The season of Advent, which begins for many churches four Sundays prior to Christmas, is a liminal time spent in both reflection and anticipation; reflection on the wonder and mystery of the Christ Child’s birth, and anticipation of his triumphant return. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means "arrival." Through the centuries, Christians have marked Advent in varying ways, but anticipation and waiting have always featured prominently.
Advent Calendars, which first appeared in Germany in the 19th century, are a now familiar element of the season. We hope you will enjoy the opportunities for reflecting and waiting presented in Countdown to Christmas, Montreat Conference Center’s 2023 Christmas Collection.
Find downloadable instructions below to craft your own stand-up Advent calendar which includes activities for each day leading up to Christmas, starting with December 1st. In addition, find an image and downloadable print-out below of just the daily activities so you can follow along from wherever you are. We’ll be posting reminders about some of the daily activities on our Facebook and Instagram – follow along!
Special thanks to Sarah Peters who created the craft for this year and to staff members Celeste Abney-Crowe from the communications department and Emma Goldrick and Martha Todd Sloan from the development office who worked behind the scenes to bring this collection to you. Additional thanks to the Office of Development’s summer staffer, Courtney Parrish, who worked on the formatting of the materials. | 
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