How to build anticipation for Christmas

Advent week two is underway. Last week we talked about reflecting on the year and setting goals for next year. This week, I wanted to look at how we build anticipation for Christmas through this period of waiting. I also apologise for the lateness of this post. Despite my attempts at a quiet Advent, there are just those times when life gets very busy, and last week was one of those!

Slowly decorate to build anticipation and avoid overwhelm

I love decorating. Not just for Christmas, but for parties and everyday life too. The best bit of the home renovation is definitely hanging the artwork and arranging the furniture. But when it comes to Christmas, I try to restrain myself.

This doesn’t mean I have a minimalist Christmas. Instead, I try to add a few Christmassy things each week, building to the Christmas tree right near the end. I find this beneficial for two reasons. The first is that it builds anticipation. Instead of feeling 100% Christmassy straight away, I get to slowly transform the house over a few weeks. It builds anticipation (I can’t wait for Sunday so I can put out the nutcrackers) and helps avoid feelings of overwhelm (I have to decorate the whole house tonight because I have no time the rest of the week).

I also find that it helps me avoid buying copious amounts of decor items. There are many beautiful seasonal things, and it’s easy to get carried away especially when there are big sales on. However, if you’re being intentional about your decorating, it can help avoid this trap.

I’ve set myself a tradition of only buying one new Christmas thing each year. I try to get Christmas ornaments from meaningful places as well. For example, I have wooden Christmas tree ornaments a friend brought back from Italy, an ornament from my honeymoon and this year there will be a sweet German cowbell from my sister. Of course, there are also beads, lights and baubles. But there are also slowly built collections of things I’ve found, been given or made myself that are meaningful.

Less really can be more. And it doesn’t have to end up as a bare Scandi tree either.

Build the mood with Christmas music

Again, I love a good carol. Kings College Choir is my jam from December to January. I will always get teary listening to Lully Lullay. But I don’t bust these beauties out on the first of December.

As with decorations, I build. In week one, I listen to very little Christmas music. When I do want some festive tunes, I reach for hymns that are more themed for Advent. These discuss the coming of Christ and express the longing and the waiting. As we get closer to Christmas, I listen to more and more music. I allow the joyful songs into the playlist (along with Bing, Bublé and friends).

It’s not about it being wrong to listen to Christmas music before CHristmas. It’s about creating space to remember that we are still waiting. Adding beautiful hymns creates a calm atmosphere and helps me refocus on why we’re celebrating this season at all.

It also means I’m not sick of all the songs by the time we get to Christmas Day. Which I feel is a benefit in itself.

Find your way to build anticpation this week

Maybe you’ve already got all the decorations out and the Bublé blaring. No judgement! Sharing how I build anticipation is a jumping off place, not a rule. You might love the idea of doing what I do, or you might hate it. That’s ok.

I want to encourage you to find a way to build anticipation into the season. Not just the anticipation of presents or of finally being finished with Christmas baking. But a deeper, calmer anticipation. It might seem odd, asking you to focus on how excited you are to listen to music or decorate. Not very spiritual! But if you’re not in a whirlwind of music and decor, you will naturally have a period of waiting. Waiting to decorate and listen. Waiting to eat the Christmas foods and open presents.

And it is in that waiting, that I hope you find a beautiful anticipation for Christ and Christmas. One that will lift your love of this season slightly from the exterior trappings, while creating a stronger joy that will last through the twelve days of Christmas and beyond.