Ever since our oldest children were very little, we have been implementing an old monastic custom in our home by providing special treats, representing each of the “O Antiphons” on the days leading up to Christmas. The O Antiphon prayers begin on December 17th and end on the 23rd, which is the last Vespers of Advent, since the evening prayer on the 24th is the Vigil of Christmas.
The Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one – Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia – the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, “Tomorrow, I will come.” So the “O Antiphons” not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.
Each night, following our family rosary, we pray the O Antiphon for the day, sing O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, which was inspired by this ancient tradition, and then give the children a special treat.
The “treats” have varied from year to year. Some years it has been little gifts or activities for the family, some years it is all food related, and some years it is a mix of both, depending on our schedule and budget. It doesn’t need to cost much or even anything at all! Be creative!
Sometimes the treats are a bit of a stretch, but my goal is try and find gifts that will either help increase our faith (Catechism books, holy family, saints, prayer, etc) or encourage family time (games, puzzles, going to look at Christmas lights, etc). You can find some of our past O Antiphon treats by scrolling through the archives and visiting Catholic Cuisine.
Our family loves this tradition. It is such a fun way to teach the children about these beautiful prayers of the church and also increase their excitement as Christmas gets closer.
In case you are looking for some inspiration, I’ve listed some of the treats I’ve given my family over the years… Special food ideas, activities and gifts (or you can simply decorate chocolate coins!) for each of the O Antiphons can be found below. I’m still trying to decide what I’ll be doing this year.
Once again I am hosting an O ANTIPHON GIVEAWAY! One lucky visitor here at Shower of Roses will receive a gift package including seven Cookie Stamps, one to represent each of the seven O Antiphons! I also have a sweet hand-painted nativity set to give away as well. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for the details and to enter.
- Bible Cookies or Bible Candies
- Brain Food (Dark Chocolate, Deviled Eggs, etc – I’m hoping to tuck some of the Theo Christmas Bars into stockings this Christmas.)
- Play a Trivia Game (Christmas Trivia, Catholic Trivia, Cranium)
- Play Memory with Catholic Words Memory Match, Saint Memory, or Catholic Quiz games (Scattergories-Catholic Edition is fun with the older kids too!)
- Bookmarks or Holy Cards
- Family Prayer Book, Catechism, or other Book (The Christmas Book, The Catechism in Pictures with review here, Jesus Make Me Worthy, My Catholic Faith, A Catholic Child’s Picture Dictionary, Around the Year: Once Upon a Time Saints, etc… The possibilities are endless.)
- Books including An Alphabet of the Altar, The Wonder Story and The Wonder Days from St. Augustine Academy Press.
A Few Ideas:
- Ten Commandment Cookies
- Cookies made with this Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter or this cute 3-D Mini Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter made by Sweet Creations, emphasizing the word “house”
- Pull out the Smore’s Maker or light a bonfire and Roast Marshmallows, in reference to “Moses in the burning bush”
- Decorate Gingerbread Houses (my girls surprised me with this pan one year)
- Notre Dame 3-D Church Puzzle, Forest Nativity Shaped Puzzle (shaped like house), or this Stained Glass Holy Night
- Father Leopold Lego Set or Architecture Blocks would also tie in nicely
- Discuss the various names for Our Lady, including House of Gold! The Virgin Mary Around the World or any of the Marian dolls (Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Czestochowa, Our Lady of China, Our Lady of Vailankanni, etc) would be perfect.
- Root Beer Floats or Carrot Cake
- Roasted Root Vegetable, Hearty Healing Beef Stew or Hamburger Stew (pictured)… Yum!
- Purchase a Christmas Poinsettia (In the past we have also incorporated other Poinsettias: 12 Red Glitter Poinsettia Ornaments, Miracle of the Poinsettia, The Miracle of the First Poinsettia and Poinsettia Cupcakes)
- Play some sort of Gardening or Nature Game as a Family (perhaps Wildcraft! An Herbal Adventure Game, Gathering a Garden, or The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game!)
- A new “Family” Ornament
- Old Fashioned Root Beer Drops
- Bonus: You could even have a Jesse Tea! From Jesse, the shepherd, to Jesus, the Good Shepherd… Shepherds tie in nicely!
- Shepherd and Angel playlet from Shining Light Dolls
- Shepherd Puzzle Set made by Naturally Catholic
- Key Lime Pie
- Special drink (Sparkling cider!) with dinner or for a family game night. Since this is initially a monastic tradition, and on this night, the monk in charge of the wine cellar would provide a special bottle of wine.
- Surprise the family with tickets (“key”) to something local – Christmas play, the Nutcracker, etc. One year I took our older children to see A Christmas Carol at the theatre.
- Key Puzzle/Brainteaser
- Tiny Saints Key Hooks (One year I purchased a couple key hook rails to use to hang our Rosaries. You can see them in our old home in this post.)
- Advent At Ephesus, Caroling at Ephesus, or this Music of Midnight Mass!
- Incorporate Music “keys” with Catholic Songs for Children CD, Sheet Music Book and St. Cecelia Doll
- O Dayspring Ice Cream
- Non-Alcoholic Mimosas or Texas Sunrise with Breakfast
- Decorate a Christmas Candle (We use a tiny wax baby Jesus I purchased years ago along with Stockmar Gold Decorating Beeswax.)
- Our favorite tradition for this O Antiphon is to pile in the car after dinner with hot cocoa and drive around to look at all the Christmas lights. We have also added these to our tree: Kurt Adler 10-Light Candle with Gold Dish Light Set
- Candles from The Cloister Shoppe
- Our Lady of Fatima: The Graphic Novel and Coloring Book (miracle of the sun)
- Grimm’s CASA SOLE Stacking Blocks (The set we have isn’t currently available. Other options can be found online and over at Etsy including: Sun Block Wood Toy Stacker and these)
- Last year I gave the children their new Christmas pajamas for this O Antiphon.
- Crown Cake, Cupcakes or Cookies
- Bake Cookies using the Wise Men Cookie Stamp from Rycraft, Inc
- Assemble a Three Kings Puzzle and this beautiful Stained Glass Nativity Puzzle
- Listen to King of the Golden City CD
- One year I picked out one of the beautiful sets of Three Kings Gifts – we pull it out every Christmas!
- Rex Gentium Nail Polish
- Twas the Evening of Christmas Picture Book – Our daughter received this one year on the feast of St. Nicholas. It’s such a lovely book!
- Three Kings Playset from Shining Light Dolls
- Make a Chocolate Nativity Scene for Christmas
- Decorate Nativity Cookies to give as gifts or Cookie Cutters Tell the Christmas Story
- 500-Piece Stained Glass Jigsaw Puzzle or Holy Family Puzzle
- Decorate Chocolate Christmas Coins using this FREE Printable
- Children’s Nativity Set – you can find some of our favorites in this post and more of our collection here (scroll down a bit)
- Christmas picture books, coloring books including the beautiful Eucharistic Adoration: With Saints And Symbols Of The Eucharist coloring book, or the Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring: Christmas with The Dominican Sisters of Mary.
- Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story Board Book
- Midnight Mass Puzzle
- The Holy Family Nativity Playset from Shining Light Dolls
Prize #1
Here are the cookie stamps I picked out to go along with each of the O Antiphons.
The winner will recieve one of each!
Wisdom: #460 – Triune God
House: #214 – Home Sweet Home
Root of Jesse: #520 – Willow Tree
Key of David: #543 – Key to My Heart
Dayspring: #291 – Moravian Star
King: #448 – Norwegian Wedding Crown
Emmanuel: #368 – Nativity
*Original winner never responded to emails, so runner up…
Congratulations Jennifer Miller!
“These cookie cutters are a great match! I would love to get these! I love their St Nicholas one.”
Prize #2
The winner will receive this hand-painted Holy Family Set
Sponsored by Real. True. Beautiful
(Holy Family Set – $35.00 value)
Congratulations Kimberly!
“This is our second year doing the O Antiphons. I just love them.”
These are so neat!
2019-12-17 22:10:07
These are really neat- what a helpful way to make the O Antiphons a part of our Advent preparation.
2019-12-17 22:40:48
Love your give aways! Thanks for the great ideas.
2019-12-17 23:07:36
You have such awesome ideas for each day of the O Antiphons! I have never prayed them faithfully and am making a point this year to start this tradition with my family! Your cookie cutters are just beautiful!
2019-12-17 23:09:33
We love the tradition of celebrating the O Antiphons! The cookie stamps would be such a wonderful and functional keepsake. Thank you for posting this great giveaway!
2019-12-17 23:13:18
A Jesse Tea is new to us this year. So glad you keep this so organized, its my go to when feast days pop up! This year we got the three wise men from playmobile, and they will begin to show up in fun places every morning until they find Jesus at Epiphany!
2019-12-17 23:14:54
So cute! Love the gingerbread house idea for the "house" Antiphon
2019-12-17 23:18:59
Thank you
2019-12-17 23:32:20
Oh, these are great! Thank you!
2019-12-17 23:37:11
Always enjoy the ideas you share
2019-12-17 23:58:02
Those cookie stamps look amazing!
2019-12-18 00:00:16
I’m always learning more about the O Antiphons! These cookie cutters look great!
2019-12-18 00:00:49
Beautiful tradition!
2019-12-18 00:01:29
We are doing the O Antiphons for the first time this year!
2019-12-18 00:32:03
Thanks for another great post, and ideas for the O;Antiphons. I think it's one of my favorite parts of Advent/Christmas!
2019-12-18 01:24:17
What great ideas! Thank you!
2019-12-18 01:30:55
The O Antiphons are one of my favorite parts of Advent. Of course it was the Benedictines! :)))
2019-12-18 01:40:53
Love how clever your treats are! Especially the "root" themes!
2019-12-18 01:43:53
Great ideas! Can’t wait to try them!
2019-12-18 01:44:36
I would love to start incorporating this into our liturgical life!
2019-12-18 02:13:32
We love all of your ideas and have implemented so many of them over the past few years! These cookie cutters are amazing!
2019-12-18 02:35:04
Wonderful ideas for the O Antiphons! 😍
2019-12-18 03:04:07
Great ideas & I loved learning more about the O Antiphons!
2019-12-18 04:00:47
I never knew that information about Ero Cras and it’s Latin meaning. Thank you!
2019-12-18 05:07:03
I’m hoping to start the Antiphons tonight – just a day late! Lovely cookie stamps.
2019-12-18 05:08:49
Lovely cookie stamps!
2019-12-18 05:15:30
This is the first year we’re praying the O Antiphons with my son. My late husband was the liturgical expert in our family, but I’m slowly learning more and teaching our son. Pray for us! <3
2019-12-18 05:53:35
I love how simply you’ve laid the O Antiphons tradition out! Thank you! Blessed Advent.
2019-12-18 06:59:28
I had never heard of the tradition of the "O Antiphons" until I saw one of your posts years ago. Now my family and I incorporate this into our Advent celebration as well. Thank you for sharing the Faith!
2019-12-18 07:03:46
This is our first year implementing this custom in our home! So beautiful!
2019-12-18 12:20:14
You always have great ideas!
2019-12-18 13:12:33
New to this blog and I am loving it!
2019-12-18 13:27:06
What a great idea for Advent! And I love baking cookies.
2019-12-18 13:50:41
Thanks for sharing about another Advent tradition!
2019-12-18 13:54:27
Thank you for sharing your traditions and bringing the Catholic Faith to Life in this age!
2019-12-18 15:07:37
Lovely! O come Emmanuel!
2019-12-18 15:18:19
These are great! I love all of your ideas for celebrating the liturgical year.
2019-12-18 15:19:52
I love your ideas! Wishing you a blessed Christmas!
2019-12-18 16:15:49
These cookie cutters are a great match! I would love to get these! I love their St Nicholas one.
2019-12-18 16:39:09
Those are lovely ideas! Thanks for the generous giveaway!
2019-12-18 16:53:09
I have admired your O Antiphon House and Symbols for many years. Your Advent Journey table with your Advent Wreath is so special. And now I noticed that you changed the table runner to gold for this week of O Antiphon prayers. Perfect! The cookie stamps are delightful and are perfect for each of the O Antiphons. I am sure it was a joy for you to choose them for your give away Jessica. Happy Feast Day of Our Lady of Expectation today 18 December! Being of Polish descent I love celebrating this ancient feast to Honor our beautiful Blessed Virgin Mary…
2019-12-18 18:19:08
Wow, those are great!
2019-12-18 18:22:49
Always love hearing and learning from what your family does spiritually to celebrate every Holy Day or approaching Holy Day. Y'all's Faith is inspiring. God Bless y'all.
2019-12-18 19:33:22
Just trying the O Antiphons this year.
2019-12-18 19:38:48
Beautiful tradition. Marilyn
2019-12-18 19:47:06
Such great ideas!! I really want to embrace the O Antiphons next year—I was totally unprepared this year.
2019-12-18 19:49:30
That is so cool.
2019-12-18 22:07:38
Growing up, my family never celebrated the O Antiphons. I never knew about it, but because of your site, I have been implementing this beautiful tradition with my own family for years now. I have truly grown in my Catholic faith because of your example. Thank you.
2019-12-18 23:21:32
I had never heard of the O Antiphons until your blog. 2 years ago we made our own O Antiphons house and blocks. It’s a beautiful custom to add to our Advent preparation.
2019-12-19 00:33:49
We started this after I discovered your blog several years ago. Such a lovely way to lead up to Christmas! Our older son's birthday is on O Radiant Dawn, so seeing Christmas lights is a great way to celebrate his birth, which was long hoped for. Hard to believe he will be 20 this Saturday! I remember once when he was little he said he loved having his birthday close to Jesus's!
2019-12-19 01:45:01
Beautifu idea. 🙂
2019-12-19 03:42:07
The O Antiphons add depth and excitement to Christmas. Loved your post explaining the meaning of everything.
2019-12-19 04:24:42
Always love your ideas! Thank you!!
2019-12-19 04:47:28
So lovely! I asked for some cookie stamps this year 🥰❤️
2019-12-19 11:08:08
I never knew about the O Antiphons until I read about here years ago. Thank you so much for teaching us about this beautiful, faith-filled and fun tradition.
2019-12-19 12:25:56
This is awesome! I have been looking for the best way to add this tradition to our Advent – this is it!
2019-12-19 12:29:34
Love the ideas!
2019-12-19 14:15:37
Beautiful ideas!
2019-12-19 15:01:54
Great ideas! Thanks!
2019-12-19 15:11:06
hope to step up my advent game and do more for the Antiphons next year!!
2019-12-19 16:17:20
Love these! thanks
2019-12-19 16:27:42
so cute!! Thanks you!!
2019-12-19 18:46:36
This is our second year doing the O Antiphons. I just love them.
2019-12-20 01:57:58
Love this tradition- so beautiful!
2019-12-20 02:08:23
Thanks for sharing the details of your family tradition!
2019-12-20 04:56:44
I think this sounds great! Thank you
2019-12-20 06:42:06
Wonderful Catholic traditions and fun! So inspiring.
2019-12-20 12:31:19
How fun!
2019-12-20 13:14:14
Always love your giveaways!
2019-12-20 13:23:35
I'd love the cookie stamps! Your blog post and so many good ideas!
2019-12-20 13:35:57
The O Antiphons are my favorite tradition of Advent! So lovely. Thank you!
2019-12-20 13:46:32
Love this family tradition!
2019-12-20 15:29:24
Love the cookie stamps, what a fun idea!
2019-12-20 16:14:07
I love this idea! What a great way to teach AND to grow!
2019-12-20 20:24:26
Thanks to your inspiration, we're on our third year of celebrating the O Antiphons. God bless you!
2019-12-20 22:15:16
I have yet to incorporate the O Antiphons as a tradition yet. This would help.
2019-12-21 01:55:16
Love the O Antiphons! Thanks for sharing a beautiful Catholic tradition!
2019-12-21 03:04:11
I love all your suggestions for the O antiphons! Thank you!
2019-12-21 14:46:36
I love this tradition so much! My oldest just reached the age last year where "Ero Cras" finally clicked with him. Thanks for always inspiring us with wonderful ideas!
2019-12-21 19:08:09
Every year it's my intention to start these…Hopefully next year!
2019-12-21 21:27:05
Thank you!
2019-12-22 01:15:49
Alot of wondeeful ideas here…. Looking forward to trying some of this for next year!
2019-12-22 02:39:03
Thank you for the inspiration. I need to slow down during Advent and do more of these activities with my family.
2019-12-22 04:41:11
Thank you for your generosity! What neat gifts!
2019-12-22 09:01:59
I would have never thought for the cookie stamps. What a great idea. Thank you for all your ideas.
2019-12-22 14:41:22
Thanks for all that you do to help families live their Catholic faith.
2019-12-22 21:58:00
A lot of wonderful ideas.
2019-12-23 07:44:17