Family Tips for Advent and Christmas Eve

Advent Wreath:  The Advent wreath symbolizes the millennia from Adam to Christ, when the world awaited its Redeemer.  It also represents the years awaiting Christ’s Second Coming. The three purple candles represent the penance of waiting.   The rose (pink) candle, which is lit on the Third Sunday of Advent, represents the first rays of dawn and joy before the Sunrise of Christ.  The Third Sunday is called “Gaudete” (“Rejoice”) Sunday, from the Entrance Antiphon of the Mass: “Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete.”  That means, “Rejoice in the Lord always: I say it again, Rejoice!”  There are many prayers and readings that you can say as a family in your personal Advent wreath candle lighting ceremony.  Do it as a family daily before dinner.  Each child can take turns lighting the candles. Here are some brief prayers that can be said each week when lighting the Advent Wreath candles:

Prayers for Advent Candle Lighting 

First Week
All-powerful God, increase our strength of will for doing good

that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming

and call us to his side in the kingdom of heaven,

where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. 

AMEN.

Second Week
God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome.

Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy

so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory,

for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

AMEN.

Third Week
Lord God, may we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ,

experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

AMEN.

Fourth Week
Father, all-powerful God, your eternal Word took flesh on our earth

when the Virgin Mary placed her life at the service of your plan.

Lift our minds in watchful hope to hear the voice which announces his glory

and open our minds to receive the Spirit who prepares us for his coming.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

AMEN.

St. Nicholas Day (December 6):   This is a highlight of Advent.  Each child puts out a shoe the night before St. Nicholas Day, hoping that the kind bishop – with his miter, staff, and gift bag – will pay a visit.  Fill the kids’ shoes with treats.  The current Santa Claus – the Coca-Cola version, the big man in a red suite – is modeled after St. Nicholas.  For centuries, many families would give gifts on both December 6 and Christmas.

The Mary Candle (December 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception):  Attend Mass on December 8, a Holy Day of Obligation.  Put a candle with a blue ribbon or a blue candle by a statue or picture of the Virgin Mary.   Light the candle before dinner to remind each family member of Mary’s eager expectation of Jesus, the Light of the World.  Then read this prayer, adapted from the Rites of Baptism, which is said by the priest after the baptism candle is lit:

This light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly.

In Baptism, you have been enlightened by Christ.

Walk always as a child of Light.

Keep the flame of Faith alive in your heart.

When the Lord comes, go out to meet Him with all the Saints in the Heavenly Kingdom.

St. Lucy Cakes (December 13):  St. Lucy was a Virgin and Martyr for the Faith.  Her feast day begins the Christmas season in Sweden. Her life story can be found in most saints’ books. So can a recipe for the traditional “St. Lucy Cakes.” Before the evening meal, read a short passage about her life, and then say this prayer: 

O St. Lucy, you preferred to lose your eyes than lose the Light of Faith. 

You preferred that “purity of heart,” by which we see God. 

Through a miracle, God gave you another pair of perfect eyes

to show that there is nothing more beautiful than the Light of Faith. 

Protect us against all eye diseases. 

And preserve us from the darkness of sin.  

O St Lucy, preserve the light of my eyes

so that I may see the beauties of creation and the glow of the sun,

which remind us of the Father’s infinite Beauty. 

St. Lucy, protect my eyes and preserve my faith.

AMEN.

The Empty Manger (Starting December 17):  Each child may have his or her own personal manger.  Or there may be one manger for the whole family.  The idea is that, when acts of charity, service, sacrifice, or kindness are done in honor of Baby Jesus, they are a birthday present for Him.   Each time a child does a good deed, he or she receives a piece of straw to put into the manger. Then, on Christmas Eve, Baby Jesus is placed in the manger. Encourage your children to make Jesus’ bed as comfortable as possible through their good deeds.  Explain that Christ’s gift of Himself at Christmas and Easter enables us to be part of God’s family. 

The Nativity Scene (Starting December 17):  Set up the Christmas manger as a family.  Mary and Joseph can be set up away from the manger, as if they were traveling to Bethlehem.  Each day from December 17 until Christmas, Mary and Joseph can be moved a little closer to the manger. Older children can make life-size Nativity models, carve them, cut them out from cardboard, or set up pre-made figures.  Creative ideas are without limit. Place the Nativity scene where many can admire the children’s efforts to give God glory. 

Christmas Baking (December 20):  There are many recipe books available to find great traditional Christmas baking ideas.  Christmas baking usually starts around December 20 for a good reason: the house smells of baking and fresh wreaths. The glory of Christmas is close! Move the manger to a focal point.  Add lights to the Nativity, to be lighted on Christmas Eve.

Milk Toddies (December 21-24):  Whip up vanilla ice cream, whole milk, vanilla extract, sugar, a raw egg (one per serving), and a jigger of bourbon (per serving, optional) in a blender.   Pour in a cocktail glass.  Sprinkle nutmeg.   Raise a toast, and say this prayer:

Loving Mother of the Redeemer, gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel's joyful greeting,

have pity on us poor sinners.

AMEN

The Christ Candle (Christmas Eve):  A large white candle can be used for the Christ Candle. The idea is to decorate it with symbols for Christ. Use old Christmas cards, sequins, holly, etc.   Light the candle on Christmas Eve to show that the Light of the World has arrived. Continue to light the Christ Candle at Sunday dinner through February 2 (Feast of the Presentation) to remind your family that Christ is the “Light of the world” (John 8:12).