What is Advent?
The season of Advent, which comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” or “visit,” begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent is the beginning of the church year for Christians.
During Advent, we prepare for and anticipate the coming of Christ. We remember the longing of Jews for a Messiah and our own longing for and need of forgiveness, salvation and a new beginning. Even as we look back and celebrate the birth of Jesus in a humble stable in Bethlehem, we also look forward anticipating the second coming of Christ as the fulfillment of all that was promised by his first coming.
We light 4 candles, one on each Sunday in Advent. Three of the candles are purple or blue and one candle is pink. The 3 purple/blue candles represent Hope and the pink candle is lit on the 4th Sunday and signifies a time of rejoicing; the Lord is coming soon. In the center of the wreath is a white candle which represents Christ, Christ has come into our world. The candles are placed in an Advent wreath, typically decorated with ever greens.
A Wreath of Hope
The custom of the Advent wreath originated with pre-Christian Germanic peoples whose evergreen wreaths and fires signified hope in the darkness of December. Christians maintained the tradition and by the 16th century German Catholics and Protestants used the wreath to symbolize hope for Christ’s coming. The practice spread through the Christian world.
The Nativity of Our Lord
Although we are accustomed to celebrating Christmas on a single day, in both Christian tradition and on the church calendar, the Christmas season lasts from sundown on December 24th (Christmas Eve) through Epiphany of the Lord (January 6th).
In 2024 Advent begins on Sunday December 1st.