Table Decorating Ideas for Advent

Advent is the religious season that precedes Christmas. It is a time of eager anticipation as Christians wait to celebrate the birth of Christ. Although it is a festive time, most observers of the season decorate in a subdued manner that honors faith, family, tradition and spirituality. Purple is an especially symbolic color to include in Advent decorations. Does this Spark an idea?

Advent Wreath

Make a simple Advent wreath by placing a bowl in a warm color in the center of your table. Put jewel-toned candles with staggered heights into the flat center of the bowl. Surround with potpourri or fresh fruit. As an alternative, place a wreath on its side. Place three purple taper candles and one pink taper candle in the center. Have your children make their own wreath. Tie evergreen branches into a round shape. Tell your children to attach their favorite items to the wreath, such as toys, candy or pictures. Place the candles in the middle of the wreath.

Advent Tree

Place a small Advent tree in the middle of the table. This is a pine tree that uses purple decorations. Add purple bows, ribbon and tiny ornaments. String purple lights through the tree.

Lights

Tie a strand of purple lights together with white Christmas lights. String the lights around the perimeter of your table or create a swag around the table. Also use the lights to highlight your table centerpiece.

Advent Calendar

Make your own Advent calendar and display it on your table. Make an Advent tree calendar by shaping recycled cardboard tubes into small houses. Trim around the door area so that the door can open and close. Decorate with patterned paper. Paint an Advent number on the roof of each house. Punch a hole through the top of the roof and string a branch through each house. Place the branch with all of the attached houses into an aluminum can and place in the center of your table. For another Advent calendar idea, cut 25 decorative papers into 2-inch squares. Glue a photo of a family member to each square. Add an eyelet to each square. Place a number on each square with a stamp or number sticker. Attach to a metal plaque. Hammer the squares into place. Place on a small stand in the middle of your table.

Children's Advent Calendars

Have your children make their own Advent calendar. Stack a set of blocks counting down the days to Christmas in the center of the table. Find a spice rack or other container that has space for 25 small drawers and place it on your table. Insert a prize in each drawer your child will get after each day passes. Decorate the outside with patterned paper and paint. Your daughter can help make an Advent paper doll calendar. Use watercolors to decorate papers. Fold the papers accordion-style. Trace a pattern of a doll on the paper. Cut out the dolls, being sure not to trim the area by the hands that connect the dolls to each other. Write the 25 days of Advent on pieces of paper. Trim the paper to look like an apron and attach one number to each doll.