Always Winter but Never Christmas: Advent in Narnia

Lucy Pevensie experienced the magical world of Narnia for the first time, walking into the beautiful snow-covered forest. However, the winter wonderland was not so wonderful. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis paints a haunting picture of Narnia trapped in never-ending winter, where it is “always winter but never Christmas.” Mr. Tumnus utters the phrase to Lucy, and her response captures the feeling of despair, “How dreadful.” In other words, Narnia was in perpetual Advent.

This image of endless winter, devoid of Christmas, matches the experience of anyone who has known a season of waiting—a season where joy and fulfillment seem distant, and the promise of something better feels out of reach. It’s a feeling that, in many ways, reflects the spiritual practice of Advent. Advent is a season of waiting—not just for the physical arrival of Christmas Day, but for the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Advent: A Time of Longing

In the world of Narnia, the children and creatures of the world long for the return of Aslan, the true king who will restore Narnia. The longing of winter but never Christmas means that Narnian Advent doesn’t include Christmas Eve candles or the presents of Christmas morning. But this longing isn’t just about anticipating something tangible—it’s about yearning for redemption, for something beyond the here and now. Aslan’s coming means freedom, hope, and restoration. His presence will end the reign of the White Witch and the curse of endless winter. Our waiting for a few weeks each year provides us room to reflect on the brokenness of our world and long for the blessing of Jesus’s coming.

The Advent season is all about anticipation. We’re not just waiting for presents, loved ones, or holiday meals—we’re waiting for the promise of a savior who came to redeem the world. Amid our parties and distractions, Advent invites us to pause and consider how we live in this season and to place ourselves in the position of longing for something more that God created us for.

A Lesson in Longing for Children

For children, the idea of waiting can be challenging to understand. Their world is immediate—my kids know what they want, and they want it now. And yet, Advent offers a powerful opportunity to teach children the value of waiting, the beauty of longing for something meaningful that is yet to come.

The setting in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe of a world waiting for the arrival of Aslan gives us a picture that kids can understand. Our children can learn that waiting is not some arbitrary calendar practice—it is a season of expectation and hope. The waiting during Advent becomes a way to reflect on God’s promises that have come true in Jesus and that we still await. Just as Lewis describes Narnia’s waiting for Christmas, children can begin to understand that Advent is a season where their hearts can grow in anticipation for the joy of Christ.

One practice to help children engage with the waiting for Advent is introducing them to the “Advent Calendar.” Each day, they can open a door or window on the calendar, gradually counting down the days until Christmas. This small ritual can help children experience the joy of waiting—not as something burdensome but as part of the excitement of anticipating a wonderful gift. The long wait for Christmas becomes a way to grow in joy, much like the characters in Narnia grow in their hope for Aslan’s return.

A Season of Expectation

As we approach Advent, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the festive season. The shopping, the decorating, the parties—these things can often conceal the deeper meaning of waiting and anticipation. But Advent is meant to be a time to reflect on the world as it is and long for it as it could be when Christ comes to make all things new.

Much like Narnia, our world often feels stuck in a perpetual winter, full of brokenness, pain, and longing. But just as Aslan’s arrival brings hope and light to Narnia, so too does Christ’s coming bring the promise of renewal, restoration, and eternal life. Advent invites us to wait in hope, to long for Christ’s presence in our lives, and to anticipate the joy that comes with his arrival—both in his first coming and in the future.

In winter’s cold, dark months, we can find warmth in the hope of Christ’s coming. Advent is not merely a countdown to a holiday—it is a time to cultivate hope, grow in longing, and look forward to the day when the cold, dark winter will give way to the warmth and joy of Christ’s presence.

Just as Aslan’s coming ended the winter in Narnia, so will Christ’s coming bring an end to the darkness of our hearts, replacing it with the eternal light of his love. And this Advent, as we wait, we can rest in the hope that Christmas, with all its light and joy, is coming—just as it always has, just as it always will.