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Miguelmdza
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I agree.
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liturgyluver
Guest
I would add to my earlier post that there are some wonderfully atmospheric Advent hymns that are great sung with children or for prayerful meditation:
Come thou long expected Jesus,
Hills of the North Rejoice,
Lo! He comes with clouds descending
O come, o come Emmanuel
Wake o wake
The Advent of our God
Our local Anglican church does a wonderful Advent procession of readings, choral anyhems and Advent hymns which is a great way to prepare.
Come thou long expected Jesus,
Hills of the North Rejoice,
Lo! He comes with clouds descending
O come, o come Emmanuel
Wake o wake
The Advent of our God
Our local Anglican church does a wonderful Advent procession of readings, choral anyhems and Advent hymns which is a great way to prepare.
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Corki
Guest
I set mine up about half way through Advent but don’t put the baby Jesus in until after midnight Mass on Christmas eve. And I put the kings on the other side of the table until Jan 6.That sound like a really good idea. Sounds like I should try this. I’m excited about Advent and like you stated, about loving Advent, I might love Advent too because it is one of the most beautiful times in the Church as we wait for Christ. One quick question, when do you recommend I set up the nativity set? I just bought mine and it is a good looking set
Since this is the Traditional sub-forum, I wanted to also chime in about the O Antiphons. You can look them up online. These are prayers said during the last 7 days of Advent. I try to pray them every year. It’s a nice break from the frantic pre-Christmas activity all around.
You can even say them instead of the traditional wreath prayers when you light your Advent candles that last week.
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Miguelmdza
Guest
Yes, a good friend of mine who is a priest suggested to do something like Lent, giving something up during Advent.
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Miguelmdza
Guest
As a stated before, my family was Jehovah’s Witnesses, so we didn’t celebrate Christmas or any of that. This year, I will leave all that behind and finally buy a christmas tree. Decorating the tree like how you stated sounds like a great idea.Also, if you folks put your Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving, like a lot of people do, you can decorate it with purple decorations/ribbons, add rose-colored ones on Guadete Sunday (3rd Sunday in Advent) and then on Christmas Eve replace them or add to them with your regular Christmas decorations. We’ve done that over the years because we have 4 very curious cats, so we can’t burn Advent wreath candles. Just a thought.
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cshoremom
Guest
Growing up, my parents always set up their manger under the Christmas tree. ( so the boughs would gently cover the roof…)That sound like a really good idea. Sounds like I should try this. I’m excited about Advent and like you stated, about loving Advent, I might love Advent too because it is one of the most beautiful times in the Church as we wait for Christ. One quick question, when do you recommend I set up the nativity set? I just bought mine and it is a good looking set
We did the same once we were married…Until kids and pets arrived on the scene!
I set ours up now in the living room, near the tree… It is on an end table…very visible… Also I put some greens around it.
I wish we had a fireplace mantle… That is where I would display it…
Also, my sister used to set hers up on her dining room table, as a centerpiece. I bought it for her when she bought her first home…It was a porcelain set ( where mine is wooden and rustic) and she set it up an an antique mirrored tray… So pretty and the “focus” of every advent evening meal!!!
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Miguelmdza
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Do you mind uploading a picture once u set it up? I would like to see yours to get an idea on how to set mine up.Growing up, my parents always set up their manger under the Christmas tree. ( so the boughs would gently cover the roof…)
We did the same once we were married…Until kids and pets arrived on the scene!
I set ours up now in the living room, near the tree… It is on an end table…very visible… Also I put some greens around it.
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cshoremom
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Will try! Though I am very bad at uploading photos!
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Miguelmdza
Guest
Will try! Though I am very bad at uploading photos!
New technology gets more complicated every year.
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cshoremom
Guest
Ack! Not working! Sorry…
I do not have an actual photo of my nativity that I can post right now… But in looking up “images” of nativities, I found one that really resembles both my set and set-up…
If I can only post it!
I will keep trying!
I do not have an actual photo of my nativity that I can post right now… But in looking up “images” of nativities, I found one that really resembles both my set and set-up…
If I can only post it!
I will keep trying!
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Della
Guest
Oh yes, I forgot.
At 65 I forget a lot of things. 
That will be fun for your family. We have an artificial tree, but I love real ones. Only problem, I’m allergic to the molds that can grow on them.We like doing it. It really puts the Advent Season front and center.
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Miguelmdza
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Sounds great. Thanks.
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CB_Catholic
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I second this. My daughter does this with her girls, and they love it and it’s a good way to incorporate the OT into their lives.A good way to celebrate Advent with your family is to have a Jesse Tree. You can make your own or you can go to your local Catholic gift shop where they should have them. It helps the children pass the days until Christmas, and gives the meaning of the season–besides waiting for Santa and Christmas gifts.
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filiaecclesia
Guest
Hello:
I just found this thread and wanted to add my thoughts.
My daughter (now a teen) always says she wishes Advent lasted 6 weeks. . . and Lent 4!
We begin playing Handel’s Messiah at the start of Advent, as well as various cds that have music which looks forward to the Incarnation on Christmas. For example, this beautiful cd is called Mid-Earth Rejoices:
cdbaby.com/cd/olophcc
I subscribe to Magnificat, and purchase their Advent Companion. I always plan to incorporate its readings into our after-dinner family time, but don’t always succeed .
Our parish offers Trees of Compassion each Advent. In the narthex of the church are set up four artificial Christmas trees, each covered with tags. The tags list a gift wish either from a local individual, usually people we help support in some way during the year (elderly, single moms, prisoners, etc.), or a request of a cash gift by one of our sister parishes. These can be either general or specific (like money for scholarships). Our family takes several tags each early Advent, purchases the gifts or writes the checks, and returns them to the church before Christmas.
With our plenty we share with our brothers and sisters, and thus with our Good Lord Jesus.
Have a blessed and peace-filled Advent!
I just found this thread and wanted to add my thoughts.
My daughter (now a teen) always says she wishes Advent lasted 6 weeks. . . and Lent 4!
We begin playing Handel’s Messiah at the start of Advent, as well as various cds that have music which looks forward to the Incarnation on Christmas. For example, this beautiful cd is called Mid-Earth Rejoices:
cdbaby.com/cd/olophcc
I subscribe to Magnificat, and purchase their Advent Companion. I always plan to incorporate its readings into our after-dinner family time, but don’t always succeed .
Our parish offers Trees of Compassion each Advent. In the narthex of the church are set up four artificial Christmas trees, each covered with tags. The tags list a gift wish either from a local individual, usually people we help support in some way during the year (elderly, single moms, prisoners, etc.), or a request of a cash gift by one of our sister parishes. These can be either general or specific (like money for scholarships). Our family takes several tags each early Advent, purchases the gifts or writes the checks, and returns them to the church before Christmas.
With our plenty we share with our brothers and sisters, and thus with our Good Lord Jesus.
Have a blessed and peace-filled Advent!
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Miguelmdza
Guest
I like the christmas tree idea. If only our parish did that. Maybe I will recommend it to Father. Thank you for sharing.
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Della
Guest
Our parish does this, as well. We call it a “Jesse Tree.” We used to call it “The Giving Tree” but had to change the name because “The Giving Tree” name had been copyrighted by a charitable organization in our area.
Still, the idea is the same and it’s a great one. The only snag is you have to have people lined up to sort gifts and to get the gifts to those who need them. That is, unless you donate whatever is given to a local charity, such as Toys for Tots. And you have to decide what age groups it will be limited to, if you decide to only give to children, for instance. So, it’s a big project in any case. Your pastor is going to ask if you want to do it, since you brought it up. So, if you want to have this project in your parish you should first ask one or more of the parish’s groups to help out, such as the youth group, women’s groups, prayer groups, Knights of Columbus, etc.
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Angel_Gabriel
Guest
Well I’m Eastern (Byzantine) and our “Advent” begins on Nov 15th. It’s not a liturgical season per se but we have a Fast called Nativity Fast or Philips’s Fast which lasts for 40 days. I find it very helpful in preparing for Christmas…no pre-holiday parties with all that fancy food 
…and of course focusing on increased prayer. St. Nicholas is a big day and the Fast is relaxed a bit for his feast day.
It’s not easy but it’s very much worth it in the long run (both physically and spiritually). Of course from Christmas to the Eve of Theophany is fast free so feel free to indulge and celebrate the Great Feast of the Nativity during those nearly 2 weeks
…and of course focusing on increased prayer. St. Nicholas is a big day and the Fast is relaxed a bit for his feast day.It’s not easy but it’s very much worth it in the long run (both physically and spiritually). Of course from Christmas to the Eve of Theophany is fast free so feel free to indulge and celebrate the Great Feast of the Nativity during those nearly 2 weeks
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CrossofChrist
Guest
Get a Christmas tree for Christmas!
Yes, an Advent wreath and a creche are common, although the latter is more of a Christmas tradition rather than an Advent.
There are lots of more good traditions the Germans came up with.
Making Christmas cookies is a good thing to do too. Advent also isn’t a bad time to increase devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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Miguelmdza
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Great information! Thanks
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Shimmer
Guest
Take a step further the idea of setting up a stable and manger for Advent, but waiting until Christmas to add figures: During Advent, encourage your family to place a piece of hay in the manger each time they perform an act of kindness, forgiveness or generosity. This will add softness and comfort to the bed prepared for Baby Jesus.:hug1::christmastree1::angel1:
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