How to Celebrate Advent at Home

A Starter Guide

Updated for the 2023 Advent Season

We began celebrating Advent at our home in 2019 when my daughter was only two, and I have seen the value of the tradition. We planned to use advent and candle lighting to shift the focus of Christmas from Santa and gifts to Jesus. Even while she was still so little, the candlelight captivated her, and I knew this would be a tradition we would continue. By Christmas 2020, at age three, she could tell us the meaning of each candle and started learning a portion of the memory verses.

As we continued to celebrate Advent at home, I created a guide to help keep us on track and decided to share it with others. Since then, the guide has been downloaded over 1,000 times by other families. If you need help observing Advent as a family, you are in the right place.

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Let’s make this Advent season a Christ-filled celebration as we anticipate Christmas Day.

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How do I use the Advent Guide at home?

Advent is a centuries-old tradition that helps those who practice it keep their minds on Jesus and the miraculous virgin birth that brought our Savior to Earth. There are many different traditions involving the candles, wreath, and scripture readings. This guide is my version of some of those traditions.

You will find directions for which color candle to light along with scripture readings for each week. We light the candle around dinner time when our family is together. Throughout the week, we try to do a craft (see below). You can continue to light the candles every night or just once per week.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase, which allows me to continue offering free content to you.

Below are craft ideas I collected for each week. The Youtube Tutorial shows how I put each craft together. The supplies and directions for each craft are discussed in more detail below.

Week 1: Baby Jesus Craft

Supplies for Baby Jesus Ornament

Popsicle sticks (4)
Peg doll (I purchased a pack at Hobby Lobby)
Star
Paper shred
Felt

For this craft, hot glue was necessary to hold the base of the ornament together. You can try regular glue for the other embellishments, but it will take longer to dry. After you create the bottom, add the paper shred for hay, the swaddled baby peg Jesus, and a star on top. Add a hanger, and this cute ornament is ready for your tree.

Week 2: Create a Crown

Supplies for Crown Ornament

Wood crown ornament
Sparkle Mod Podge
Scrapbook paper
Bead embellishment

First, trace the crown shape onto the scrapbook paper and cut it out. Add a layer of Mod Podge on the wood crown’s surface, place the scrapbook paper, and add another layer on top of the scrapbook paper. Add additional Mod Podge anywhere the paper is lifting until it’s secure. Once dry, hot glue the bead embellishment to the front and hanger to the back.

Week 3: Create a Star Ornament

Supplies for Star Ornament

Oven bake clay (Hobby Lobby)
Letter stamps
Rolling pin
Gold Sharpie Marker
White paint
Star cookie cutter
Sweater for texture
Pink yarn for tassel

The oven-bake clay is so much fun! These star ornaments turned out great. First, roll out your clay and check the thickness against the package directions. I rolled mine to 1/4″. Add the sweater material over the top and press it into the clay with the rolling pin to add the texture. Cut out shapes and add a hole with a toothpick. Bake your clay shapes according to package directions.

Once the ornaments have baked and are cooled off, I gently sanded the edges, then painted the front of the ornaments white. After, I added some gold sharpie to the word “JOY” and the bigger stars’ edges. For an added embellishment, I made a quick yarn tassel.

Week 4: Create an Angel

Supplies for Angel Ornament

Sparkle Mod Podge
Peg Doll
Coffee Filter
Wire
Feathers

First, cut the coffee filter down to size for the angel’s gown. Add a thin layer of sparkle Mod Podge then set aside. Add the twine hanger to the back of the angel, then wrap with the dry gown. Twist the wire into a halo and glue it on top of the angel’s head. Finally, cut the feathers down to size and glue them to the back of the gown. The sparkle Mod Podge makes the angel extra special.

Christmas Day: Celebrate with Cake

Make a small cake (or buy one from the grocery store) and add all the sprinkles.

More Ideas

Here’s my Pinterest board full of more Advent ideas and crafts. I love getting inspiration from Pinterest, and I have organized this board. It’s easy to navigate the ideas without getting lost in all the Pinterest posts.

Let’s Do this Together

Starting in November, I will be sharing our crafts and more on my social media @turnerlittles. I would love to see how you’re using the Advent Guide with your family. Please tag me on social media, so I can see and share. Instagram and Facebook @turnerlittles.