Traditional Advent Calendar with Advent Poem

The Advent Verse and Advent month run from the beginning of December until Christmas. It’s a beautiful tradition that brings meaning to the Christmas season, however your family chooses to celebrate. The Advent month typically begins four Sundays before Christmas, but this can be adjusted to a rhythm that suits your family.

Begin by setting up an Advent space, with your calendar as the backdrop. Add a silk or softly coloured tablecloth, and prepare four candles. You may use a celebration ring or decorate special candles with STOCKMAR decorating wax.

Each week, as you move through the Advent Verse, light a new candle and add items to your table that symbolise the message of the week.

The first light of Advent welcomes the earth and minerals. It symbolises a time to pause and be grateful for the physical world. A young child might add stones or crystals to the Advent table, helping build a connection or understanding of the mineral world.

The second light of Advent welcomes the plant kingdom and symbolises growth and the flowering processes of life. For this week, the young child might collect flowers or seed heads from the garden to add to the Advent table.

The third light of Advent welcomes the animal kingdom and symbolises compassion and empathy for all living creatures. This is the week of the animals—feathers, cicada shells, birds' nests, little wooden animals ...

The fourth light of Advent welcomes humanity. This light symbolises recognising the essential core present in every person—developing love and compassion for one another. A picture of the family, an angel, a small doll, or anything that connects your family to each other can be added. There is no right or wrong, just whatever symbolises love and compassion in your family.