Prepare for Christmas with Advent wreath and Advent calendar activities, along with information about St. Nicholas, Advent prayers, and more. Click on the graphic to the left to learn more.

Experience a “Radio Retreat” this Advent with Father Jim Van Vurst, O.F.M. Listen to inspiring words and songs for weekly Advent reflection. Franciscan Radio invites you to take a deeper look into the season of Advent. Using the Windows Media Player, Real Player or any MP3 player, including Apple’s iPod, take this opportunity to focus clearly on what God is saying to you this Advent. Each Advent week Franciscan Father Jim Van Vurst leads you through a reflection based on the week’s scripture. If you missed one of the weeks, visit our archives.

The St. Margaret Mary Advent Calendar is an online advent calendar. You can open any door through today's date. You cannot peek ahead. Place your mouse pointer over the door you want to open. After the door opens, click.

The History of the Advent Wreath by the Cathollic Education Resource Center.

The Advent Wreath by Catherine Fournier from the Catholic Encyclopedia on Advent: "(Latin ad-venio, to come to).

Catholic.org has a large number of resources for Advent and Christmas. Be sure to click on the menu bar on the right to see: Advent News, Celebrate Advent, Advent Wreath, Collections For Advent, Why Advent Is Important, Definition of Advent, Advent Calendar, and Divine Preperation.

Christmas and Advent can be a spiritual feast for those who live these seasons spiritually. And where better to live them spiritually than in our own homes and households? This site's purpose is to help families and households celebrate Advent and Christmas in a Christian way.

Christmas and Advent customs appear everywhere today. True symbols that they are, the living traditions of the season bring peoples and families together and connect us with our ancient faith. Visit the Prayers and Customs of Advent and Christmas website.

The Jesse Tree by Dennis Bratcher. Find out more about the Story of the Jesse Tree, how to make a Jesse Tree, and see a Table of Scripture Readings for the Story.

Read more about the history of the Jesse Tree at the Being Catholic website.

Every day on the TeachingMOM Advent Calendar is full of goodies to help you and your family create some wonderful traditions this Advent and Christmas, as well as have some good old-fashioned fun! You'll probably learn a few interesting facts about the season as well. We've collected some of the best on the net--and your public library!--for you all in one convenient spot. But don't feel that you should be doing everything listed on each day!

The Advent Calendar was made to be used over again for as many years as you can get something out of it. So you probably won't light the Advent candles, do a Jesse Tree AND make Chrismon ornaments all in the same year. And you may not have time for all of the "Advent Extras" I've thrown in! Don't worry. The Advent Calendar will be here for years to come and I'll update the links and make appropriate changes each year. So relax, choose some fun things to study and do, and enjoy! God bless you this Christmas

The Catholic Campaign For Human Development also has an online Advent calendar.

The Domestic-Church.com web site has the greatest number of links to Advent activities for families, young children and older children. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.