Even though we had an absolutely gorgeous weekend in these parts, fall is here and Advent is just around the corner.
In an effort to make this Advent season is as holy as possible, I’ve been busy working on a beautiful
Advent study with a few of my dear friends (check that out HERE) but today I’m shifting focus to a favorite family tradition we do each Advent: The Jesse Tree.
Last year was the first year we did a Jesse Tree, and since this wasn’t part of my childhood, it was new for all of us.
And let me tell you, I think I learned as much as the kids!
The Jesse Tree is such a rich, historic, and beautiful way to prepare for Christmas that I am determined we will make this a continuous Advent tradition in our house.
In case you aren’t familiar with it, the Jesse Tree is an Advent Calendar of sorts.
Each day during Advent there is an ornament that represents a different Old Testament figure or event that preceded Jesus.
The ornament has a simple symbol on it that represents that person or event.
Often a family (or classroom) will read from scripture and discuss that person or event.
After discussing it, the ornament is hung on the tree.
The last ornament is Jesus himself, which is hung on Christmas.
By the time that the last ornament has hung a family has worked their way through the entirety of salvation history and seen just how amazing (and never-ending) God’s love is for His people.
Last year I made and listed a pattern for making your own Jesse Tree Ornaments out of felt.
(It’s right HERE if you are interested) but since then I’ve gotten real.
Who has 30 hours to sit and craft these ornaments?
Well, I mean, I do that’s because I’m obsessed.
So, this year I did a little work and made the ornaments into a PRINTABLE that can be printed, colored, and hung on the tree.
I’m selling this printable for just $5.
Once you own it you are welcome to use it for years and years to come, with all of your children, all of your students, whomever. Just save the PDF.
30 Jesse Tree Ornaments to Print and Color
Above is a preview of all of the ornaments included in this.
There are 30 ornaments included, more than you need to get through Advent.
I did this deliberately. You can either pick and choose or double up on some days.
In this printable there are ornaments for the following figures/events:
- Creation
- Adam and Eve
- Noah
- Abraham
- Issac
- Jacob
- Joseph
- Moses
- Passover
- 10 Commandments
- Joshua
- Gideon
- Ruth and Boaz
- Jesse
- Samuel
- David
- Solomon
- Elijah
- Jeremiah
- Daniel
- Jonah
- Habakkuk
- Nehemiah
- John the Baptist
- Mary
- Elizabeth
- Joseph of Nazareth
- Magi
- Baby Jesus
- Jesus of the Christ
Can you imagine how fruitful Advent will be in your family or classroom if you study and discuss each of these things as a way to prepare!
Buy it now for $5!
And there you have it!
Thanks as always for being here and after working on this project I just can’t help but think what an awesome God we have! It’s just incredible!
Nancy
Katrina Simpson says
Love the look of your printable Jesse Tree ornaments. You mentioned the felt ones that you wanted to do but didnt have time. I have after 5 years just finished my set of felt decorated Jesse Tree Ornaments. So love them. I started whilst sitting waiting for my daughter to finish her final year 13 exams. So today I could hang the first one. Do them a little at a time and before too long it will be finished. Blessings
Nancy Bandzuch says
that is really beautiful!!
Jason says
Hi Nancy, I would like to give to our SS classes at church (about 20-25 students in total). Can I make copies for them or do I order for each family/class? thanks!
Nancy Bandzuch says
emailing you now.
Mary Ann Eagleson says
HI,
I am designing a Jesse Tree project for our church and want to do it so it is publishable and sellable. This always means securing permission. I see Jesse tree lists of symbols and related Scriptures everywhere. I own several books, but not of them list the source of these two things. Did you find yours from a public domain source (not the art work, just the list and related symbol: Noah/Ark, Adam and Eve/fruit, etc and the Bible verses.) Are these public domain or from a common list?
Thanks,
Mary Ann
Hayley Muir says
Does it come with a list of verses to read each day?
Nancy Bandzuch says
absolutely!
L Jacoby says
Your website says $3 for the Jesse Tree patterns, but the pay button says $5.
Is it available for $3? We would like to use your patterns with our Middle and High School.
Nancy Bandzuch says
I’m sorry. I forgot to change it. The cost is $5.
Amy says
What is the diameter of each circle? I’m wanting to glue mine onto wooden disks.
Nancy Bandzuch says
Each ornament is just shy of 3″ in diameter. Hope that helps!
Steve says
So I’ve done a Jesse Tree a couple of times before with my kids. I skipped it last year for a variety of reasons, but wanted to do it again this year. In years past, I’ve simply had my girls (my two oldest) come up with their own pictures to color. This year my 3 year old boy is going to join the fray, so I decided I wanted actual pictures to color. I searched around for some, looked through a bunch of free ones, and came back to these. For $3, it’s worth it! These are great, so thanks in advance for helping my family celebrate Christmas.
In response to a question above, I’ll tell you what we did to hang them. We have a separate smaller tree we’ll use, and we’ll cut these pictures out and put them on a colored paper background, alternating from red to green. This makes them sturdier, and gives us something to put the hooks through.
Anyway, thanks again. I’m probably the only guy who’ll be commenting on this page, but just wanted to thank you for helping me out!
Nancy Bandzuch says
so glad to have a guy here! And great tip. This year we also are using a smaller tree and I love the idea of backing the ornaments. Happy coloring and happy Advent!
Patti says
Thank you! I’ll look online and we’ll definitely be doing this this advent. 🙂
Patti says
I love this! However, since I have have never done anything like this before, I have two (probably dumb) questions:
1- would it be best to color them all in advance or choose one kid to color only one on the specific day?
2- what do you hang these on?
🙂
Nancy Bandzuch says
So, it’s really up to you how you want to use these. If you have several kids you can print it out several times and have them each color their own set. As far as hanging, they are generally hung on a “tree” of some sort, but my family just hangs them along a horizontal pole, adding one each day. We hang ours above our advent wreath. There are lots of resources on how to do the Jesse Tree online. Tons!
Monica says
oops…I shared this link with your picture of the colored ornaments on facebook…hope that’s ok…and hope it brings you some extra traffic. =)
Monica recently posted…Saint Scripts Series THREE is HERE!
Nancy Bandzuch says
I love it, thank you Monica!
Monica says
Love these! Love the felt version, but these will be awesome for families too!
Monica recently posted…Saint Scripts Series THREE is HERE!