Advent and Christmas Gift Guide

Every year as November begins, families come into our store to prepare for Advent and Christmas. Many ask the same questions: When does Advent begin? Where can I find an Advent wreath? What gift will help my godchild grow in the Faith? We have gathered our answers here, along with the items we carry for the season, from our family store in Fountain Valley, California.

Advent is a season of joyful expectation. It prepares us to celebrate the first coming of Our Lord at Bethlehem, and it turns our hearts toward His Second Coming at the end of time. The gifts below are chosen to help families keep Christ at the center of these holy weeks.

Preparing for Advent

Advent begins on the Sunday nearest November 30. In 2026 the First Sunday of Advent falls on November 29, and the season continues for four Sundays until Christmas Eve. Its color is violet, a sign of prayer, penance and preparation, with rose on Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, when the Church rejoices that the Lord is near.

The Evergreen Advent Wreath ($9.95) is a 12-1/2" brass wreath with greenery. Its circle recalls the eternity of God, and the light of the candles grows each week as the birth of Christ, the Light of the World, draws near. Candles are not included; the wreath takes three violet candles and one rose.
The Holy Family Advent Calendar ($2.00) and the Nativity Advent Calendar ($2.95) help children count the days to Christmas with prayer and anticipation.
The Jesse Tree: An Advent Devotion ($17.95) leads families through the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament who awaited the Messiah, from the root of Jesse to the birth of Christ, with a reading for each day of the season.

For daily prayer during Advent, Advent and Christmas with Mary by Dr. Mary Amore ($5.95) and Advent Reflections: Come, Lord Jesus! by Archbishop Timothy Dolan ($7.95) offer short reflections for each day. Parishes and prayer groups wishing to order in quantity are welcome to call us.

To learn more about the meaning of Advent and its colors, see our article on the Liturgical Seasons.

The Nativity

Since St. Francis of Assisi first set up the crèche at Greccio in 1223, Catholic families have kept the custom of the Nativity scene. Many set up the stable during Advent and leave the manger empty until Christmas Eve, when the Christ Child is laid in it, and the Magi are moved a little closer each day until they arrive on the Solemnity of the Epiphany. If the Infant Jesus from your set has been lost, we carry a small figure of the Infant Jesus (65 cents).

The Twelve-Piece Nativity Set ($99.99) is a complete set for the home that a family may keep for many Christmases.
The Olive Wood Nativity Set from the Holy Land ($19.95), about 4" long, is a fitting gift for those without room for a larger set, or for a desk at work.
The Miniature Wood Nativity Set ($8.95) and the Children's Miniature Nativity ($8.95) are made for small hands, so that children may arrange the Holy Family themselves and come to know the story of Our Lord's birth.

For Children

A new Christmas book each year is a beautiful tradition for a Catholic family, and good books are read again every December. These are among the titles families choose most often:

The Spider Who Saved Christmas by Raymond Arroyo ($17.95) retells the old legend of the spider whose web sheltered the Holy Family on the flight into Egypt.
The Grumpy Old Ox by Anthony DeStefano ($16.95) tells of a proud old ox in the stable at Bethlehem who comes to know the transforming power of God's grace.
The First Christmas by Thomas D. Williams ($16.95) tells of the birth of Jesus in a poem, with illustrations by Frank Fraser.
Advent and Christmas Traditions ($2.95) teaches children about God's promise and how He fulfilled it, and how Advent prepares our hearts to receive the Infant King.
The St. Joseph Christmas Coloring Book ($4.95) and The Story of Christmas Sticker Book ($9.95) help younger children learn the Christmas story.

More titles may be found in our Christmas Books section.

Gifts of Lasting Faith

The gifts that mean the most are those that help a person draw closer to God throughout the year. For a godchild, a grandchild, or someone preparing to enter the Church at Easter, we suggest:

A Bible. Our Bibles with Engraving may be personalized with a name on the cover. Personalized items take longer to prepare, so please order them first. For little ones, see our Children's Bibles.
A rosary. Our Rosaries section offers everything from simple cord rosaries to sterling silver. A rosary prayed every day is a treasure, whatever it is made of.
A patron saint medal. Our Patron Saint Medals honor a person's name saint or Confirmation saint, and many of our engravable medals may be engraved with initials or a date on the back.
A Christmas ornament. The Holy Family Christmas Ornament ($6.95) and the glass "Jesus is Our Christmas Star" Ornament ($14.95) are fitting for a baby's first Christmas or a newly married couple.

Holy Cards and Small Gifts

My father liked to say that we are a "penny business," and some of our most cherished Christmas items cost very little. A holy card in a stocking, a Christmas card or a gift for a religious education class can carry the true meaning of Christmas into many homes.

The Adoring Santa Holy Card (25 cents) shows St. Nicholas kneeling in adoration before the Christ Child, reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas.
The 3D Children's Nativity Scene (50 cents) folds into a small Nativity, suitable for a classroom or a Christmas card.
Christmas Novena and Prayers ($4.95) is a booklet of prayers including a Christmas novena.

A Few Practical Notes

Shipping is free on orders over $25.
Please order engraved Bibles and other personalized items first, as they take the longest to prepare.
The mail is busy in December, so ordering early helps your gifts arrive in time.
Christmas does not end on December 25. The Church celebrates the Christmas season through the Solemnity of the Epiphany until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January, so a gift given during those days is still a Christmas gift.

If you need help choosing a gift, please call us at (866) 542-6910 or visit our store. We have been serving Catholic families for more than 30 years, and it is our privilege to help.

All of our items for the season may be found in Advent and Christmas Gifts. From our family to yours, we wish you a blessed Advent and a Merry Christmas.