Planting Paperwhites: A Simple ADVENT Activity
I’ve always thought paperwhites are such a beautiful Christmas tradition. Little bulbs quietly doing their thing on the windowsill, and then—one day—these bright white flowers show up right when the world feels darkest and coldest.
But, as is my personality, I wanted it to be an intentional tradition too.
This year, I found myself thinking, What if planting paperwhites could also tell the story of Jesus? I wanted it to be like our Jesus and Jack-o'-Lanterns gospel activity, but suitable for the Christmas season. Another seasonal tradition we’re going to do anyway, but a way to pause and share the gospel with my kids (and my own heart again). That’s where the paperwhites came in.
I ended up turning it into a free printable poem you can use with your own kids, too.
Why Paperwhites Work So Well for a Gospel Picture
Paperwhites already come with built-in symbolism:
They start as plain, dry bulbs tucked into dark soil.
They sit “buried” for a while, where you can’t see anything happening.
Then one day, new life pushes through, and you end up with these bright white blooms.
As you follow each planting step, pause to read the matching lines of the poem aloud. The squishy soil, hidden bulbs, the waiting, and blooms all connect to Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, and new life. You can read the poem straight from the page while your kids help you plant.
After you’re done planting, the experience continues. Every time you notice a change — the first root, the first shoot, the first bloom — take a moment to ask: “What part of Jesus’ story does this remind us of?”
What You’ll Need
You don’t need anything super fancy for this, I promise. All these supplies are included in “Garden In A Bag” kits, like the one we included in our 2025 Christmas Box
Paperwhite bulbs
A container or bag (glass jar, pot, or grow bag)
Rocks or coconut husks for the bottom
Potting soil
Water
When to Do It
You can basically do this anytime in the fall or early winter, but here are a few ideas:
Early Advent / first week of December, as a way to kick off the season
A one-off family night when you have 20–30 minutes together
Christmas Eve morning, to slow down before the chaos
With a small group or kids’ class at church
Send to grandparents to do with the cousins
It doesn’t need to be part of a 25-day schedule. One small, repeated picture of the gospel often forms kids more than 25 scattered activities.
Why Simple Wins (Especially in December)
We don’t have to orchestrate “perfect” Advent experiences. Most of us are doing December with sick kids, travel, church events, and a dishwasher running nonstop. The goal here is not to add another complicated “thing” to keep up with.The goal is to offer a simple, repeatable gospel picture that lives right on your windowsill. I want to hand you things that make it easier to talk about Jesus in the middle of real life.
Ready to get started? Download your free Planting Paperwhites: A Gospel Story printable now and enjoy this tradition with your family.
