Christianity

Advent

All About Celebrating Advent

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Advent is a spiritual season of preparation before Christmas celebrated by many Christians. 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?

Image: © Mary Fairchild

Advent is a period of spiritual preparation in which many Christians make themselves ready for the coming, or birth, of the Lord, Jesus Christ. During this time, Christians observe 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 time.

Definition of Advent

The word "advent" comes from the Latin "adventus" meaning "arrival" or "coming," particularly of something of great importance.

The Time of Advent

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

In Western Christianity, 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. When Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, it is the last, or fourth Sunday of Advent.

For Eastern Orthodox churches which use the Julian calendar, Advent begins earlier on November 15, and lasts 40 days, rather than 4 weeks. Advent is also known as the Nativity Fast in Orthodox Christianity.

• Advent Calendar 2008
• Catholic Liturgical Calendar for Advent 2008

What Denominations Celebrate Advent?

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

• Catholic
• Orthodox
• Anglican / Episcopalian
• Lutheran
• Methodist
• Presbyterian

Today, 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 even through the observance of some of the traditional Advent customs.

Origins of Advent

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia Advent began sometime after the fourth century as a time of preparation for the feast of Epiphany, and not in anticipation of Christmas. Epiphany celebrates the Baptism of Jesus, as well as other events in his life. Epiphany was a time when 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 sixth century, St. Gregory the Great was the first to associate this season of Advent with the coming of Christ. Yet originally it was not the coming of the Christ-child that was anticipated, but rather, the Second Coming of Christ.

Adapting Advent

By the Middle Ages, the church had extended the celebration 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 symbolisms of all three of these "advents" of Christ.

Advent Symbols and Customs

Many different variations and interpretations of these Advent customs exist today, depending upon the denomination and the type of service being observed. The following symbols and customs provide a general 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.