Christmas is a special time for families to spend together. Kick off this Christmas season by making your own online advent calendar! Here are 25 great ideas to get you started towards making the most out of this holiday season.
Day 1: Make your advent calendar. Start with a large sheet and a small sheet of poster board. Use Christmas colors if you like. Cut 25 “doors” measuring about 3 inches from the small sheet. Write one of the following activities on one side of each door, using a black magic marker (or use your own ideas). On the other side write 1 number per door, using the numbers 1-25. Each day in December your family can open one door, and enjoy a holiday activity together.
Day 2: Create an Advent Wreath centerpiece for your table. You will need five candles (can be obtained at the dollar store). Use decorative candle holders if you like, to add to the holiday charm. Use real or store bought evergreen branches and any other decorations you like, to complete your wreath. A candle will be lit, and a verse from the Bible, detailing the Christmas story will be read, each Sunday in December, as well as Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. (See days 9, 16, 23, 24 and 25 for suggested verses.)
Day 3: Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” together.
Day 4: Put up indoor Christmas decorations. Save the Christmas tree for another day.
Day 5: Take food to a local food pantry or homeless shelter.
Day 6: Decorate the yard, porch, and other outside areas of your home for the holiday.
Day 7: Make Christmas cookies. Be sure to make extra for family and friends.
Day 8: Get your Christmas tree, or, if you don’t use a live tree, put up and decorate your Christmas tree.
Day 9: The Angel Visits Mary (Mark 1:1-8) reading from the Bible. Share hot cocoa and Christmas cookies together as you read these verses.
Day 10: Take Christmas cookies to a shut-in at your church.
Day 11: String popcorn to hang on your Christmas tree.
Day 12: Make salt dough ornaments. Find the recipe at Giggle Moose.
Day 13: Watch “The Greatest Story Ever Told" together.
Day 14: Go Christmas shopping. Plan to buy gifts for a needy child or family.
Day 15: Wrap Christmas gifts.
Day 16: Read Luke 1:26-38 together. Make homemade egg-nog.
Day 17: Deliver Christmas gifts.
Day 18: Drive around your town together and look at Christmas lights.
Day 19: Go Christmas caroling.
Day 20: Bake a Christmas yeast honey whole wheat bread.
Day 21: Watch “The Nativity” together.
Day 22: Build a snowman.
Day 23: Read Matthew 1:18-24. Enjoy Christmas bread together.
Day 24 ~ Christmas Eve: Read Luke 2:1-5. Enjoy family celebrations.
Day 25 ~ Merry Christmas: Read Isaiah 9:1-6. Enjoy Christmas together!
Denise Oliveri - Denise has been writing for Suite101 for many years, and enjoys sharing her experiences and knowledge with readers. Her main occupation at ...
