I don't know of many people that celebrate Advent.  That's not to say that many don't.  Growing up this was something my family did every Christmas season. ( Come to think of it I don't know anyone else who did this then either.)  It is not something that we have done as a family yet, but we have looked to do it when Little Monkey was old enough.  Which we feel he is this year.  So we also hope to start the tradition of Advent for our family.

Many people celebrate Advent with different meanings.  With Advent there are 5 candles, and we always used a holly wreath around the holder.  Each candle represents part of the journey to Christ's earthday, the fifth one being his coming to this world as a babe.  Advent is started the Sunday closest to November 30th and ends, for most, on Christmas day.  The 4 outer candles leading to Christ's earthday are the 4 Sundays leading to Christmas day and the Christ Candle is for Christmas day, some do this on Christmas Eve.  Each candle has a Biblical passage about that journey to Christ's first coming, along with a prayer and songs.  The book I believe we are going to use, because it is kid friendly, goes by days.  It has a Bible passage, lesson, prayer and activity for that day.

Growing up I remember every Sunday before Christmas day coming home from the evening service in the House of our Lord, gathering around our dining room table, lighting the appropriate candles, turning out the lights and my daddy leading us in our Advent Devotion.  As we got older my sister and I would share reading scripture.  We would all take a turn praying each night and then we each got to pick one song.  We tried to keep the song with the Bible passage read.  On Christmas day before opening presents we would light all the candles, have our devotion and prayer time and sing.  Even though we came from a strong Christian family this is the only consistant time I remember having devotions as a family.  It is something that I will always remember and I hope that our children will too!

I have found a few links that descibe Advent.  We don't necessarily endorse these sites, but they give a better description of Advent than I do.  So please read with desernment! ( if I come across other links I will add them)

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3