In our RE lesson this week, we’ve been learning about why waiting and preparing for Christmas is such an important part of the Christian faith.
We began by exploring the Nativity story. The children thought carefully about which characters had to wait for something special to happen. They spotted lots of examples:
- Mary waiting for baby Jesus to arrive
- Mary and Joseph waiting to find somewhere safe to stay in Bethlehem
- The Wise Men waiting and travelling a very long way to meet the new baby king
It helped us understand that waiting has always been a big part of the Christmas story.
We then learned that Christians have a special time of waiting and getting ready before Christmas called Advent. The children shared their own experiences of advent calendars and what it feels like to open a door each day. We looked at different Advent traditions such as advent candles and advent wreaths and discussed how these help Christians count down to Christmas in a thoughtful and meaningful way.
For many Christians, Christmas is not only about presents, decorations or delicious food. It is a time to remember and celebrate the Christian belief that Jesus came to earth as both God and human. Because of this, Christians aren’t just waiting for Christmas Day – they are waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
We looked closely at the Advent wreath and talked about what each candle can represent:
- Hope
- Peace
- Love
- Joy
- Jesus – the white candle in the middle, lit on Christmas Day
The children learned that each Sunday during Advent, a new candle is lit, and the final candle is lit on Christmas Day itself.
Help at home by asking your child what they are currently waiting or hoping for – maybe a birthday, a visit, or a special event. Talk about how waiting can feel exciting, difficult or joyful.