Advent begins on Sunday, November 29, 2026. Its four Sundays fall on November 29, December 6, December 13, and December 20. Christmas is Friday, December 25. Those dates give families a clear framework for prayer and planning without turning December into a daily assignment list.
The dates below follow the USCCB’s 2026 liturgical calendar for the Latin Church in the United States. Local parish events, confession times, and holiday Mass schedules still need to be checked directly.
Week one: November 29–December 5
Begin with one practice you can repeat: a short evening prayer, a Sunday Gospel reading, or a meal with phones put away. Set out an Advent wreath if you use one, but do not wait for the right decorations to begin.
Use this week to check December schedules. Put Mass times, necessary travel, and work commitments on the calendar before adding optional activities. If the month already looks crowded, choose one thing to leave out. Anticipation needs some space.
Week two: December 6–12
December 6 is also the traditional date of St. Nicholas’s feast. A small gift in a shoe can become a prompt for generosity. December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and December 12 is Our Lady of Guadalupe. Each has its own meaning; they need not become three elaborate home celebrations.
Choose one to explore more closely. Read a short explanation, attend the appropriate parish liturgy, or ask someone about a tradition important to their family. Avoid treating the whole week as a checklist of crafts to complete.
Week three: December 13–19
The Third Sunday of Advent is commonly called Gaudete Sunday. If your wreath has a rose candle, this is the week to light it alongside the two violet candles already in use. A household can let that visible change prompt a simple question: where have we noticed a reason for hope?
The O Antiphons begin on December 17 and continue through December 23. These short prayers use biblical titles for Christ. A family can read the day’s title and offer one sentence of prayer; the official texts are available from the U.S. bishops.
Week four: December 20–24
The final week is short. Keep the prayer practice small enough to survive packing, cooking, visitors, or a changed work shift. Confirm the exact Christmas Mass time and location you plan to attend; a parish may use an overflow hall or a different schedule from ordinary Sundays.
If someone is returning to church after a long absence, offer practical companionship. Explain parking, meet them at the entrance, and let them ask questions without turning the visit into an examination.
A calendar you can actually use
- Every Sunday: Mass, followed by a brief look at the week ahead.
- One weekday: A small act of service that has a clear recipient and realistic scope.
- Most evenings: Two minutes of prayer, with permission to begin again after a missed night.
- Before Christmas: Check parish reconciliation opportunities and holiday Mass details.
These are suggestions for a household rhythm, not additional Church obligations. Adapt them to disability, shift work, caregiving, shared custody, or living alone. An Advent practice should help people attend to God and one another within their actual lives.
Does Advent end on December 24?
Advent leads into the celebration of Christmas, which begins liturgically on Christmas Eve. A commercial Advent calendar with doors for December 1–24 follows a fixed date range; the Church’s Advent begins on a Sunday and therefore starts on a different date each year.
That difference can be a useful lesson for children: a chocolate calendar and a liturgical season serve different purposes. Enjoy the household custom, and let the Sunday rhythm keep the larger story in view. There is still time to begin, even if the first candle was lit late.
