12/03/2025
"Natural living" during the Advent season can involve using organic, nature-based products and engaging in practices that foster contemplation and gratitude by connecting with the natural world.
Practices for a Natural Advent Season
Nature-Based Décor
Use foraged or natural items to decorate your home. This can include creating an Advent wreath from fresh greenery or making a calendar by hanging small bags from a foraged branch with natural twine. The greenery symbolizes eternal life and the renewal of life and hope.
Aromatherapy and Scents
Avoid artificial fragrances and instead use natural methods to scent your home. Try simmering herbs and fruits on the stove, like citrus slices and cinnamon sticks, or use natural wax candles infused with essential oils like lavandin, eucalyptus, and cedarwood.
Conscious Consumption
Opt for self-care or eco-friendly Advent calendars that contain items like bath and body products, organic teas, or natural fine fragrances instead of excessive sugar or mass-produced plastic toys.
Reflection in Nature
Observe the natural world as a way to deepen your experience of the season. Look at bare branches for new buds as a promise of future life, or notice a single leaf clinging to a tree as a metaphor for resilience and God's enduring presence.
Outdoor Activities
Incorporate nature study into your family's Advent practices, going on nature walks or trails to observe seasonal changes and reflect on their symbolism.
Service
Focus on gifts of service or material gifts rooted in true generosity and love, which naturally aligns with the themes of the season: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. This shifts the focus away from commercialism and toward helping others.
By integrating these practices, you can create a more meaningful, connected, and natural Advent experience.