Preparing for Advent
Preparing for Advent as a Catholic is about spiritual readiness, reflection, and joyful expectation for the coming of Christ — both at Christmas and at the end of time.
Here are some traditional and practical ways to prepare for Advent:
Understand What Advent Is
Advent = from adventus, Latin for “coming.”
It’s the four weeks before Christmas, beginning on the Sunday nearest November 30 (Feast of St. Andrew).
It’s a time of:
Hope (week 1)
Faith (week 2)
Joy (week 3 — Gaudete Sunday)
Peace (week 4)
Think of it as a spiritual mini-Lent: less penitential than Lent, but still a season of preparation and waiting.
Set Up an Advent Wreath
Four candles: three purple, one rose (pink)
Optional: a white candle in the center (Christ candle) for Christmas Eve
Light one new candle each Sunday while saying a simple prayer. Save the pink candle for Gaudete Sunday.
Simple weekly prayers:
Week 1 – Hope: “Come, Lord Jesus, light our darkness.”
Week 2 – Faith: “Lord, prepare my heart to receive You.”
Week 3 – Joy: “Rejoice! The Lord is near.”
Week 4 – Peace: “Prince of Peace, dwell within us.”
Deepen Your Prayer Life
Set aside daily quiet time for Scripture or reflection.
Pray the Rosary or the Joyful Mysteries in particular.
Try the Liturgy of the Hours (Morning or Evening Prayer) if you can.
Attend daily Mass or Eucharistic Adoration — even once a week makes a difference.
Find a daily devotional to read.
Go to Confession
The Church strongly encourages Confession during Advent, so your heart is ready for Christ at Christmas.
“Prepare the way of the Lord” — John the Baptist’s call is literal!
Acts of Charity and Simplicity
Simplify Christmas prep — focus on spiritual gifts, not just material ones. If loved ones don’t truly need anything (as most of us don’t), spend quality time, and that will mean just as much as a physical gift. If there is a desire in their heart, pray with them that God’s will be done in relation to that desire.
Give time or help to someone in need.
Support an Advent giving tree or food drive.
Practice gratitude daily.
Celebrate the Season Intentionally
Wait to sing full Christmas carols until Christmas Eve — use Advent hymns like O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, People Look East
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.
Switch to Christmas carols on Christmas Eve and continue through the full Christmas season (until Epiphany or Candlemas, Feb 2).
Keep your home decorations simple early on, then make them more joyful as Christmas approaches.
Set up your Nativity set, but don’t put out Baby Jesus or the Magi yet.
Add Jesus on Christmas Eve; the Wise Men can arrive on Epiphany (January 6).
Consider a Jesse Tree — daily symbols tracing salvation history from Creation to Christ.
Focus on the Coming of Christ in Three Ways
St. Bernard of Clairvaux said Advent prepares us for:
Christ’s first coming (at Bethlehem)
Christ’s coming into our hearts daily
Christ’s final coming (at the end of time)
Keeping all three in mind balances joy, reflection, repentance, and readiness.
Things to Wait for
Wait to decorate or put up the tree until Gaudete Sunday or Christmas Eve. This may be hard, but Advent is a season of penance and fasting
Wait to listen to Christmas music until Christmas Eve. Try Hallow’s Advent playlist and prayer challenge instead
Wait to put Jesus in the manger until Christmas Day and the Magi on Epiphany
Wait to take down the Christmas decorations, turn off the Christmas music, and move out of a celebratory Christmas mindset until after Epiphany or Candlemas
A Prayer for Advent Candle Lighting
"Almighty God, let your blessing come upon the candles we light this Advent. May they shine as guides, leading us to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with creation and with you as we wait for the coming of Christ".
Advent Crafts & Recipes
Bake a round braided bread wreath to represent the Advent wreath
Eat meatless or simpler meals on Fridays.
Make a purple table runner, wreath ribbon, or altar cloth at home.
Make star-shaped paper lanterns or hang white lights — symbols of the Star of Bethlehem and Christ the Light.
“Good Deed Chain”: each day, write one small act of kindness or sacrifice on a strip of paper and link them into a chain — place it around your Nativity scene by Christmas.
Advent Jar: Each family member puts money aside from treats or luxuries and donates it on Christmas Eve.
Keep a family Advent prayer corner: a wreath, a Bible, a purple cloth, and a small notebook for intentions.
Use Advent calendars that include Scripture verses rather than candy.
Pray a Novena for Christmas (Dec 16–24, like the “O Antiphons” tradition).
Celebrate with the Saints
St. John the Baptist
St. John the Baptist announced the first coming of Christ. He prepared the way for Jesus. He still prepares us for Christ’s coming (the first and second) as we celebrate Advent. Advent mirrors his life’s work.
Do a daily examination during Advent, repent, and enact good works
Encourage children to do the same by letting them put a piece of straw on the empty manger every time they do a good act
Place a St. John the Baptist statue near the nativity
Learn more about St. John the Baptist’s role in Advent
St. Nicholas Day (Dec 6)
Bake St. Nicholas spice cookies (speculaas) or gingerbread men.
Children leave their shoes or stockings out the night before Dec 6.
St. Nicholas “fills” them with small treats (chocolate, fruit, nuts, coins, little toys).
St. Lucy’s Day (Dec 13)
A Scandinavian tradition honoring the “light-bearer.”
Bake “St. Lucy buns” or Lussekatter (saffron rolls) and light candles early in the morning.
Small golden buns shaped like an “S” with raisins symbolize light and joy.
Procession of Light:
Often, one girl (or person) wears a white gown and a crown of candles (real or battery-powered) on her head.
White gown: Purity and dedication to Christ.
Red sash: Symbolizes martyrdom or Christ’s love.
Optional: Some carry star-shaped wands or paper stars.
The traditional “Sankta Lucia” song is sung while walking in procession (around the house or neighborhood).
John 8:12
Again therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
