Advent is a season of waiting and anticipation. We seek to prepare our hearts to receive the wonder and joy of knowing that Jesus came to save us and that He is coming again soon. Often, we prepare ourselves through practices such as Advent devotionals or reading plans.
These are great practices that encourage reflection, but sometimes we might desire a change in our Advent season. Adding in a few activities that encourage creativity and tangible participation can make us anticipate Christmas Day even more.
In this article, you will find four creative ideas to engage with the season. Some of the ideas are unconventional but just might help you discover deeper insights this Christmas.
1. Create Your Own Advent Wreath
Numerous Christians are familiar with the Advent Wreath that adorns churches during the season leading up to Christmas. Surrounded by a wreath of evergreen, four candles sit in a circle. Three of these candles are purple and one is pink.
Often, churches will decide to include an extra candle that is white, which is the Christ candle. Traditionally, this candle is lit on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
Although churches participate in displaying Advent wreaths, individuals can also display the wreath and candles in their homes. Doing so provides a visual reminder of what the season is about – the first coming of Christ and our anticipation of His Second Coming.
In the bustle of the holidays, we need the reminder of the hope that is found in Jesus (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:11).
A creative way to get yourself into the Christmas spirit is to make an Advent wreath instead of buying one from the store. Some people choose to use a variety of candles of different shapes, sizes, and colors.
However, since the colors of the candles have liturgical meaning, individuals may choose to stay within the traditional color scheme.
You can find instructions on how to make an Advent wreath here. To incorporate the traditional colors if you cannot find purple and pink candles, see these instructions here.
Whether you choose to craft a wreath with family, friends, or individually, may the physical act of lighting the candles remind you of the true reason for the season.
2. Sing and Study Christmas Carols
Last year, I signed up to receive daily emails that contained a Christmas carol, a painting of a scene related to the biblical account, and a short devotional that included the significance behind the carol.
Not only did I get to interact by singing the lyrics, but I also engaged more deeply with the meaning behind the songs. The simple act of raising my voice in praise for a few minutes a day prepared my heart for Christmas.
Although you can follow along with an online resource like the Advent Calendar I used from the C. S. Lewis Institute, you can also compile your own set of carols and hymns.
Many online websites offer the song lyrics online for free, such as on sites like Hymnary.org. In this way, you can easily print the lyrics to personally use each day or make copies for your family and friends to join in and offer praise during the Christmas season.
When compiling your own set of carols and hymns, do not be afraid to include unfamiliar or obscure songs. These can offer surprising insights.
For example, “I heard the bells on Christmas day” reminds us that God will prevail even though evil is present in the world. Likewise, we can reflect on the biblical teaching that it is more blessed to give than to receive while reading and singing “Good King Wenceslas” (Acts 20:35).
At first, you might feel awkward singing the carols alone or in the company of others. However, as you keep hearing the words that exalt the coming of Christ and the salvation He brought, you will enjoy the time of song and find yourself yearning for Christmas Day.
3. Cook Christmas Recipes from Around the World
Sometimes, you can grow tired of the same treats during the holiday season. Not only that but all the commercialism and trappings can get you distracted. You long to have a different type of Christmas in which the focus is on Jesus instead of the traditional expectations for the day.
One way to prepare your heart for Christmas this year is to try cooking a few different recipes from around the world.
Learning about how Christians in other cultures celebrate and worship the Lord can freshen your outlook and connect you to the global church family.
Some of the recipes may even cause you to pause and pray for the people in the country from which the recipe comes.
Although you do not want to overwhelm yourself by attempting to cook new recipes all at once, you can pick a few you want to try and space them out across the Advent season.
This way, you can focus on enjoying the food and maybe even learning about how the Christians in that country celebrate Christmas.
Consider incorporating a meal or dessert from multiple countries. You can find a list of classic Christmas meals here, or look for specific recipes online or in a cookbook.
Trying food and treats from around the world invites you to consider the truth that Jesus is the Savior of the world. The hope He offers is available to Jews and Gentiles alike.
As Simeon prayed when he held the infant Christ at the Temple, “[M]y eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32, NIV).
4. Make a Piece of Art That Conveys Hope
A final creative way to prepare your heart for Christmas this year is to make a piece of art centered around Jesus’ first coming or looking forward to His second coming.
You do not need to be a crafty person to engage in creativity that encourages you to worship the Lord. Any follower of Jesus can benefit from making art to engage with and express biblical truth.
A good way to start is to dive into Scripture and engage with God’s Word. Read Matthew, Luke, John, or the prophecy of Jesus’ birth in Isaiah.
Take time to sit and meditate on these passages. Then, you can start thinking of ways to artfully depict an aspect of the story or a takeaway from your study.
Some ideas for creativity include painting a picture, writing a poem, hand lettering, or making an ornament. Other crafts are also an option, but the central focus is to convey the hope you have in Jesus through art.
For inspiration, consider the art in history that depicts the events of the Nativity. Literary works like poetry could also provide ideas.
God has given humans the capacity to be creative and we can engage in art as an act of worship. What better way to prepare your heart for Christmas than by making a tangible expression of your faith through art?
Why Does This Matter?
Engaging with Advent creatively this year can help us prepare our hearts for Christmas in a new way.
By making an advent wreath, singing Christmas carols, cooking recipes from other cultures, and creating art, we partake in tangible expressions that point us to the hope and light of Christmas which is found in the person of Jesus.
Through these activities, may we accomplish what the Christmas hymn “Joy to the World” encourages us to do: “Let every heart prepare Him room.”
For further reading:
5 Creative Ways to Prepare Your Heart for Christmas
3 Ways to Keep Jesus at the Center of Your Christmas This Year
How Do We Inwardly Prepare for Christmas?
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