Advent Calendars for 2021

Growing up our family had one of the Avon Christmas Count-Down Calendars from 1987 with the mouse that moved from one day to the next. While not a true Advent calendar as it simply counts 1-24, the practice of building expectation by marking the days leading up to Christ’s coming is etched in my memory (as is the spirit of competition with my siblings to be the one to wake up and move the mouse first, complete with gloating, “I moved the mousey” song that sits squarely outside the spirit of Advent). Advent calendars and similar traditions can be helpful tools for faith formation at home. Here are a number of options, some of which are free and some require purchase or donations.  

Lego Advent

This Advent, the Diocese of Arkansas is offering a free prayer supplement to go along with the popular Lego City Advent Calendar. This 24-day calendar and the coinciding prayers are focused on some of the people who serve and work in our communities. On Day 4, for example, you build a Lego ambulance and pray, “We pray for ambulance drivers, that they may swiftly and safely carry those who are sick.” 

Advent Word

AdventWord is an interactive, global Advent Calendar offering images and meditations for reflection every day of Advent. You can download the official #AdventWord graphics here. #AdventWord is great for concentrating on specific terms and practices pulled from the Lectionary readings and Way of Love practices. This year, Forward Movement is offering Promise & Praise: 2021 Advent Word Reflections for only $7.

Praying In Color

Advent 2021 Praying in Color templates from Sybil MacBeth are available for free on her Handouts page. MacBeth also provides guidance for how to introduce Praying in Color as a practice. Her designs from previous years are available, too.  

Way of Love Calendar

Journeying the Way of Love Advent Calendar 2021 is free from The Episcopal Church via download. It is particularly good for older children, teens, and adults. There are prompts for reflection and potentially discussion together. Examples include setting a timer for three minutes and repeating the prayer “Here I am, God” until the time is up; taking a different route to work, school, or play and noticing what you encounter differently; and considering what part of gathering for worship fills your heart with hope. This could pair well with other Way of Love resources like the Advent Curriculum here. It is available in English, Spanish, and French.

Advent Calendar Cards

In this Advent Calendar from Salt*, each day has its own hand-illustrated card that can be put into numbered envelopes, hung up, or used in another way. Sundays include words from scripture, a brief meditation, and a simple prayer; weekday cards include a simple, engaging daily practice to try. We love the beauty of these. The personal use download is $10 and they offer very reasonable increased costs for use on a larger scale. They have a handful of other Advent resources including a Mason Jar Advent Calendar in their Printable Resources.

Rituals & Prayers Advent Calendar

Families Celebrate Advent & Christmas 2021-2022 is a deck of cards full of rituals, prayers and reflections, new from Augsburg Fortress. These are great for families to create a new ritual at a specific time of day or carry them on the go. The pack of cards is $9.99.  

Advent Calendar Poster

Slow Down. Quiet. It’s Advent! from Forward Movement offers ideas for prayer, helping others, and being thoughtful about the true meaning of Christmas. The cost of $12 per pack of 25 posters is even manageable on a large scale (price decreases to $7 per pack over 5).  

Scripture Advent Calendar

Be on the lookout for the December 2021 Everyday Faith Calendar from Concordia Publishing House. This year they have been offering monthly calendars that include daily scripture passages to read and questions for reflection. These are a great way to start daily faith practices at home. The December calendar isn’t out yet, but you can see previous months to get an idea of what to expect.  

What is your favorite Advent Calendar? Know of a new one to add to our list? Tell us in the comments!