Parents: Here is a fun way to keep Christ in the hearts and minds of your children throughout Advent. If you have a “Countdown to Christmas” type box at home, you can use that, but you will need to add 3 extra days (they usually have 24 compartments, and Advent is 27 days long this year). Otherwise, simply purchase or make a small decorative gift box. Click here to download daily verses to include in your Advent Box. Cut out the verses for each day, and purchase the items from the list below (you can make small changes to the items, as long as they make sense with that day's verse).
Note: you will need to get a miniature nativity set with at least 9 figurines. If your figurines are slightly different than what we have listed here, substitute or combine them as needed. Then, each night before you go to bed, place the next day’s verse and gift in the box for your child to open in the morning.
Daily Gifts for Advent Mystery Box
1. (Sunday, November 28 – Advent Begins) Chocolate heart or heart-shaped gift
2. Bouncy ball
3. Fruit snacks
4. Quarter or dollar
5. Dove candy
6. Joseph figurine
7. Candy
8. Small light-up toy
9. (December 6 – Saint Nicholas Day) Chocolate Santa
10. Eraser
11. (December 8 – Immaculate Conception) Mary figurine
12. Shepherd figurine
13. Angel figurine
14. Jingle bell – tied with ribbon to hang on tree
15. Sheep or shepherd figurine
16. Candy
17. Fish-shaped crackers or small toy, key chain, etc…
18. Manger animal figurines
19. King #1 figurine
20. Star ornament for your tree
21. King # 2 figurine
22. Candy OR coupons for favorite restaurant to go out as a family
23. King #3 figurine
24. Pretzels
25. Peace sign key chain, jewelry, sticker, or ornament
26. Lapel pin or other piece of jewelry to wear to Christmas Mass
27. (Christmas Eve) Baby Jesus figurine