Jesse Tree for Advent: How to Start a Family Tradition

A Jesse Tree for Advent is a family tradition where you hang one small ornament each day, each one tied to a person or moment from the Bible, so the story of salvation unfolds from Creation to the birth of Jesus. All you need is a “tree” of some kind, a set of ornaments and about five minutes in the evening. Here’s how to set one up, what to read, and how to keep it going when life gets busy.

What is a Jesse Tree?

The name comes from Isaiah 11:1, which speaks of a shoot springing from the stump of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David, and Jesus was born into David’s family line. The tree is a way of tracing that family history, and the larger story of God’s promises, in the weeks before Christmas.

Each ornament is a simple picture that stands for one part of the story: a rainbow for Noah, a ladder for Jacob, a harp or crown for David. As the tree fills up, children can see that Christmas is the high point of a very long story, not a stand-alone event.

It’s a devotion families choose, not something the Church requires. That’s part of its charm. You can make it as simple or as crafty as your household likes.

Choosing your tree

There’s no single right way. Pick whatever fits your space and your kids’ ages.

Tree option	How it works	Good for
Bare branch in a vase or bucket of stones	Hang ornaments with ribbon or string	A classic look; older kids who like hands-on setup
Small tabletop tree	A mini artificial tree just for Advent	Families who want it separate from the Christmas tree
Poster or felt tree on the wall	Tape or pin each ornament to a numbered spot	Toddlers, small homes, classrooms
Your Christmas tree	Add one ornament a night once the tree is up	Families who decorate early
Ribbon on the wall	Clip ornaments along a hanging ribbon	Renters and quick setups

If you have very young children, a wall poster keeps paper ornaments out of reach of small hands and pets.

The Jesse Tree ornaments and readings

Families and resources don’t all use the same list. Most follow the same arc through salvation history, though the exact figures, symbols and day order vary. A typical sequence looks something like this:

• Creation: the sun, moon or a globe (Genesis 1)
• Adam and Eve: a tree or apple (Genesis 3)
• Noah: an ark or rainbow (Genesis 6 to 9)
• Abraham: a night sky full of stars (Genesis 15)
• Isaac: a ram (Genesis 22)
• Jacob: a ladder (Genesis 28)
• Joseph: a colorful coat (Genesis 37)
• Moses: the tablets of the Law or a burning bush (Exodus 3, Exodus 20)
• Ruth: a bundle of wheat (Ruth 2)
• Jesse and David: a stump with a shoot, a harp or a crown (1 Samuel 16)
• Isaiah and the prophets: a scroll (Isaiah 9, Isaiah 11)
• John the Baptist: a shell or water (Luke 1, Luke 3)
• Mary and Joseph: a lily, a carpenter’s tools (Luke 1, Matthew 1)
• The Nativity: a manger or star (Luke 2)

Use the Catholic Bible your family already owns for the readings. For little ones, a children’s Bible or a short retelling in your own words is perfectly fine.

A simple nightly routine

Consistency beats ambition. Five minutes after dinner works for most families.

1. Light the Advent wreath, if you have one.
2. Read the short Scripture passage or a kid-friendly summary.
3. Ask one question, like “Why do you think God made a promise to Noah?”
4. Let a child hang the ornament. Take turns so no one fights over it.
5. Close with a short prayer, even one line: “Come, Lord Jesus.”

For toddlers, cut it down to three steps: hang the ornament, name the picture, say a one-line prayer. For older kids, let them read aloud or look up the passage themselves.

When to start and how to handle missed days

Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which can fall anywhere from November 27 to December 3 (in 2026 it’s November 29). Because Advent changes length each year, many families and kits simply run the Jesse Tree from December 1 to December 24. Either approach works. Starting on the First Sunday of Advent just means doubling up a night or two, or adding extra days for feasts.

You will miss nights. Everyone does. When it happens:

• One night: hang two ornaments the next evening and read the shorter passage.
• A few nights: tell the missed stories as one quick summary, then hang them all together.
• A whole week: pick the most important figure from that week, read that one, and hang the rest without readings.

The goal is a habit your family looks forward to, not a perfect record.

Making your Jesse Tree Advent part of the whole season

The Jesse Tree pairs naturally with other Advent customs. Light your wreath’s candles at the same time (three violet and one rose, with the rose candle on the Third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday). Pause for St. Nicholas on December 6 and Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. Our week-by-week Advent activities for Catholic families has more ideas if you want to build a fuller season.

Our Jesse Tree Advent Kit was written for this kind of real family life. It includes 24 original woodcut-style ornament cards, 24 short devotions from Creation to the Nativity (each with a Scripture reference, three simple sentences, a family question, an action and a prayer), a printable Jesse Tree poster, Advent wreath prayers for each week, pages for St. Nicholas and Our Lady of Guadalupe, and a catch-up plan for missed days. It’s written for children about 3 to 12, with a toddler option and a two-minute version for busy evenings. Scripture is given by reference, so you read from your own Bible.

Print the ornaments on cardstock so they hold up on a branch; our guide to the best paper for printables explains the options. The kit lives on your library card in the Printables Library, so you can download it again next Advent.

When the tree is full, keep the ornaments in an envelope with a note of who hung which one. In a few years, that envelope becomes a keepsake.

FAQ

When do you start a Jesse Tree?

Either on the First Sunday of Advent or on December 1. Many families use December 1 to December 24 because the dates stay the same every year.

Is the Jesse Tree a Catholic tradition?

It’s an old Christian tradition rooted in medieval art of Christ’s family tree, and it’s widely used by Catholic families today. It’s a home devotion, not a required practice.

How many ornaments does a Jesse Tree have?

Usually around 24 to 28, one for each day of Advent. Lists vary, so don’t worry if two resources differ.

What ages is a Jesse Tree good for?

Almost any age. Toddlers can hang an ornament and name the picture, while older kids can read the passages and lead the prayer.

Can we use our Christmas tree as a Jesse Tree?

Yes. If your Christmas tree goes up early, add one Jesse Tree ornament each night. Some families keep a separate small tree so the Christmas tree stays for Christmas.