Advent: The Season of Preparing for Christmas
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on the 24th of December, Christmas Eve. The name “Advent” comes from the Latin “Adventus,” which refers to the “coming” of the Savior. It is the beginning of the year in the Christian liturgical calendar.
It is a season rich with traditions in both religious and non-religious households. For practicing Christians, it is a very meaningful time, a time to prepare themselves for the coming of their Savior, Jesus Christ. For all families who celebrate Christmas, it is a time to prepare for the big holiday by sending Christmas cards to friends and families, baking Christmas cookies, buying presents and decorating homes for the season.
There are some traditions that are particular to Advent:
Advent Calendars
Many families use Advent Calendars, which count down the first 24 days of December leading up to Christmas Eve. It typically has little doors or pockets that hold small presents or chocolates. Every morning, the children open one more door until the last and largest door. In some cases, the doors reveal quotes or verses from the Bible.
The first known Advent Calendar dates back to the 1850’s. Early styles had one candle for each of the 24 days until Christmas. Some families hung a small picture on the wall for each day in December. Another tradition was to put chalk marks on the door, one per day until Christmas Eve. Like many Christmas traditions, the printed Advent calendar originated in Germany, with the first one produced in 1908 by a German printing company, Reichhold & Lang. Soon, the company created calendars with little doors that opened to reveal gifts or candies.
Click here to make your own Advent Calendar from matchboxes, or here for two easy ways to make Advent Calendars from paper loops or wrapped candies.
The Advent wreath traces its origins back to pre-Christian Germany and Scandinavia, where people celebrated the return of the sun after the winter solstice with circular wreaths made of evergreens, holding four candles. The wreaths represent the circle of the year, and the continuation of life through the winter. As the days grew longer, people lit candles to offer thanks to the sun for its light.
Lutherans in Eastern Germany started the tradition of the Advent wreath as a Christian religious custom. The Advent Wreath has four candles, one for each of the four Sundays before Christmas. The candles may be white or, more traditionally, three of the candles are either blue, which symbolizes hope, or purple, which symbolizes penance. The fourth candle is pink, which symbolizes joy, and it is lit on the third Sunday before Christmas. In the Eastern tradition, the candles are red. The four candles are placed in a circle, usually decorated with evergreens. One additional candle is lit on each Sunday of Advent, with the pink candle being lit on the third Sunday in Advent. A fifth, white candle is placed in the center and lit on Christmas Day.
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