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Jesse Tree readings for Advent 2026: a free day-by-day list
A Jesse Tree tells the story of salvation from Creation to the birth of Jesus, one person or event a day through Advent.
The name comes from Isaiah 11:1: a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, the father of King David. Each day you read a short passage and hang a simple ornament on a branch or small tree. By Christmas Eve the tree holds the whole story.
How to do it at home
- Find a bare branch and stand it in a jar of stones or sand, or use a small tabletop tree.
- Make or print an ornament for each day. A simple drawing on a card circle is enough.
- Each evening, read the passage, talk about it for a few minutes and hang the ornament.
- Missed a day? Read two stories the next night, or just hang the ornament and carry on.
Free printable: Jesse Tree readings, 29 Nov to 24 Dec 2026
| Day | Date | Story | Read | Ornament idea | Done |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun 29 Nov | Creation | Genesis 1:1-2:3 | sun | |
| 2 | Mon 30 Nov | Adam and Eve | Genesis 3:1-15 | apple | |
| 3 | Tue 1 Dec | Noah | Genesis 6:11-22; 9:8-17 | ark | |
| 4 | Wed 2 Dec | Abraham | Genesis 12:1-7; 15:1-6 | stars | |
| 5 | Thu 3 Dec | Isaac | Genesis 22:1-18 | ram | |
| 6 | Fri 4 Dec | Jacob | Genesis 28:10-22 | ladder | |
| 7 | Sat 5 Dec | Joseph | Genesis 37:3-4, 23-28; 45:4-8 | coat | |
| 8 | Sun 6 Dec | Moses | Exodus 3:1-15 | bush | |
| 9 | Mon 7 Dec | The Passover | Exodus 12:1-14 | lamb | |
| 10 | Tue 8 Dec | The Law | Exodus 20:1-17 | tablets | |
| 11 | Wed 9 Dec | Joshua | Joshua 6:1-20 | trumpet | |
| 12 | Thu 10 Dec | Ruth | Ruth 1:1-18 | wheat | |
| 13 | Fri 11 Dec | Jesse | Isaiah 11:1-10 | stump | |
| 14 | Sat 12 Dec | Samuel | 1 Samuel 3:1-10 | lamp | |
| 15 | Sun 13 Dec | David | 1 Samuel 16:1-13 | harp | |
| 16 | Mon 14 Dec | Solomon | 1 Kings 3:5-14 | temple | |
| 17 | Tue 15 Dec | Elijah | 1 Kings 18:20-39 | altar | |
| 18 | Wed 16 Dec | Isaiah | Isaiah 9:1-6 | scroll | |
| 19 | Thu 17 Dec | Jeremiah | Jeremiah 33:14-16 | branch | |
| 20 | Fri 18 Dec | Jonah | Jonah 1:1-2:1 | fish | |
| 21 | Sat 19 Dec | Bethlehem | Micah 5:1-4 | town | |
| 22 | Sun 20 Dec | Zechariah and Elizabeth | Luke 1:5-25 | candle | |
| 23 | Mon 21 Dec | John the Baptist | Mark 1:1-8 | shell | |
| 24 | Tue 22 Dec | Mary | Luke 1:26-38 | lily | |
| 25 | Wed 23 Dec | Joseph of Nazareth | Matthew 1:18-25 | hammer | |
| 26 | Thu 24 Dec | The Nativity | Luke 2:1-7 | manger |
Tips
- Longer passages can be told in your own words instead of read aloud.
- Let a different person hang the ornament each night.
- Keep the ornaments in an envelope and use them again next year.