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Advent is celebrated on four consecutive Sundays, beginning on the Sunday closest to

November 30 and ending on December 24, Christmas Eve. Each Sunday has a traditional
meaning and prayers and readings assigned to it; they represent, in order, the Christian virtues
of love, joy, hope, and peace.
In the weeks before Christmas, churches around the world celebrate Advent—a season of reflection
and preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. Candlelight Advent wreaths like this one inside the
Sankt-Petri church in Magdeburg, Germany—signify light in the dark days of winter.
PHOTOGRAPH BY PETER GERCKE. PICTURE ALLIANCE/GETTY

 HISTORY & CULTURE

 EXPLAINER

Advent is a season of candlelight,

reflection, and expectation
The holiday, which gets its name from the Latin word for arrival, serves as a
countdown to Christmas when Christians honor the birth of Jesus Christ.
BYERIN BLAKEMORE

PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 30, 2021

• 5 MIN READ

During the darkest days of winter, Christians prepare for one of their
religion’s most important holidays during the season of Advent. Lasting
roughly four weeks, it’s a season of candlelight, reflection, and
expectation—a chance to get ready for Christmas, the celebration of the
birth of Jesus Christ.

The season’s dates vary from year to year. In 2021, Advent begins on
Sunday, November 28, and ends on Friday, December 24.

The origins of Advent

Advent gets its name from adventus, the Latin word for “arrival.” As the
Christian church solidified in the fifth century A.D., so did traditions
around December 25. Historians have tracked the first formal Advent
celebrations to northern Italy, where churchgoers observed a weeks-
long preparation for Christmas that involved fasting, prayer, and
reflection on Christian values.

Eventually, that preparation became known as Advent. By the sixth

century, Christians in France celebrated a five-week “St. Martin’s Lent”
that included fasts and abstaining from sexual intercourse leading up to
Christmas.

Advent is now considered the first season of the liturgical year, the
church’s annual cycle of feast days and Scripture readings. Much like

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their ancestors, modern Christians see it as a season of preparation in

honor of Christ. Advent is celebrated on four consecutive Sundays,
beginning on the Sunday closest to November 30 and ending on
December 24, Christmas Eve.

Each Sunday has a traditional meaning and prayers and readings

assigned to it; they represent, in order, the Christian virtues of love, joy,
hope, and peace. For believers, Advent represents a multi-faceted
period during which to prepare for the birth of Christ, celebrate faith in
and conversion to Christianity, and anticipate the eventual resurrection
of the son of God.

The Advent wreath

Considered a season of light in the dark apex of winter, Advent is
symbolized in the church by a candlelit evergreen wreath. In 1838
Johann Wichern, a German Lutheran pastor, began using this wreath to
help his congregation count down the days until Christmas. (The
surprising history of Christmas trees—a tradition that likely also took
root in Germany.)

The modern Advent wreath has four candles. The first two and the
fourth are purple, Advent’s traditional color. The third candle is pink,
representing the halfway point of Advent and the joy of the coming
holiday.

Christians traditionally pray, sing, and light an additional candle on

each Advent Sunday until all of the candles are lit on the fourth Sunday.
A fifth, white candle known as the Christ candle sometimes sits unlit in
the center of the wreath; it is only lit on Christmas Eve.

Advent calendars
Another German Advent tradition is the Advent calendar. During the
19th century, adults began helping children count down the days until
Christmas. Beginning on December 1, some German
Lutherans made chalk marks on doors in anticipation of the entry of the
Christ child, and other parents created homemade ways to count down
involving snacks and Bible verses.

In 1908 German printer Gerhard Lang produced the first printed

Advent calendar. In his childhood, his mother had handcrafted a
calendar with cardboard doors and candy inside. Lang adapted the idea
for the printing press, and his wares became extremely popular in
Germany. But World War II-related shortages and Nazi Germany’s
secular rebranding of Christmas almost killed off the printed Advent
calendar.
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In 1953, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's three grandchildren joined in an appeal for sales of
Advent calendars that had been imported from Germany by the National Epilepsy League.
PHOTOGRAPH VIA BETTMANN ARCHIVE/GETTY

After the war, another German printer, Richard Sellmer,

obtained permission from American occupying forces to print a 1946
Advent calendar. He used his contacts with Americans to introduce the
Advent calendar in the United States, and with the help of President
Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was photographed opening one with his
grandchildren in 1953, they became increasingly popular in the U.S.

Even though Advent technically begins in late November, modern

Advent calendars typically start on December 1 and have small doors or
boxes containing pictures, trinkets, or food like chocolate to be opened
and consumed in the leadup to Christmas. Retailers have invested big in
the Advent calendar game, and consumers can choose Advent
calendars centered around beauty, popular characters, or even
consumption.

Like other Christmas traditions, Advent calendars became increasingly

secularized in the 20th and 21st centuries. But its traditions remain a
fun way for both kids and adults to ramp up Christmas delight during a
dark, wintry month.

The Advent Season is all about reflecting on how we can prepare our hearts and homes for
Christ's birth in the world as it is today. It is a time for faith communities and families to
remember, through prayer, reflections, special music, and good deeds what the true meaning of
Jesus' birth is.

he four traditional advent themes for the four advent Sundays are:
 God's people -The Candle of Hope. Hope is like a light shining in a dark place. ...
 The old testament prophets - The Candle of Peace. ...
 John the Baptist - The Candle of Love. ...
 Mary the mother of Jesus - The Candle of Joy.
The four Sundays preceding Christmas, which is when Christians celebrate
the birth of Jesus Christ, are recognized for four virtues. The candles on
the Advent wreath symbolize hope, love, joy and peace. The candles are lit
in that order, beginning today.Nov 26, 2016
Advent is a period of spiritual preparation in which many Christians make themselves ready for
the coming, or birth of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Celebrating Advent typically involves a season of
prayer, fasting, and repentance, followed by anticipation, hope, and joy.

he Four Advent Candles

 First Advent Candle - Hope.
 Second Advent Candle - Love.
 Third Advent Candle - Joy.
 Fourth Advent Candle - Peace.

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The Advent wreath, a circular wreath with four candles, ispresent in many
churches and homes during Advent and is symbolic ofseveral aspects of the
Christmas season and Advent. Three purple or bluecandles (representing
penitence) and one pink candle (representing joy) areused, one lit for
each Sunday of Advent.Jun 12, 2015
Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian church calendar, the period of
preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of
preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. In Western churches, Advent begins on the
Sunday nearest to November 30 (St
Significance. The three purple candles in an advent wreath represent penance. The pink candle
represents joyfulness.
Blue is used for Advent. White is used for Christmas, Epiphany, Sundays of Easter, Holy
Trinity, and Christ the King. For Lent, purple is used. During the time after Pentecost and the
Epiphany, green is used.
Abstaining from meat on Fridays or not eating at all between meals is a good way to revive
the Advent fast. (Not eating Christmas cookies or listening to Christmas music before Christmas
is another.)
What to do: Set aside 10 minutes every night with your family. Light one candle the first week,
two candles the second, and so on; a devotional will guide you through the process. Each
evening, light the right candles, read the devotion, read the scripture, and pray.

On the one hand, it's one of the major seasons celebrated by most
Christian churches in the Western tradition: Roman Catholics, Anglicans,
Episcopalians, Lutherans, and many additional Protestant churches mark the
roughly month-long period with special observance.Dec 1, 2020
A green candle, symbolizing faith, is lit on the first Sunday that begins on November 15; on the
second Sunday, a blue candle, symbolizing hope, is lit; on the third Sunday, a gold candle,
symbolizing love; on the fourth Sunday, a white candle, symbolizing peace; on the fifth Sunday,
a purple candle, symbolizing ...

Christmas is only one more sleep away. Today as we light the fourth and final
candle on our Advent wreath we can see that the light comes very close to
overcoming all darkness. The only candle that is left now is the center candle,
the Christ candle, which we'll light on Christmas morning.Dec
The traditions of Advent include the color of dark “royal” purple or Sarum blue
(from the Medieval Sarum rite). Both symbolize preparation, penitence and
royalty to welcome the new King. The purple of Advent is also the color of
suffering used during Lent and Holy Week.Oct 22, 2012
 Visit a “live” nativity scene.
 Go to a candlelight church service.
 Read the Christmas story in the Bible.
 Make and decorate a birthday cake for Jesus.
 Spend time on your bellies playing with the family nativity scene and acting out the
story.

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Celebrating Advent involves spending time in spiritual preparation for

the coming birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. In Western
Christianity, the season of Advent begins on the fourth Sunday prior to
Christmas Day, or the Sunday which falls closest to November 30, and
lasts through Christmas Eve, or December 24.

What Is Advent?
Advent is a period of spiritual preparation in which many Christians
make themselves ready for the coming, or birth of the Lord, Jesus
Christ. Celebrating Advent typically involves a season of prayer,
fasting, and repentance, followed by anticipation, hope, and joy.

Many Christians celebrate Advent not only by thanking God for

Christ's first coming to Earth as a baby, but also for his presence
among us today through the Holy Spirit, and in preparation and
anticipation of his final coming at the end of the age.

Advent Meaning
The word advent comes from the Latin term adventus meaning
"arrival" or "coming," particularly the coming of something having
great importance. Advent season, then, is both a time of joy-filled,
anticipatory celebration of the arrival of Jesus Christ and a
preparatory period of repentance, meditation, and penance.

The Time of Advent

For denominations that celebrate the season, Advent marks the
beginning of the church year.

In Western Christianity, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday

before Christmas Day, or the Sunday which falls closest to November
30, and lasts through Christmas Eve, or December 24. When Christmas
Eve falls on a Sunday, it is the last or fourth Sunday of Advent. Thus,
the actual season of Advent can last anywhere from 22-28 days, but
most commercial Advent calendars start on December 1.

For Eastern Orthodox churches that use the Julian calendar, Advent
begins earlier, on November 15, and lasts 40 days rather than four
weeks (in a parallel to the 40 days of Lent prior to Easter). Advent is
also known as the Nativity Fast in Orthodox Christianity.

Denominations That Celebrate

Advent is primarily observed in Christian churches that follow an
ecclesiastical calendar of liturgical seasons to determine feasts,
memorials, fasts and holy days. These denominations

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include Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican /

Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches.

Nowadays, however, more and more Protestant and Evangelical

Christians are recognizing the spiritual significance of Advent, and
have begun to revive the spirit of the season through serious
reflection, joyful expectation, and through observing traditional Advent
customs.

Advent Origin
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Advent began sometime after
the 4th century as a time of fasting and preparation for Epiphany,
rather than in anticipation of Christmas. Epiphany celebrates the
manifestation of Christ by remembering the visit of the wise men and,
in some traditions, the Baptism of Jesus. Sermons focused on the
wonder of the Lord's Incarnation or becoming a man. At this time new
Christians were baptized and received into the faith, and so the early
church instituted a 40-day period of fasting and repentance.

Later, in the 6th century, St. Gregory the Great was the first to
associate this season of Advent with the coming of Christ. Originally it
was not the coming of the Christ-child that was anticipated, but
the Second Coming of Christ.

By the Middle Ages, four Sundays had become the standard length of
the Advent season, with fasting and repentance during that time. The
church also extended the meaning of Advent to include the coming of
Christ through his birth in Bethlehem, his future coming at the end of
time, and his presence among us through the promised Holy Spirit.

Modern-day Advent services include symbolic customs related to all

three of these "advents" of Christ.

Symbols and Customs

Many different variations and interpretations of Advent customs exist
today, depending on the denomination and the type of service being
observed. The following symbols and customs provide an overview
only and do not represent an exhaustive resource for all Christian
traditions.

Some Christians choose to incorporate Advent activities into their

family holiday traditions, even when their church does not formally
recognize a season of Advent. They do this as a way of keeping Christ
at the center of their Christmas celebrations. Family worship around
the Advent wreath, Jesse Tree, or Nativity can make the Christmas
season all the more meaningful. Some families may choose to not put

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up Christmas decorations until Christmas Eve as a way of focusing on

the idea that Christmas is not yet here.

Different denominations utilize certain symbolism during the season as

well. For instance, in the Catholic Church, priests wear purple
vestments during the season (just like they do during Lent, the other
"preparatory" liturgical season), and stop saying the "Gloria" during
Mass until Christmas.

Advent Wreath
Lighting an Advent wreath is a custom that began with Lutherans and
Catholics in 16th-century Germany. Typically, the Advent wreath is a
circle of branches or garland with four or five candles arranged on the
wreath. During the season of Advent, one candle on the wreath is lit
each Sunday as a part of the corporate Advent services.

Many Christian families enjoy making their own Advent Wreath as

part of celebrating the season at home as well. The traditional
structure involves three purple (or dark blue) candles and one rose
pink one, set in a wreath, and often with a single, larger white candle
in the center. One more candle is lit each week of Advent.

Advent Colors
The advent candles and their colors are packed with rich meaning.
Each represents a specific aspect of the spiritual preparations for
Christmas.

The three main colors are purple, pink, and white. Purple symbolizes
repentance and royalty. (In the Catholic church, purple is also
the liturgical color at this time of year.) Pink represents joy and
rejoicing. And white stands for purity and light.

Each candle carries a specific name as well. The first purple candle is
called the Prophecy Candle or Candle of Hope. The second purple
candle is the Bethlehem Candle or the Candle of Preparation. The
third (pink) candle is the Shepherd Candle or Candle of Joy. The fourth
candle, a purple one, is called the Angel Candle or the Candle of Love.
And the last (white) candle is the Christ Candle.

Jesse TreeThe Jesse Tree is a unique Advent tree custom that

dates back to the Middle Ages and has its origin in Isaiah’s prophecy
of the root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:10). The tradition can be very useful
and fun for teaching children about the Bible at Christmas.

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The Jesse Tree represents the family tree, or genealogy, of Jesus

Christ. It can be used to tell the story of salvation, beginning
with creation and continuing until the coming of the Messiah.

Alpha and Omega

In some church traditions, the Greek alphabet letters Alpha and
Omega are Advent symbols. This comes from Revelation 1:8: " 'I am
the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'Who is, and who was,
and who is to come, the Almighty.' " (NIV)

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