The Advent season is upon us. Here are some basics.

In my family, the concept of Advent is slightly different from that of Christmas.

It can be easy to forget the real reason for the season: the long-awaited Messiah’s arrival on planet earth.

Having a plan for Advent can shift the family’s focus from December’s busyness to focusing on Jesus’ birth.

I suffer from this problem every year.

But this year I’m ahead of myself. I actually found the Advent wreath before Advent started.

Meanwhile, while I hunt for candles, here’s a review of what it can mean to celebrate Advent–as well as Christmas.

What does the Advent season mean?

The Advent season in the liturgical church year (vestments are blue) is the four Sundays before Christmas Day.

They help us anticipate Jesus’ birth.

The word “Advent” is a shortened form of adventus Domini, meaning “the coming of the Lord.”

The Advent season anticipates three events:

The celebration of Christ’s birth this year.His resurrection celebration on Easter next year.His promise to return–anytime.How to celebrate the Advent Season at home with the candles?

Many people prepare an Advent wreath with evergreens and four candles. They light an additional candle on the four Sundays of Advent, one each week. We light all four candles to celebrate Christmas.

I usually forget to light the first candle.

The first Sunday in Advent in 2025 is November 30.

If you forget to light the first candle, light it the following Sunday with the second candle.

Jesus’ life and death are about grace.

There’s no reason to feel guilty at Christmastime.

Check out these posts to learn what you can expect about each candle of the Advent season:

A Candle for Advent Hope

A Candle for Advent Peace

Three Candles for Joy!

Four Candles for Advent Love

Other ways to remember the Advent season

One friend suggested reading a chapter from the Gospel of Luke every day during December.

Since the book has 24 chapters, you end on Christmas Eve. She then explained, “You wake up Christmas morning knowing who and why you celebrate.”

Other ideas

Celebrate Advent by singing a Christmas carol in place of saying grace before dinner.Read, sing, review a book like The Carols of Christmas: A Celebration of the Suprising Stories Behind Your Favorite Holiday Songs by Andrew Gant.Maybe your family can read a book based on the nativity? (Here’s a list of suggested Christmas children’s books.)Tell a story about a personal Christmas past.Read the Christmas cards aloud, or pray for the people who send them to you.Why not pray about your gifts? Or for the people who will open them?If you have children, you might appreciate Karen Whiting’s book: Christmas is Coming! But Waiting is Hard!

My church handed out an entire Advent season calendar with something simple to do every day.

Another look at the Advent Stories

I’ve written many blog posts about the Biblical accounts of Jesus’ coming nativity.

These collected blog posts start with “Mary’s Challenging Year,” and follow the family all the way to Jesus’ Childhood.

You can read the stories starting here.

Enjoy Advent, Christmas, and the newborn King this December!

Tweetables

A variety of ways to celebrate Advent this year! Click to Tweet

Do we need candles to celebrate Advent? Click to Tweet

Advent basics to celebrate the reason for the season. Click to Tweet

Enjoy your Advent season this year!

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