🕯️ Advent
The four Sundays before Christmas Ages 4–11
Advent is the season of waiting and getting ready for Christmas. Many families light one more candle on an Advent wreath each Sunday.
📅 Dates
| 2026 | First Sunday of Advent: Sun, Nov 29, 2026 |
|---|---|
| 2027 | First Sunday of Advent: Sun, Nov 28, 2027 |
| 2028 | First Sunday of Advent: Sun, Dec 3, 2028 |
📖 What is Advent?
The word Advent comes from Latin and means "coming." For about four weeks before Christmas, Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, whom they believe is the Son of God.
An Advent wreath is a circle of evergreens with four candles. One more candle is lit each Sunday — often named hope, peace, joy and love. Some families add a white "Christ candle" in the middle on Christmas.
Many kids use an Advent calendar with a little door to open each day in December, counting down to Christmas.
✨ Traditions
- Lighting the Advent wreath
- Opening an Advent calendar each day
- Singing carols like "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
- Doing kind deeds while waiting for Christmas
🔤 Words to know
- Advent
- Coming
- wreath
- A circle of evergreen branches
- Emmanuel
- "God with us"
✂️ Crafts & activities
Paper Advent Chain
You need: 24 paper strips, Glue, Markers
- On each strip, write a kind deed (like "help set the table").
- Make a paper chain with the strips.
- Each day in December, tear off one link and do the kind deed.
🖍️ Coloring pages
Advent quiz
What does "Advent" mean?
How many candles are on most Advent wreaths?
What are Christians getting ready for during Advent?
What is an Advent calendar?
💭 Let’s talk
Waiting can be hard. What helps you wait for something exciting?
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