?
Advent is the time of anticipation. We look forward to the approaching Christmas. Also in its original Christian meaning, Advent is a time of anticipation. The Latin word "adventus" means "arrival" and refers to Christians' preparations for the approaching birth of Jesus, the arrival of God's Son.
Advent begins, according to Protestant and Catholic tradition, always on the eve of the first Sunday of Advent and ends on Christmas Eve. There are always four Sundays of Advent. On each Sunday one more candle may be lit on the Advent wreath. Because the beginning is tied to a movable Sunday, but the end to a fixed calendar date, the length of the Advent season varies from year to year. It can last between 22 and 28 days. The earliest possible date for the first Sunday of Advent falls on 27 November, the latest date is 3 December.
The first Sunday of Advent also marks the beginning of the church year. Advent in its four-week form goes back to Pope Gregory the Great in the 7th century, who fixed the number of Advent Sundays at four. According to the understanding at that time, these four Sundays symbolized the 4,000 years that people had to wait after the Fall from Paradise for the arrival of the "Redeemer".
Traditions & Customs: what makes Advent with children special
There are many lovely traditions and customs during the Christmas and Advent season. Some have become established over the centuries, others over the years within individual families. You surely also have some rituals that make Advent with your children something very special. Moments that bring you even closer together as a family and family bonds They don't have to be spectacular activities. It's far more important to push the everyday hectic aside for a moment and to consciously enjoy the pre-Christmas season.
Advent wreath
According to the Bible, with Christ the light came into the world; therefore light is at the center of traditional Advent customs: on the Advent wreath the light shines a little brighter with each Advent Sunday and every additional candle that is lit.
Make the Advent Sundays a little more festive and gather as a family around the Advent wreath with a delicious cup of tea and cookies.
Buy Advent calendars
You probably can't do without the classic Advent calendar — but you don't have to. Children love opening the 24 little doorsThe calendar not only offers a sweet surprise every day; it also visualizes the wait for Christmas and helps count the days until Christmas Eve. Already more than 160 years ago, children sweetened the wait for Christmas with the first homemade Advent calendars.
Make an Advent calendar
As early as over 160 years ago children, according to the story, sweetened their wait for Christmas with the first homemade Advent calendars – that still works today.
Whether with toilet paper rolls or linen bags – your creativity knows no bounds. There are also many possibilities when it comes to filling them.
Both sweets as well as small nice items – like stickers or mini toys – make children's hearts soar. This applies to bought or homemade Advent calendars. However, the most fun is crafting together with the kids.
Nativity play or Christmas fairy tale
During Advent, in many towns and churches Christmas tales for children performed. Often these are traditional tales or stories, but there are also many modern performances for children of almost every age.
Another equally popular custom is the traditional nativity play during AdventAs early as the Middle Ages, the Christmas story was performed as a sacred play in the church. You can also wonderfully set up a nativity scene at home with small figurines.
Christmas carols
With the right songs, you will definitely get into the Christmas spirit. Centuries ago, in churches classic Christmas carols were sung. Today there are numerous Christmas songs from the most diverse genres. Also beautiful children's songs.
On a dark Advent day, sit together comfortably and start singing a few songs. Children often already know the lyrics and melodies of well-known Christmas carols already from school or kindergarten.
But a CD or playlist of Christmas songs also ensures that the little ones can soon sing along to their favorite songs.
Celebrating Advent with children
Advent is a welcome occasion to pause now and then and spend cozy time with the family. Everyday life is stressful enough, especially in the run-up to Christmas – we have a few ideas for how you and your children can experience Advent festively and with lots of fun.
Baking Christmas cookies
Christmas cookies are among the first Christmas preparations in almost all families. Let your child bake to their heart's content and don't worry if the cookies don't look quite as perfect as usual. With every cookie you cut out, the anticipation for the celebration grows even more. Feel free to get creative when baking with your children at Christmas: besides cookies in typical cut-out shapes, you can also cut them into funny, individual designs.
Advent crafts
Festive Christmas decorations are simply part of Advent. It's especially nice to make the Christmas decorations yourself with the children. These can be beautiful Christmas stars as well as lanterns for candles. Maybe you can also create small gifts for friends and family – making Christmas gifts by hand increases the anticipation for the celebration.
Writing a wish list
Create a nice wish list together with the kids and send it to Santa Claus.
Christmas story time
Cuddling up and having a story read aloud is especially lovely during the dark season. Light a few candles, make yourselves comfortable, and read Christmas stories or poems together. You can also read the Christian Christmas story so your child learns the original background of Christmas.
Donations
Giving is part of Christmas just as much as receiving. And it's a good opportunity to tell children that not everyone can expect a full table of presents on Christmas Eve. Sort through toys and clothes you and your child no longer need together and bring them to one of the many charitable organizations. After all, Christmas is about charity.
Activities for the pre-Christmas season
Time with the family gets even cozier when it gets colder outside. Are you looking for inspiration to make the Advent season especially nice with children? Here are great ideas to increase your anticipation for Christmas:
Read a Christmas story together or make one up: Children love to dive into other worlds or invent them themselves!
Go for a winter walk: Discover the winter world with your kids – maybe it will even snow!
Discover animal tracks in the snow: If it snows where you are, the little ones will be amazed when they can match the tracks in the snow to animals.
Build an animal feeding station: Build, for example, a feeding station for birds in winter.
Go ice skating: A great outing for the whole family – and good practice for balance too!
Write an Advent journal: In the pre-Christmas season there are so many lovely moments that it's worth writing them all down! How about a notebook where the children can write daily or weekly about special Advent joys?
Mindfulness in Advent with Children
Not only for us grown-ups, but also for the little ones, the pre-Christmas season can sometimes become stressful. Mindfulness helps, even in these times relaxation and calm to find. Why not try these 3 little, child-friendly mindfulness exercises:
Light a candle together and sit still for a few minutes and breathe calmly.
Say thank you – Sit together and talk about a special experience from the year that you are grateful for.
Consciously listen to an Advent or Christmas song – Can you hear specific instruments or sounds? Perk up your ears and dive into the world of music!
Frequently asked questions about Advent with children
What is important during Advent?
Who decided that the church year begins on the first Sunday of Advent?
Why does Advent last four Sundays?
More articles about celebrations & occasions
Image credits
Girl crafts Saint Nicholas and horse from construction paper © Natalia - stock.adobe.com
Child stands wearing a Saint Nicholas hat in front of the Advent calendar © Lyubov Ilyushina - stock.adobe.com