Advent and Christmas

'Joy to the World!'

Advent Calendar 2025

This joy at the birth of Jesus is shared by Christians across the world. In our Advent calendar for 2025, we will explore how Christians across the world tell this universal story in words and images, with some fun for families to share at the weekends! Across this time, we have used some resources created by Compassion, a Christian child-sponsorship charity, who have created beautifully sensitive and joyfully cultural retellings of the Nativity. We often revisit the same questions exploring how different global contexts might influence how the story is shown: the story is the same, the joy is the same, but the settings are very different. We hope that you enjoy seeing how others celebrate; perhaps you will get some new ideas for your celebrations this year. Feliz Navidad!!

When you click on the door you will find:

an image of the nativity from countries and cultures across the world
a video of Christians celebrating Christmas in a variety of countries or cultures
some wondering questions to think about together

Primary Advent Calendar 2025

Secondary Advent Calendar

Below you will find a preview link and documents for teachers that give an overview of the contents of the calendars so that you can see in advance what will be behind the closed doors.

Primary Advent Calendar Overview and Instructions

Primary Advent Calendar Preview

Secondary Advent Calendar Overview and Instructions

Secondary Advent Calendar Preview

Advent or Christmas Pause Day Materials

Jessica Staniforth the RE Subject Leader at St Nicolas CE Infant School in Guildford has kindly shared her materials for an Advent Pause Day.

Advent Pause Day God's Gift

Advent Pause Day Prince of Peace

Advent Pause Day Everyone's Welcome

Advent Pause Day Messengers of Hope

Advent Pause Day Living our Values

A Nativity Reflection for School Staff

This reflection may be we wrote this reflective activity for use with school staff duringg the Chrsitmas season. It would work well at the start of the spring term as well as at the end of the autumn term.

Nativity Reflection for School Staff

Below you will find some free resources for Advent and Christmas.

There are also materials linked to the Jesse Tree, Jesus family tree, which can be used as an Advent Calendar.