The O Antiphons: A Sacred Countdown to Christmas
- ashleytumlinwallac
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
On December 17, the Church begins a set of ancient prayers called the O Antiphons, and with them, the whole tone of Advent shifts.
We are only eight days away from Christmas Day, and the sense of anticipation deepens. These final days are known as an Octave, eight days set apart in the Church calendar for special prayer and focus. Our Advent longing builds to a crescendo. The prayers of these days are full of urgency and hope, cries from the heart, not just for ourselves, but for the whole world:Come, Lord Jesus. Come and set the world to rights.
All over the world, Christians lift their voices in unity, calling out for the Messiah to come. And one of the most beautiful ways the Church has done this for over 1,300 years is through the O Antiphons.
What Are the O Antiphons?
The O Antiphons are short, poetic prayers, each beginning with a title of Christ drawn from Scripture and the prophecies of Isaiah: O Wisdom, O Lord, O Root of Jesse, and so on. These were traditionally chanted during Evening Prayer (Vespers) in monasteries from December 17 through December 23, each night featuring a different Antiphon. On December 24, all the Antiphons were sung together, completing the Octave and ushering in the joy of Christmas.
You likely already know the Antiphons in another form—“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” This beloved Advent hymn is simply the O Antiphons set to music. Each stanza corresponds to one of the Antiphons, and in the early Church, a new verse was added each night during this final week of Advent.
Ways to Celebrate the O Antiphons at Home
One lovely way to keep this tradition is to incorporate the O Antiphons into your daily family devotions. You can read or sing the antiphon for the day, then reflect on its meaning and close with prayer.
In many monastic communities, it was also the custom to give a small treat or token after the chanting of each Antiphon, something simple to mark the day and increase the sense of joyful expectation. You can easily recreate this in your home with small themed treats each night that connect to the symbols of the Antiphons.
To help you celebrate, I’ve included below:
The Antiphon for each day
Its scriptural title and reference
Suggested symbols
Simple, themed treat ideas (and ideas to make your own!)
A lovely free PDF guide of the O Antiphons to hang on your fridge
The O Antiphons by Day
December 17 – O Wisdom (Isaiah 11:2)
“O come, thou Wisdom from on high,who orderest all things mightily; to us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go.”
Symbols: Oil lamp, open book, dove
Treat Ideas: Use a “brain food” like blueberries or dark chocolate. Make cookies shaped like books, or serve fig newtons decorated with icing to look like little books.
December 18 – O Lord (Exodus 6:6)
“O come, O come, thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height in ancient times didst give the law in cloud and majesty and awe.”
Symbols: Burning bush, Ten Commandments
Treat Ideas: Decorate graham crackers to look like tablets with Roman numerals I–X. Serve something spicy like salsa to represent the burning bush.
December 19 – O Root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1)
“O come, thou Branch of Jesse’s tree, free them from Satan’s tyranny; that trust thy mighty power to save, and give them victory o’er the grave.”
Symbols: Root with flowering stem, tree
Treat Ideas: Serve root beer or make carrot cake or cupcakes with carrot toppers.
December 20 – O Key of David (Isaiah 22:22)
“O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home; make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.”
Symbols: Key, gate, lock
Treat Ideas: In monastic tradition, the monk with the key to the wine cellar opened it this night. Serve sparkling juice or grape juice. Make key-shaped cookies.
December 21 – O Dayspring (Isaiah 9:2)
“O come, thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadow put to flight.”
Symbols: Sunrise, rays of light, the sun
Treat Ideas: Serve oranges, orange sorbet, or anything citrus-based to reflect the sunrise.
December 22 – O Desire of Nations (Jeremiah 10:7)
“O come, Desire of Nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind; bid thou our sad divisions cease, and be thyself our King of Peace.”
Symbols: Crown, scepter, cornerstone
Treat Ideas: Make crown-shaped cookies or bake a loaf cake like banana bread to resemble a cornerstone.
December 23 – O Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14)
“O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.”
Symbols: Manger, star
Treat Ideas: Serve star-shaped cookies, homemade chai with star anise, or chocolates from a nativity-themed chocolate set.
December 24 – Christmas Eve
Sing all the verses of O Come, O Come Emmanuel as you complete the Octave and welcome the Christ Child.
Symbols: Candle, poinsettia
Treat Ideas: Serve flower- or candle-shaped cookies, or enjoy your evening treats by candlelight. Since it’s Christmas Eve, serve something extra special—chocolate-covered strawberries, sparkling juice, or a favorite family dessert.
To help you celebrate the O Antiphons at home, I’ve created a printable family guide that includes each of the antiphons, the full verse from O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, traditional symbols, and simple treat ideas for every day from December 17–24.
This is a beautiful way to draw your family into the rhythm of these final days of Advent—just one short prayer or song each night, paired with a small themed treat or visual cue. It’s simple enough for young children, but rich enough to nourish everyone in the room.
Print it out and hang it on your fridge, tape it inside a cabinet, or tuck it into your prayer space. I hope it blesses your family as much as it has ours.
Download the O Antiphons Family Guide HERE.
May these final days of Advent draw your family deeper into the joyful expectation of Christmas. And may the ancient prayers of the Church be on your lips and in your home as you, too, cry out:
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
