Note: We usually opt for "do-able" free (or cheap) and easy to plan and implement activities on our website.
Get Inspired
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- Read about forgotten Traditional Advent Activities (One Peter Five)
- Before you plan, watch this 6 minute video from Fr. Mike Schmitz "Advent: More than Chocolate"
- 3 minute video from Sr. Mary Elizabeth Albers, SOLT
- Celebrate Feast Days - Activities for each day (St. Andrew Novena, St. Nick Day, etc.)
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel Coloring Page.
- Advent Wreath Coloring Pages Advent Wreath 1 Advent Wreath 2
- Journey to Bethlehem, Come Lord Jesus! (Saints to Color)
- Christmas Coloring Book (48 Pages) from Crusaders in Christ.
- Advent Coloring Book (Ministry-to-Children)
- Advent Coloring Book (DLTK)
- Advent Coloring Book (BlessedBeyondAdoubt)
- Advent Coloring Book with Scripture Verses (MaryMarthaMamma)
- Custom Coloring Book for Advent through Baptism of Our Lord (61 pages). First Part
Second Part. Coloring Pages for each day - look on the footer, bottom right for the applicable day for that page.
Advent Calendars
- Advent Chain - Make a chain out of construction paper. Tear off one link a day, with a special Advent task i.e. "offer to set the table" or "pray for our military."
- Ornaments/Images Ornaments/Images for the kids to cut out, color and hang on the tree.
- Simple Color Page.
- You can make or buy peg dolls and hang on the tree, too. Great ideas on Catholic Icing.
- Tony Wolf's Advent Calendar for Kids Book with Ornaments to hang on the tree each day. Put the book out like a display (3-fold book) right next to the tree. Each day, one child gets to take the mini-book/ornament, read the scripture passage and hang the ornament on the tree.
- A more crafty Jesse Tree Activity here.
- Buy a Jesse Tree sticker set, $15, comes with a story book
- I always forget to buy the candles so it's OK to reuse last years.
- Coloring: If you don't get yours out of storage in time, kids can color one. Another coloring page here.
- Prayers to say while lighting the candles.
- Explanation - Evergreens in a circular wreath symbolize continuous life. Candles represent the "Light of Christ" that is coming. The three purple candles represent a time of prayer, sacrifice and penance, and the pink candle for rejoicing. A more detailed history from Catholic Exchange.
- Domestic Church Supply Company makes a lego advent wreath, $20
- Read aloud Jotham's Journey Advent Series - read a chapter a day during Advent, until Christmas. The children will sneak and read ahead if you don't hide it. Four books in the series, jives with scripture and the time period wonderfully. And they all over-lap. These four books include: Jotham's Journey, Bartholomew's Passage, Tabitha's Travel's, and Ishtar's Odyssey. Read one a year and with big families, when you finish all four you just start over.
- Advent and Christmas with Tomie De Paola. Integrated Literature Unit for Advent, with a large family in mind. If you don't do the unit study, just read his Christmas-themed books.
- Wrap (in wrapping paper) an Advent / Winter / Holiday Book - one for each day, preferably in purple and read aloud one daily. You don't have to wrap if you don't have time - just put in a basket.
- GREAT list of Christmas books from GoodBooksForCatholicKids.com
- O Come, O Come Emmanuel Coloring Page.
- Advent Wreath Coloring Pages Advent Wreath 1 Advent Wreath 2
- Christmas Coloring Book (48 Pages) from Crusaders in Christ.
- Coloring Book (Ministry-to-Children)
- Coloring Book (DLTK)
- Coloring Book (BlessedBeyondAdoubt)
- Coloring Book with Scripture Verses (MaryMarthaMamma)
- Custom Coloring Book for Advent through Baptism of Our Lord (61 pages). First Part Second Part. Coloring Pages for each day - look on the footer, bottom right for the applicable day for that page.
- Pray the "Christmas Anticipation Prayer"starting on Nov. 30 until Christmas
Beginning on St. Andrew the Apostle's feast day, November 30, the following beautiful prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This is a very meditative prayer that helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming. - Dec 17-23 pray the "O Antiphons" of Advent (Dates back to the very early Church!)
- Sing Veni, Veni Emmanuel / O Come, O Come Emmanuel every day (or just listen to it). Here is an O Come, O Come Emmanuel Coloring Page.
- Play / Listen to Advent Hymns - One per day (The Homely Hours / Anglican)
- List to the Benedictines of Mary Queen of Apostles "Advent at Ephesus" - beyond beautiful!
- Here is O Come, O Come Emmanuel as a sample.
- Contemporary Advent Songs Playlist on Youtube
- Matt Maher's Advent of Christmas
- Download the "Great Catholic Music" App. They play the perfect music for every liturgical season.
- Advent Angel/Elf on the Shelf - a play on the "Elf on the Shelf" that gets moved around daily (Peanut Butter & Grace)
- We do this every year! Advent Angels - a play on "Secret Santa." Pick names, decorate a "mail box" (to be set on a table or hung outside their bedroom door) and daily (or so) Angels give gifts of prayer, sacrifice, candy or pennies to their family member. Make little slips (or cut-out these) to indicate a prayer or sacrifice has been offered for family member. Then for Christmas a gift is bought for your Advent Angel (don't have to buy one gift for every sibling and mom & dad.)
- Why don't we sing the Gloria? Don't forget to remind the children why we don't sing the Gloria at Mass during Advent. By reserving the Gloria for the festive season of Christmas, the liturgy emphasizes Advent’s character as a season of waiting with great expectation. By omitting the Gloria during Advent (the song of praise sung by the heavenly host) we long for the night of Christmas when we can sing the angels' song anew.
- Gaudete Sunday? -3rd Sunday in Advent.
-The name Guadete comes from the entrance antiphon of the Mass, which is: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near. " This is a quotation from Philippians 4:4-5, and in Latin, the first word of the antiphon is gaudete (Latin, “rejoice”; it's also pronounced with three syllables: gau-de-te).
-At Mass, the liturgical color can be violet -OR- rose (pink)
-Learn more from this National Catholic Register article - Why is there a pink candle? This goes along with the third Sunday in Advent, Gaudete Sunday, where the emphasis is "rejoice" and the color switches from purple to rose. Purple traditionally symbolizes penance, sacrifice, prayer.
On the third Sunday in Advent, you could wear pink.
Other Great Activities / Ideas
- Sign children up for Holy Heroes Advent Adventure - daily online videos with activities for kids. Can purchase the supplemental activity book, but don't have to.
- Give candy canes away to strangers with a smile. Buy a stock of candy canes attach a tag with a Christmas Message, keep them in the car and share with folks at the grocery store, gas station, etc. Jesus Poem Tags or Inspirational Sayings Tags
- Operation Christmas Child - send a shoe-box full of goodies to children in poor parts of the world. Have to get this done in November, because they ship late November/early December. Box Tags & Directions Here.
- Give Away Day. Before the Christmas gifts begin pouring in, have a day where kids go through all of their toys. Allow them to keep three toy types (ie. BOYS: legos, dinosaurs, and cars or GIRLS: barbies, littlest pet shop and babies) and that everything else should be given away because there are children who many not have any toys at all. In the spirit of giving, like St. Nicholas (you could do this on his feast day, Dec. 6). Ask them to pick how many stuffed animals one child should be able to keep.
- Order a Children's Little Advent Devotional (for ages 4-7) with coloring pages (63 pages). Download/Soft Cover - Order here.
- Activity with your creche/manger set. Set Jesus on the other side of the room and inch/move him closer every day.
- Checkout Catholic Icing for other crafty Advent & Christmas ideas
- On the third Sunday in Advent, you could wear pink.
- Manger Scene with Legos! Check out this one on Cathlic Playground.
Advent and Christmas with the Saints with Scripture, Thoughts and Prayers from the Saints.
Advent, Christmas and Epiphany in the Domestic Church (note: a new edition is available, but we've not tried that one.)
ADVENT VIDEOS
CHRISTMAS MOVIES - FREE - Some we have included coloring pages
A Christmas Carol(animated) 1997
Annabelle's Wish (animated) 1997
Barney Waiting For Santa
Frosty the Snowman -> Frosty Coloring Pages
Frosty's WinterWonderland
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
The Legend of the Three Trees (animated)
Miracle of 34th Street (1955)
Nativity Story for Kids (animated)
The NutcrackerPrince (1990) -> Nutcracker Coloring Pages
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer The Movie (animated)
Scrooge 1951
Scrooge (musical) 1970
Spot’s Magical Christmas -> Spot Coloring Page
Twas the Night Before Christmas (animated) 1968
T'was the NightBefore Christmas (animated) 1974
Veggie Tales: St. Nicholas : A Story of Joyful Giving V. Tales Coloring Page
Veggie Tales A Meaningful Life - > V. Tales Coloring Page
Veggie Tales The Toy that Saved Christmas -> V. Tales Coloring Page
Veggie Tales The Star of Christmas -> V. Tales Coloring Page
The Walton'sChristmas Movie
Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too -> Pooh Coloring Pooh Coloring Pooh Coloring
Winnie the Pooh Super Sleuth Christmas Movie (newer/2007) Piglet Coloring
NEW YEAR:
Rudolph's ShinyNew Year
Winnie the Pooh A Very Pooh Year
OTHER HOLIDAY MOVIES - NOT FREE
Angela's Christmas (2018,Netflix)
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964) -> Rudolph Coloring Pages
Santa Claus is Comingto Town
Veggie Tales Little Drummer Boy -> V. Tales Coloring Page
Prancer (1989)
Home Alone
Holiday Inn
White Christmas
A Christmas Story
The Grinch who Stole Christmas (animated)
Joyeux Noel (war)
Polar Express
The Little Drummer Boy (animated)
The Nativity
Santa Paws
Yes, Virginia
Elf
CCC-St. Nicholas
Bells of St. Mary's
Charlie Brown Christmas Coloring Page
Mickey's Christmas Carol
Veggie Tales Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas Coloring Page (kinda small)
Come to the Stable
The Fourth Wise Man
The Family Man (2000) PG 13
The Bishop's Wife
Happy New Year Charlie Brown
Other Christmas Movie Lists
USCCB Approved Christmas Movies List
ChurchPOP Christmas Movie List
ADVENT SAINTS, FEASTS, HOLY DAYS
|
Day |
Saint Name |
Patron/ess of |
Country |
Calendar |
|
Nov 29 |
St. Saturninus c. 303 |
--- |
Greece & Gaul (France) |
T |
|
Nov 30 |
St.
Andrew c. 61 |
Fisherman, Russia & Scotland |
Roman Empire |
NT |
|
Nov 30 |
St. Maura 4th Century |
--- |
Ireland |
H |
|
Dec 1 |
Abram J. Ryan, Fr. 1838-1886 |
--- |
USA |
|
|
Dec 1 |
St. Edmond Campion 1540-1581 |
Press |
England |
H |
|
Dec 1 |
St. Eligius 588-661 |
Metalworkers, Jewelers |
France |
H |
|
Dec 1 |
Ven. Leo Papin Dupont 1797-1876 |
--- |
France |
|
|
Dec 2 |
St. Bibiana c. 300 |
Single Women |
Rome |
T |
|
Dec 3 |
St. Emma of Lesum ?-1038 |
Roman Catholic Diocese of Gurk |
Germany |
|
|
Dec 3 |
St. Francis Xavier 1506-1552 |
Foreign Missions |
France |
NT |
|
Dec 4 |
St. Barbara ? -235 |
Architects |
Greece |
T |
|
Dec 4 |
St. John Damascene 676-749 |
--- |
Damascus |
N |
|
Dec 4 |
St. Peter Chrysologus 450 |
--- |
Italy |
T |
|
Dec 5 |
St. Sabbas 532 |
--- |
Cappadocia |
T |
|
Dec 5 |
St. Gerald 1109 |
--- |
Spain |
H |
|
Dec 6 |
St. Nicholas ?- 343 |
Children, Pawnbrokers, mariners, Russia |
Asia Minor, modern day Turkey |
NT |
|
Dec 7 |
St. Ambrose 340-397 |
Candlemakers |
Rome (Milan) |
NT |
|
Dec 8 |
USA |
Nazareth |
T |
|
|
Dec 9 |
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen 1895-1979 |
|
USA |
|
|
Dec 9 |
St. Juan Diego 1474-1548 |
Indigenous People |
Mexico (Guadalupe) |
N |
|
Dec 9 |
St. Leocadia 304 |
Toledo, Spain |
Spain |
H |
|
Dec 10 |
St. Melchiades 304 |
Cave Explorers |
Rome |
T |
|
Dec 10 |
Our Lady of Loretto 1291 |
Aviators |
Italy |
H |
|
Dec 10 |
St. Romaric 653 |
--- |
Austrasia (Frankish) |
H |
|
Dec 11 |
Pope St. Damascus 384 |
--- |
Italy (Rome) |
NT |
|
Dec 11 |
Our Lady, Queen of Angels 1212 |
--- |
Paris |
H |
|
Dec 12 |
Americas, the Unborn |
Mexico (Guadalupe) |
NT |
|
|
Dec 13 |
St. Lucy ?-304 |
Blind, Italy, Syracuse |
Italy (Sicily) |
NT |
|
Dec 13 |
St. Odilia 720 |
Alsace, against blindess |
Alsace |
H |
|
Dec 14 |
Contemplatives, Mystics, Spanish poets |
Spain (Avila) |
N |
|
|
Dec 14 |
Sts Nicasius & Eutropia,
his sister c 400 |
Small pox victims |
France (Rheims) |
H |
|
Dec 14 |
St. Venantius Fortunatus 605 |
Eye ailments |
France |
H |
|
Dec 15 |
St. Christiana/Nino 296-335 |
Millers, people with mental disorders, mental health workers |
Georgia (Russia) |
H |
|
Dec 16 |
St. Eusebius of Vercelli 371 |
Vercelli |
Vercelli |
T |
|
Dec 16 |
St. Adelaide 931-999 |
--- |
Italy |
T |
|
Dec 16 |
Sts. Ananias, Azarius, & Misael 7th C BC |
--- |
Judah |
H |
|
Dec 17 |
St. Olympian c 410 |
--- |
Nicomedia |
H |
|
Dec 17 |
St. Lazarus 1st century |
Lepers and against Leprosy |
Bethany (near Jerusalem) |
H |
|
Dec 18 |
St. Gatian 3rd century |
--- |
Tours |
H |
|
Dec 19 |
St. Urban V 1310-1390 |
Architects, Educators Benedictines, Missionaries |
France |
H |
|
Dec 20 |
St. Dominic of Silos 1073 |
Captives |
Spain |
H |
|
Dec 20 |
--- |
Mesopotamia |
H |
|
|
Dec 21 |
St. Thomas, the Apostle |
architects; blind people; construction workers; theologians; and
against doubt. |
Galilee (Roman Empire) |
T |
|
Dec 21 |
St. Peter Canisius 1521-1597 |
|
Holland |
N |
|
Dec 22 |
St. Frances Cabrini 1850-1917 |
Immigrants |
USA (Chicago) |
T |
|
Dec 22 |
Sts. Chaeremon & Ischyrion 3rd century, martyrs |
--- |
Egypt |
H |
|
Dec 23 |
St. John of Kanty 1473 |
Poland |
Poland |
N |
|
Dec 23 |
St. Yvo of Chartres 1115 |
Canonists |
France |
H |
|
Dec 23 |
St. Servulus, beggar 590 |
People with Disabilities, especially Cerebral Palsy |
Rome |
H |
|
Dec 24 |
Sts. Adam & Eve |
--- |
Eden |
H |
|
Dec 25 |
Christmas/Nativity of the Lord -First Day of Christmas |
--- |
Bethlehem |
NT |
|
Dec 25 |
St. Anastasia, martyr 304 |
martyrs; weavers; widows; those suffering from poison |
Rome |
T |
|
Dec 26 |
St. Stephen ?-36 -Second Day of Christmas |
Stonemasons |
Jerusalem (Roman Empire) |
NT |
|
Dec 27 |
St. John the Apostle &
Evangelist 99 -Third Day of Christmas |
Love, Loyalty, Friendships, Authors |
Galilee (Roman Empire) |
NT |
|
Dec 28 |
Holy Innocents ?-about
1AD -Fourth Day of Christmas |
Babies |
Bethlehem, vicinity of |
NT |
|
Dec 29 |
St. Thomas Becket 1118-1170 -Fifth Day of Christmas |
Exeter College, Oxford; Portsmouth; Arbroath Abbey; secular clergy;
City of London |
England (London) |
NT |
|
Dec 30 |
St. Anysius 410 -Sixth Day of Christmas |
Those suffering from AIDS and their caregivers, sufferers of
pestilence, young students |
Thessalonica |
H |
|
Dec 30 |
St. Sabinus, martyr 303 -Seventh Day of Christmas |
Bari, Sienna |
Italy |
H |
|
Dec 31 |
St. Sylvester I, Pope 335 -Eighth Day of Christmas |
Feroleto Antico, Sylvestrine, Benedictines, Nonantola |
Rome |
NT |
H - Historical
N - New
T - Traditional
