The Advent Season

Advent and Christmas printables, Thanksgiving holiday worksheets, activities for kids

2017-11-22T18:06:00.001-05:00

Teachers and homeschooling parents, are you looking for free printable #Thanksgiving themed worksheets and lesson plans for preschool kids? How about early reading and math lessons for kindergarten through second grade in fall themes? Worksheets are perfect for special needs children, too. Here's what you need. Christmas printables, Thanksgiving holiday worksheets, activities for kids

Advent preparation activities: printables, craft projects, lesson plans for Catholic Christians

2017-10-06T12:01:00.000-04:00

I know, you're thinking "Advent activities?? We haven't even done All Saints Day or Halloween!! But a wise friend once advised us
Catholic mums to start thinking Advent at All Saints. And as a teacher- homeschooling parent, I learned to plan lessons well in advance. Here's an advent craft you should make ahead to ready yourself for the season.

Advent is the four week period before Christmas is often marked with Advent calendars. These are a great way to count down the days until Christmas and also a good calendar lesson for young children. You can make your own using this easy Advent calendar pattern.

Advent is a movable feast (or festival season), starting on the fourth Sunday before Christmas whenever that may fall. The length of time it lasts changes each year. To make your Advent calendar reusable from year to year, simply number windows from 1-42. That will ensure that you have enough for each day before Christmas and up to Epiphany. On shorter season years, end earlier.

You will need:
Four sheets of tagboard, construction paper or card stock. You can use 8 1/2 x 11, but you will need to be able to write very small. I recommend using 11X 17 construction paper. Make an 11 x 17 poster size pages by taping two 8.5 x 11 pages together.

Christmas images, illustrated Christmas wrapping paper or free printable Christmas coloring pages. Check out this blog for printables or Catholic Activities, my general Catholic educator/homeschooling website. If you are using coloring pages, you'll need to print two images or set your printer properties to enlarge the photo to 11 x 17. Your image will print in two pages.

Sharp scissors, X-acto Knife, Widget or scoring tool

Invisible or double sided tape, glue, Elmer's Spray Adhesive, glue dots or Rubber Cement (Glue dots are expensive but kid-friendly and much less messy. Rubber Cement works well also because you can easily peel off any spills.

Tracing paper or plain copy paper

Fine point black pen

Markers or crayons

To make:
Have kids color Christmas pictures if you have chosen that option.
Tape Christmas images to form one 11 x 17 poster.
Attach 11 x 17 image to one piece of tagboard. Or cover one piece of tagboard with wrapping paper.
With fine point pen, draw 40 1.5" x 1" rectangles on one plain piece of tagboard. Write one Christmasrelated Bible verse or Advent countdown activity inside each rectangle.
Lay tracing paper over rectangles and trace outlines.
Place decorated tagboard over traced rectangles sheet. Turn over so that tracing paper is on top. Using scoring tool or X-Acto knife, cut three edges of rectangle through tagboard. Label front of decorated tagboard with number 1-42. Tape two pieces of cardboard together along the edges. To open windows of Advent calendar, press to release and pull open. Bible verses and activities will show through window.

Free printable Catholic Christian Advent calendars, Advent wreaths, Christmas crafts

2016-11-29T22:42:00.001-05:00

Advent is the Catholic Christian season leading up to Christmas. In the weeks before Christmas, Catholics practice Advent values pf prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Each week focuses on hope, expectation and joy. Here are free printable advent calendars for kids to make, to guide Christmas devotions Free printable Catholic Christian Advent calendars, Advent wreaths, Christmas crafts

Halloween candy leftovers use-up recipes, ways to reuse stale candy from Trick-or-Treat

2016-11-03T13:35:00.001-04:00

Trick-or-treat is over and now your kids have a haul of Halloween candy. Of course you want them to eat all that sugar as soon as possible (not!). In anticipation of Advent giving, try one of these healthy, proactive ways to use up leftover trick-or-treat goodies. Make fun treats with these recipes or donate candy and teach kids the value of sharing and almsgiving. Catholic Christian children will love these fun, family activities plus they'll feel good about being unselfish. Halloween candy leftovers use-up recipes, ways to reuse stale candy from Trick-or-Treat

Free printable Catholic Solemnity of Mary Mother of God coloring pages

2015-12-31T14:33:00.001-05:00

On Jan. 1, the Catholic church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, along with New Year's Day. The Solemnity of Mary, also called the Feast of Mary Mother of God, is a Holy Day of Obligation. Catholic parents, if you are teaching children the liturgical calendar, here are free printable Virgin Mary coloring pages, Catholic activities and saints coloring pages to help. Family Holiday has a plethora to share. Make these printables into a Catholic coloring book about the Blessed Mother. There are images from the Joyful and Glorious Mysteries of the rosary which Catholic Christians believe was given by Mary Mother of God to help people get close to her son Jesus. Free printable Catholic Solemnity of Mary Mother of God coloring pages | Examiner.com

Free printable manger scenes, Bible Christmas nativity sets, coloring pages for kids

2015-12-18T01:21:00.001-05:00

Are you looking for great Bible Christmas crafts for little ones? Here are free printable manger scenes, Bible nativity sets to color with coloring pages from the Christmas story. Catholic Icing offers free printable Bible Christmas coloring pages to make into nativity sets. Children color characters from the Bible Christmas story. Then they wrap pictures around paper towel and toilet paper tubes. This makes 3D, standup manger scenes. The blog owner created eight pages of coloring pages for so kids can make complete nativity sets. Free printable manger scenes, Bible Christmas nativity sets, coloring pages | Examiner.com

Free printable Jesse Tree ornaments and Bible coloring pages for Advent

2015-12-14T16:17:00.001-05:00

Advent is the Catholic Christmas liturgical season leading up to Christmas. For four weeks, we pray, fast, read Bible passages on the gospel Christmas story and give alms to the poor. The theme of Advent is to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus. One way is to pray an Advent calendar. Another, related to the Advent calendar is to follow a Jesse Tree.

The Jesse Tree is an ancient visual aid the shows the lineage of Jesus. The basis comes from the Old Testament Bible passage "a root shall spring up from the stump of Jesse's lineage." This Bible foretells the birth of the Messiah and that He will come through Jesse, King David's father. . During Advent, symbols are hung on the Jesse Tree to represent Bible characters and people in Jesus's family tree.

Here are free printable Jesse Tree devotional activities. Each night, have children color one symbol place it on the Jesse Tree. Do this as you light candles on the Advent wreath and candles and read and pray from the Advent calendar. The Jesse Tree ends by adding images from the O Antiphons, another ancient Advent to Christmas series of prayers. Free printable Jesse Tree ornaments and Bible coloring pages for Advent | Examiner.com

Free printable Catholic Advent calendars for a Christian Bible Christmas

2015-11-23T21:40:00.001-05:00

The Catholic Christian season of Advent begins November 30, 2014

and goes for four weeks till Christmas. Many families follow Advent calendars. Some contain candy or prizes to countdown to Christmas. The Daily Mail, on November 24, listed even more lavish commercial Advent calendars prizes: nail polish, gifts, toys, jewelry, cosmetics, even beer! Free printable Catholic Advent calendars for a Christian Bible Christmas | Examiner.com

Skip holiday gift exchanges and donate Christmas presents to needy children

2015-11-14T12:34:00.001-05:00

Random gift exchanges are silly. There is no sense, financial or common, in trading gifts with extended family or people you're not close to. Times are tight and many can't afford frivolous gift exchanges. They don't want to waste money on a meaningless token gift. So here's a plan: skip holiday gift exchanges and donate Christmas presents to needy children.

Christmas work party wish list questionnaire for holiday gift exchanges | Examiner.com

2015-11-11T21:41:00.001-05:00

Holiday gift exchanges for the Christmas work party are awkward. Trading gifts among people you don't know may seem like a pointless pain in the neck. But if you attend a company work party, the gift exchanges are probably unavoidable. And some people look forward to gift exchanges--senior citizens, developmentally disabled people, employees in small businesses, adult education students, work at home groups. A problem with gift exchanges is not knowing what to get a co-worker for the holiday work party. So have participants fill out a work party wish list questionnaire or preference profile. Here's a wish list questionnaire to print and distribute a few weeks before your holiday party. Gift suggestions based on Christmas wish list questionnaire answers are included.Christmas work party wish list questionnaire for holiday gift exchanges | Examiner.com

All Saints Day party: Catholic games, crafts, snacks for Halloween alternative | Examiner.com

2015-10-30T17:35:00.001-04:00

Parents do you dislike Halloween? Maybe you don't like the ghoulish aspects or the sexy costumes. You don't want your kids to miss the fun of dressing up and trick or treating; you just want to avoid the profane parts of Halloween. Well, why not have take the holiday back to its roots? The point of All Hallows Eve was to ward off evil before the Catholic celebration of All Saints' Day on Nov. 1. So why not celebrate Halloween as All Saints Eve? Here's an All Saints Day (or Eve) party planner with Catholic saints costumes, games, crafts, activities and treats. Ask your parish coordinator if you can host it at church. Ask the priest to say mass and bless the children.All Saints Day party: Catholic games, crafts, snacks for Halloween alternative | Examiner.com

Free printable Advent wreath crafts for children to make

2015-10-18T22:14:00.001-04:00

Advent is the four-week season before Christmas, celebrated by Catholics, Orthodox and some protestant Christian denominations. Most people think of Advent calendars with candies and treats. But that, like a commercial Christmas, is miles from the real purpose.. Advent is a lesser penitential season, a minor Lent. Christians observe spiritual acts of prayer, fasting and charity. They follow Bible-based Advent calendars and count down to Christmas reflecting on Jesus. One evangelical pastor is pushing protestant churches to celebrate Advent and put Christ back in Christmas, said Time magazine, Dec. 1.Free printable Advent wreath crafts for children to make | Examiner.com

Free printable Blessed Virgin Mary coloring pages and printables for Catholic feast days

2015-10-07T18:02:00.001-04:00

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is honored on several different Catholic and Orthodox Christian holidays. May and October are devoted to Our Lady.

Some are holy days of obligation. December 8 is the Feast Immaculate Conception, January 1 is Solemnity of Mary and August 15 is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Advent and Christmas honor Our Lady. She is revered in the Sorrowful, Joyful, Glorious and Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, too. Read on for Free printable Blessed Virgin Mary coloring pages for Catholic feast days

Free printable Advent wreath crafts for children to make

2014-12-16T14:59:00.001-05:00

Advent is the four-week season before Christmas, celebrated by Catholics, Orthodox and some protestant Christian denominations. Most people think of Advent calendars with candies and treats. But that, like a commercial Christmas, is miles from the real purpose.. Advent is a lesser penitential season, a minor Lent. Christians observe spiritual acts of prayer, fasting and charity. They follow Bible-based Advent calendars and count down to Christmas reflecting on Jesus. Here areFree printable Advent wreath crafts for children to make

Diabetic diet Christmas dessert recipes, low carb, sugarless and lowfat

2014-11-16T17:49:00.001-05:00

November 14 in World Diabetes Day says International Diabetes Federation. It's appropriate to raise diabetes awareness around the holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chanukah, New Year's Eve, Epiphany, whatever festivals you celebrate, they all involve food and especially desserts and sweets. Get-togethers can be really hard for diabetics and dieters. Here are ways to cut sugar and fat in recipes, so diabetics and dieters can have their cake and eat it too! Diabetic diet Christmas dessert recipes, low carb, sugarless and lowfat

Day of the Dead family altar ideas and free printable Dia de los Muertos crafts

2014-11-02T15:51:00.001-05:00

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated November 1 and 2, says Reuters. The Mexican festival is the Latino version of the Catholic holidays of All Saints Day and All Souls Day with some roots in ancient Aztec celebrations. All Saints Day honors saints and All Souls Day, our own beloved dead. Here are Day of the Dead family altar ideas and free printable Dia de los Muertos crafts - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Free Printable SVG Patterns for Advent Wreaths and Calendars

2014-10-14T20:15:00.001-04:00

I love many things about Advent! Prayer, fasting, almsgiving are important. As a homeschool mom, I also made a lot of crafts with kids in preparation for Christmas. Are you making a homemade advent wreath or advent calendar? Want free printable stencils to help? Whether you make crafts with a paper die cutting machine like Cricut or make patterns free hand, you'll want these free printable SVG (scalable vector graphics) patterns. Free Printable SVG Patterns for Scrapbooking and Cricut Machines

Free Printable Advent Cards and Invitations

2014-09-30T00:09:00.001-04:00

If you're like me, you get invited to a lot of celebrations. There are secular ones--graduation, retirement, birthdays--and religious ones--holidays, first communion, baptism, weddings. I love giving gifts, but costs add up. So I use free printable greeting cards to save money. Going to a Catholic or Christian special event? Here are printable cards. Throwing a party? Here are invitations. You'll find printable holiday, wedding, bridal and baby shower and birthday cards, too. Free Printable First Holy Communion Cards and Invitations

Free Printable Advent, Christmas, Catholic, Bible Coloring Pages

2014-09-11T16:43:00.001-04:00

Catholics celebrate several religious days, referred to as Holy Days. Based on the Bible, these days center around an event in the life of Jesus or His Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. Holy Days are All Saints Day (Nov. 1), Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Christmas (preceded by the holy season of Advent), Solemnity of Mary (Jan 1), Ash Wednesday (movable feast which kicks of the holy season of Lent and leads up to Easter), Ascension Thursday (movable feast) and the Assumption of Mary (August 15).

Our tradition is rich in Biblical teaching, prayer, sacraments and tradition. Our liturgical calendar is full of other specials days. We also commemorate the lives of saints. To help children learn about Catholic faith, here are free printable coloring pages for Bible stories, holidays and holy days, Lent, Advent, life of Jesus, Catholic saints, feast days, rosary and stations of the cross. Free Printable Catholic Saints and Christian Bible Coloring Pages

Free Advent O Antiphons Activities, Prayers, Printables

2013-12-18T20:37:00.001-05:00

The O Antiphons (names for Jesus) begin the last week of Advent on December 17. Sorry I'm a day late with this. Each day a different title for Jesus is the focus. These ancient messianic titles are referenced in the Old Testament of the Bible. They can be found in the hymn "O Come Emmanuel." The titles are Emmanuel God with Us, Wisdom, Dayspring, Lord and Ruler, King of Kings, Root of Jesse, Key of David. These seven titles are listed in Latin and English. Advent tradition of praying the O Antiphons (names for Jesus) began in medieval times. Orthodox and some protestant churches pray them too. Here are printable prayer guides and coloring sheets to help children learn and pray the O Antiphons. Advent O Antiphons Activities, Prayers, Printables

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Activities

2013-12-12T17:23:00.001-05:00

December 12 marks the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Catholic liturgical calendar. The Blessed Mother, Mary Mother of God, appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec farmer at Tepeyac Hill in Mexico in 1531.

Following her apparition, millions converted to Christianity. We honor her as the Patroness of the Americas. The story of the Virgen de Guadalupe is one that appeals to many. Conversion has been thrust upon people by acts of imperialism (such irony). Tyranny, violence, holy wars (which should be called unholy wars) are anathema to the gospel. Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Blessings to You

Free Christmas Clipart and GIFs

2013-12-04T00:02:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to share a cool website with free holiday clipart. There's a lot of secular Christmas clipart and .gif images (moving ones). And some religious Advent themed clipart. Not as much as I'd like, but I think there may be some I haven't found. Anyway, hope it helps for your Christmas card-making or decorating. Free Christmas Clipart and GIFs - News - Bubblews

Free Printable Pilgrim Crafts for Thanksgiving

2013-11-25T20:19:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving in the US celebrates the survival of the pilgrims who came on the Mayflower. We wrongly refer them as pilgrims. A pilgrim is a religious adherent who journeys (makes a pilgrimage) to particular shrine or holy place. San Juan Compostela in Spain, Glastonbury Abbey were two common medieval pilgrimage sites for Catholics. Muslims make pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina. A Jew might travel to Jerusalem.

The American "pilgrims" were actually Puritans who came to the New World seeking religious freedom. We remember the difficulties they faced and the help they received from local native American Indians. We celebrate their survival at Thanksgiving. Here are free printable pilgrim crafts. Free Printable Pilgrim Crafts for Thanksgiving

Free Printable Advent Calendar Activities

2013-11-16T12:42:00.001-05:00

Advent is a penitential season that starts four weeks before Christmas in Catholic and Orthodox-christian churches. As in lent (before Easter) we pray, fast and give alms to prepare our hearts for the "coming" (advent) of Christ (from the Latin "adveniat regnum"--coming of Christ's kingdom.) The first Sunday of Advent in 2013 is December 1. Here are printable advent calendars for families. Photo is free advent calendar from The Toymaker. Great site. Free Printable Advent Calendar Crafts for Kids

Free Printable Advent Calendars, Religious and Secular

2013-11-08T22:32:00.001-05:00

Advent is a penitential season that starts four weeks before Christmas in Catholic and Orthodox-christian churches. As in lent (before Easter) we pray, fast and give alms to prepare our hearts for the "coming" (advent) of Christ (from the Latin "adveniat regnum"--coming of Christ's kingdom.) The first Sunday of Advent in 2013 is December 1. Here are free printable advent calendars (secular and religious) Free Printable Advent Calendar Crafts for Kids