Joshua Bennett
Advent is a period of preparation before Christmas, during which the faithful celebrate the birth of Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah and King, and await his second coming. The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning coming. While Advent is a significant tradition in the Catholic Church, it is also celebrated by Christians from many other backgrounds, including Protestant, Orthodox, and other denominations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Duration | Four weeks |
| Start Date | Sunday closest to St. Andrew's Day (November 30) |
| End Date | Christmas |
| Purpose | To prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus |
| To direct hearts and minds to Christ's second coming | |
| To remember and celebrate the arrival of Jesus | |
| To join in the anticipation of Jesus reuniting Heaven and Earth | |
| To remind about the importance of Christ | |
| Traditions | Advent wreath |
| Advent calendar | |
| Fasting | |
| Novena | |
| "O" Antiphons | |
| St. Nick's Feast Day | |
| Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception |
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What You'll Learn
Advent is celebrated by non-Catholics, too
Advent is a four-week season in the Church calendar dedicated to anticipating the arrival, or "advent", of Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Messiah and King. While it is an important part of the year for Catholics, it is also celebrated by Christians from many other backgrounds, including Protestants, Orthodox, and other denominations. These Christians also celebrate the arrival of Jesus and join together in the hope of his ultimate return.
The word "Advent" comes from the Latin "ad-venio", meaning "to come to", and it refers to the coming birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and his return during the second coming. It is a time of expectation and preparation, when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. During Advent, Christians may devote the first two weeks to remembering Jesus' promise to return and renew Heaven and Earth, and the last two weeks to focusing on his birth.
Advent traditions include the Advent wreath, which has four candles that represent the four weeks of the season. Each week, a new candle is lit, and participants say a special Advent prayer. The wreath symbolises the expectation and hope of the Lord's coming into the world at Christmas, as well as the anticipation of his second coming. Another tradition is the Advent calendar, which is a fun way for both children and adults to count down the days until Christmas.
While Advent has a special meaning in the Catholic Church, it can be celebrated by everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs. It can be a simple and fun tradition of counting down to Christmas, or it can be a more reflective time to ponder what is important in life and focus on concepts such as hope, peace, love, and joy.
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Advent is a time of preparation
Advent is a period of devout and joyful expectation, with an emphasis on prayer and fasting. It is a time to prepare for the solemnities of Christmas, and also to remember Christ's first coming and anticipate his second. The liturgical colour for Advent is violet, and the season is marked by four Sundays, each with its own significance. The first Sunday may fall any time between 27 November and 3 December, and the first candle of the Advent wreath is lit to signify hope. The second candle is then lit on the second Sunday to celebrate faith and God's everlasting love. The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin "rejoice", and is marked by the use of rose-coloured vestments and candles. The fourth and final Sunday of Advent, from 17-24 December, is a time to focus on preparations for the Nativity.
Advent is traditionally celebrated by Catholics, but it can be observed by anyone regardless of their religious beliefs. It is a time to slow down, be grateful, and think of others. Many Catholic families set up an Advent wreath, which has three purple or blue and one pink candle. Each week, a new candle is lit, accompanied by a special Advent prayer. Another tradition is the Advent calendar, which has 24 openings, one for each day of December leading up to Christmas.
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Advent is a time of expectation
Advent is observed by Catholics and many non-Catholic churches, and it begins on the Sunday closest to St. Andrew's Day (November 30). It is traditionally marked by the use of an Advent wreath, which consists of four candles surrounded by evergreen branches. Each Sunday, a new candle is lit, and a special Advent prayer is said. The first candle, commonly known as the "Prophet's candle", signifies hope as it signals that Jesus is coming. The second candle celebrates faith and God's everlasting love. The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word "rejoice". This day is meant to encourage participants to continue praying as Advent is soon coming to an end.
Advent is also a time when Christians remember Christ's First Coming and await his Second Coming at the end of time. The "'O Antiphons', sung during the final days of Advent, proclaim the coming of Christ as the fulfilment of Old Testament hopes and present ones. The season of Advent is thus a time of devout and joyful expectation, a time to slow down and ponder what is important in life.
Advent is also celebrated by children with the use of an Advent calendar, which provides 24 openings, one to be opened each day beginning December 1. The calendar was first created in the 19th century and often reveals a chocolate or other treat behind each door.
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Advent is a time of penance
Advent is derived from the Latin word "adventus", meaning "coming". It begins on the Sunday closest to St. Andrew's Day (November 30) and includes the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. The season is marked by the use of violet vestments and candles, with three Sundays having purple or violet candles, and the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, having a rose-coloured candle. The colour violet is used in the liturgy to symbolise penance and preparation.
The season of Advent is a time of prayer and fasting, with an emphasis on preparing one's heart and mind for the coming of Christ. It is a time to be alert and ready, not weighed down by worldly distractions. The "O Antiphons", sung in the final days of Advent, proclaim the coming of Christ using ancient biblical imagery. The Advent wreath, with its four candles, is another symbol of the season, with each candle lit on the four Sundays of Advent, representing expectation and hope.
Advent is a time for Catholics to focus on the importance of Christ in their lives and to prepare to celebrate his birth. It is a period of devout and joyful expectation, a time to slow down and ponder what is important in life, and to open oneself up to the needs of others.
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Advent is a time of joy
Advent is a time to slow down and take a moment to ponder what is important in life, to be grateful, and to think of others. It is a time to journey to Jesus and to prepare ourselves to present our gifts to him. It is a time to be alert and ready, not weighed down and distracted by the cares of this world.
Advent is traditionally celebrated with an Advent wreath, which has four candles that represent the four weeks of the season. The candles are typically purple, blue, and pink, with each colour and week holding a specific meaning. The first candle, commonly known as the "Prophet's candle", signifies hope as it signals that Jesus is coming. The second candle celebrates faith and God's everlasting love and is commonly referred to as the "Bethlehem" candle. The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word "rejoice". It is meant to encourage participants to continue praying as Advent is soon to reach its conclusion. The fourth and final week of Advent is a time to focus on our preparation for the celebrations of the Nativity of Our Lord at Christmas.
Advent is also a time to celebrate various feast days, such as St. Nick's Feast Day, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and St. Barbara's Feast Day. These feasts are full of tradition and symbolism, such as children receiving candy or small gifts, praying the Rosary, or singing Marian hymns like "Ave Maria".
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Frequently asked questions
No, Advent is celebrated by people from Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian traditions.
Catholics have various traditions to celebrate Advent, such as lighting candles, reading scripture, and saying prayers. They also celebrate feast days such as St. Nicholas Day on December 6th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and St. Lucy's Feast Day.
Advent is a time of spiritual preparation and expectation, where Christians anticipate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day and await his second coming.
