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Christmas Advent Calendar ideas to help you count down to Christmas! Includes DIY and pre-made advents. are a super fun tradition to do during the Christmas season. Countdown to Christmas with these fun and simple ideas!
WHERE DOES THE ADVENT CALENDAR TRADITION COME FROM?
The advent calendar tradition originated in Germany. Did you know that? I didn’t until I spent a year living in Germany and I was shocked to find out how many of our favorite Christmas traditions started there, including the advent calendar.
CAN YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE ADVENT CALENDAR EACH YEAR?
Yes, yes, yes! You can definitely have more than one each year. They all serve different purposes, so pick your favorites and have fun with them!
CREATIVE ADVENT CALENDAR IDEAS
There is no “one way” to countdown to Christmas. An Advent Calendar is anything that has numbers 1-25 that will help you count down to Christmas. Check out these creative ideas that will help you get excited for December 25th!
1) CHRISTMAS BOOK COUNTDOWN
Chances are you have tons of Christmas books in your collection. Put them to good use by creating a Christmas Book advent! Wrap 25 books up and number them 1-25, to read one each day of December.
Check out: The Best Christmas Books to Add to Your Collection
Tip: If you don’t have 12 or 25 books, use some from your local library!
2) DIY NATIVITY ADVENT CALENDAR
This Christ-centered Nativity Countdown is a great visual reminder of what Christmas is all about! Each day, Mary and Joseph move one day closer to Bethlehem. On the 25th, baby Jesus is added to the manger.
Get the DIY Countdown to Bethlehem tutorial and pattern right here.
3) WOODEN ADVENT CALENDAR IDEAS
A wooden advent house calendar is a very simple option that you can use year after year. Fill each door with a small treat, activity, or one of the 25 days of Christ scriptures.
SHOP WOODEN ADVENT CALENDARS:
4) SCRIPTURE ADVENT CALENDARS
This scripture advent calendar is a great way to keep Christ in Christmas! Each day of this advent has a scripture about Christ. Get the free printable 25 Days of Christmas Scripture Advent here.
To make it even more fun, use an advent candle to burn each night as you read the scriptures. Here’s a DIY advent candle tutorial.
Short on time? Buy a pre-made advent candle here:
5) CANDY COUNTDOWN CHAINS
For a fun DIY advent calendar ideas that kids can help with, make a candy countdown!
pull out long pieces of plastic wrap. Choose 25 small treats or trinkets and wrap them up in the plastic wrap. Tie off with a piece of ribbon and open one section each day!
More details of this Candy Christmas Countdown here.
