Christmas is coming. Can you feel the buzz? It’s that time of year when all attention turns to wish lists, decorations, parties, and band/orchestra/choir concerts. Well, it does if you’ve got teens in the house, right?
But what about the more meaningful aspects of Christmas? How do you navigate those with a busy household filled with teens and all their activities?
You plan ahead. There are wonderful family Advent traditions you can incorporate into your busy holiday season. And if you’ve never slowed down to celebrate Advent with your family, it’s not too late. These tips and tools will help you create traditions that fit your family perfectly.
What is Advent?
Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas Day. The word is Latin for “coming” which is exactly what we are waiting for, the coming of the King. Christians all over the world use the Advent season to prepare for the birth of Jesus.
There are hundreds of cultural traditions when it comes to Advent and I encourage you to explore what’s out there. No matter what your December has looked like in the past, you can always start new Advent traditions with your family.
I know how busy this time of year can get with kids who have friends, jobs, activities, concerts, and so much more. But, spending time together as a family will help ground everyone in your family during this time of year.
Don’t know where to start? Try one or more of these suggestions.
Sunday Nights
One of the best parts of Advent is slowing down to enjoy a little piece of Christmas each week during December. Traditionally, this is done with an Advent wreath or candle grouping that you can light each Sunday night as you gather around for a family devotion time.
I’ve used everything from a cake plate to a serving tray for our arrangements. You don’t have to get crazy and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Some candles and a little greenery are perfect.
If you aren’t the crafty type, do a search on Pinterest for hundreds of ideas. You’ll usually see wreaths with four candles. I always put five in our arrangement because we light them all on Christmas day, one for each Sunday of Advent and a Christmas candle.
The meaning of the candle arrangement is best appreciated with a devotional or scripture reading. For this, I recommend Walking To Bethlehem by Katharine Barrett.
In her book, Katharine has used the Advent season to take her readers on a journey of joy and discovery that includes the whole family. In the back is an appendix with a script for each Sunday night of the season. It is geared towards upper elementary-age kids, but my husband and I noticed that as our kids have gotten older, it hasn’t lost its meaning or impact. It’s become one of our most anticipated Advent traditions.
This time together takes from 15 to 30 minutes and it will help all of you stop and appreciate what all the hustle and bustle is for. I highly recommend it. Our time together always included singing. You can add whatever elements you want to your time together.
I also encourage you to read the rest of the devotional. It’s a wonderful way for moms (and dads) to find peace of mind, be rejuvenated, and appreciate the true meaning of the season. None of us can afford not to be renewed each day by God’s word, especially at this time of year.
All Month Long
If your family hasn’t discovered the YouVersion app on your phones yet, it’s time. If you have been using it then you’re all set to start an amazing devotional that will bless each member of your family for the month of December, especially if you do it all together.
My top recommendation for a family devotional you can all do on your phones is One-on-One: 100 Days with Jesus. It’s broken into three parts and the first part covers Advent.
Released in 2018, this biblically-sound devotional was written by Barb Peil. Starting on December 1 you will go through 30 days of celebrating the birth of Jesus. Barb has some wonderful insights into the characters surrounding Jesus’ birth and her words will make you think as you read through the pertinent scriptures in the Bible.
The best part about using this app is doing the study as a family. You can opt to join one another and share your insights privately in the “Talk It Over” section each day. If you’ve got teens with smartphones, this is a meaningful way to celebrate the season together even if you’re not always “together.”
Hopefully, you will love the first section of this study as much as I did and continue on into the new year with the next two studies entitled Ministry and Passion. My husband and I completed this study together last year and it’s one of the best devotionals I’ve ever read. I think your family will find it to be one of your more meaningful Advent traditions.
Serving Others
As your kids get older it’s important to take time to give back to others. You no longer have to contend with naps or car seats. Now, you’re raising people who are going to go out into the world and hopefully reflect Christ’s love to those they meet. The time you have left is growing short. Hey, it’s the truth.
So, why not instill a strong sense of what this season is all about, giving to others?
Gather together as a family and decide on a way to bless someone else during the month of December. It might be by taking an ornament off the Angel Tree at your church or serving in a local food bank or soup kitchen. It might be all chipping in to buy another family Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings.
Make your teens part of the conversation. Invite them to tell you what they want to do, how they want to give back. Maybe there is a family who needs a little extra support at their school. Perhaps they know of a need you have no idea about. When you include them in the decision-making process, you honor their maturity and give a nod to the fact that they are growing up but still a vital part of your family unit.
Whatever you decide, do it together. Make this one of your Advent traditions where everyone has a say.
Meaningful Advent Traditions
Whatever your family decides to do together during the Advent season, it should be meaningful, point to Jesus, and bring you together. Other ideas include:
- A Messiah sing-a-long
- A holiday concert where Christian carols are sung or classical music is played
- Raising money for a good cause
- Foregoing a gift and using the money to bless someone else
- Helping a neighbor by putting up their lights or shoveling snow
- Baking goodies for shut-ins
I could go on and on, but you know your family best. Have fun creating your own family Advent traditions.
I also recommend these articles for families with busy teens and tweens:
What are your family’s favorite Advent traditions?
