Advent Calendar Ideas

Advent is a holiday tradition observed by many Christians as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus. Traditionally, Advent is observed during the first four Sundays and weeks before Christmas. This means that the first Sunday of Advent can fall in November, depending on what date Christmas occurs in that given year. Today, most people celebrate Advent from December 1st through Christmas Eve.

There are many DIY advent calendar ideas you can use to create a fun advent calendar that your family will love. Advent calendars can be made with paper bags, ornaments, fabric, clothespins, boxes, empty toilet paper rolls and more. Here are some kids advent calendar ideas and homemade Advent calendar ideas to inspire you for the holiday season.

This simple advent calendar is a quick DIY with plenty of visual appeal. Forage in your yard for a branch and a few sprigs of evergreen. Decorate and label plain paper gift bags with stickers and markers, then stuff them with treats or small presents. Seal them shut with decorative washi tape. Use a hole puncher to make a hole at the top of the bag and tie them on the branch with garden twine. Secure the greenery onto the branch with floral wire and embellish with ornaments or glittery garland.

Making an Advent calendar can be as simple as wrapping 24 little gifts and placing them in a rustic wood box. Embellish each wrapped gift with a day label and Christmas ribbon. Vary the box and wrapping paper for each gift to make them unique for each day.

Create a holiday village out of craft paper for your Advent activities. Each house or building can hold a treat or a special holiday message. Your little snowy village will look perfect at the base of your Christmas Tree or on your fireplace mantle.

If you are looking for a holiday keepsake, consider getting a perpetual Advent calendar to use every year. This darling calendar is made with mini wood houses decorated in red and white. The houses are hollow on the inside to hide holiday treats.

An edible Advent calendar is a fun project for the kids. Use store-bought or homemade gingerbread cookies to create this delicious project. The kids can help decorate a cookie for each day of Advent.

Apply decorative scrapbook paper to the tops of repurposed spice or craft metal cans for this Advent calendar. Glue a magnet at the bottom of the cans to adhere to a metal surface or hot glue them directly on a piece of wood. Fill each tin with a prize, top with the decorative lid and affix to the base.

Mini Santa hats are the perfect size to hide little Advent prizes. Use inexpensive Christmas ornaments to label each day. This calendar is fun, simple and quick–perfect during the busy holiday season.

Fashion a festive wood Christmas Tree out of leftover paint sticks or shims. Once the tree shape is secured with wood glue, paint the wood in any color you like. Tie gifts or ornaments for each day of Advent on the wooden tree.

A garland of petite stockings is a super-easy way to make an Advent calendar. String up 24 mini label stockings, then display the garland across a mantle or on a wall.

Simple but classic, brown paper, twine and greenery are a perfect mix of modern farmhouse decor. Brighten up each package with a pop of red and white number tags to count down the days to Christmas.

Advent calendars do not have to just be about treats and prizes. If you'd rather forgo the candy and toys, here are some great ideas for holiday-themed activities to put in your advent calendar.

• Decorate cookies
• Read a Christmas story
• Watch a Christmas movie
• Drive around and look at Christmas lights
• Make an ornament
• Make a gingerbread house
• Write a letter to Santa
• Play festive Christmas songs and dance
• Go Christmas caroling
• Give candy canes out to your friends

Kids aren't the only ones to celebrate Advent; adults can join in on the fun too with treats and activities just for them. Here are some advent calendar ideas for adults to try:

• Mini coffee, tea or wine samplers
• Beauty care products
• Gourmet chocolates or cheese
• Gift cards to favorite restaurants
• Holiday-themed socks
• Christmas activities to do with the family