Advent is the season that begins four Sundays before December 25 and lasts about 4 weeks and prepares us for Christmas. Christmas is Christ entering our world, and Advent is expectant waiting, hopeful anticipation, and joyful preparation for God coming into our lives and hearts in all moments, all places, all times: commemorating the birth of Jesus – welcoming God into our lives every day – preparing for Christ’s second coming.
Advent Season Interesting Facts
The word “Advent” comes from Latin, Adventus. It means coming and it refers to the coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas. Advent can fall on any date between 27 November and 3 December.
A majority of Christians celebrate Advent to prepare for Christmas by giving up something that’s sort of negative like bad behavior or a negative habit and adding something spiritual or positive.
The Church celebrates Advent from three different perspectives:
1). We celebrate advent from a historical perspective looking back into the past when Jesus Christ came into a time in space in history as a human person to save the world.
2). We celebrate advent from the perspective of looking forward into the future when Jesus Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. He will come in glory and splendor at the end of history – just as he promised and that can happen at any time. (see Matthew 24:36)
So Advent is a time of preparation for Jesus so that our hearts and lives and minds are prepared for when he comes again at the end of history to judge the living and the dead.
3). We celebrate Advent from the perspective of Jesus coming now in the present moment because Jesus didn’t just die 2,000 years ago on the cross, but he rose from the dead which means we can encounter him today in our lives in a personal way and so Advent is a time of preparation of our hearts to encounter Jesus now.
| Advent Sunday | |
| The first day of the liturgical year and the start of the season of Advent. | |
| When Celebrated: | Four Sunday before December 25 |
| Date: | November 27, |
| Significance: | A time of preparation for the coming of Jesus from these 3 perspectives – Jesus Christ who came, Jesus Christ who will come, and Jesus Christ who comes now. |
| Celebrations: | Keeping Advent Calendar, lighting Advent wreath, lighting Christmas Tree, Preparing for Christmas |
| Related Holiday: | |
| Advent Wish: | May the holy and blessed occasion of Advent bring peace, joy, and warmth. |
| Advent Greeting: | May the advent light always shine on you. |
History of Advent
The celebration of Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus – is an ancient practice in the church and there’s evidence of Christians celebrating it from as far back as 1600 years ago (from before 480 AD to be exact).
Observances
Practices associated with Advent include keeping an Advent calendar, lighting an Advent wreath, praying an Advent daily devotional, erecting a Christmas tree or a Chrismon tree, lighting a Christingle, as well as other ways of preparing for Christmas, such as setting up Christmas decorations.
Advent Sunday Dates (-2025)
| Year | Date | Day |
| December 1 | Sunday | |
| November 29 | Sunday | |
| November 28 | Sunday | |
| 2022 | November 27 | Sunday |
| 2023 | December 3 | Sunday |
| 2024 | December 1 | Sunday |
| 2025 | November 30 | Sunday |
Advent Traditions & Customs
There isn’t any hard-and-fast prescription for the way to celebrate the Advent season right, but a few traditions do exist. A number of them are the Advent wreath, Advent calendar, Advent colors, and Jesse Tree.
Advent Wreath
Many churches start the Advent season by displaying a wreath with five candles — often four of the identical dimensions and one bigger candle in the center.
Normally, the Advent wreath holds three purple candles and one pink or rose-colored candle. In the middle of this wreath sits a large white candle. As a whole, these candles signify the arrival of the light of Christ to the world.
Every one of the four candles, usually placed around the circumference of this wreath, commemorates themes of Advent associated with anticipation, hope, love, or joy. The fifth candle symbolizes Christ and is generally put in the middle of the wreath.
Each Sunday of Advent, the church lights one of the smaller candles before lighting the last candle — called the Christ candle — on Christmas Day.
Some churches now use blue candles rather than purple, so the season of Advent could be discerned from Lent, as purple is also the liturgical color of the Lent season.
Advent Calendars
Advent calendars — used to count down the days until Christmas — are very popular in several homes. An Advent calendar comprises a range of covered “windows” that are opened, one a day, until Christmas Day. Each open window shows a picture regarding the season or even a poem or even a Bible verse or a quote.
Many parents find an Advent calendar is a fantastic method to educate their kids the real meaning of Christmas–but there are secular variations of their calendars, also.
Advent Colors
The liturgical color of the Advent season is purple.
Jesse Trees
Jesse Trees are a traditional part of Advent since they signify the family line of Jesse, David’s father since Jesus originated from this family line. Every day decoration is inserted to the tree to represent all Jesus’ ancestors.
Happy Advent Sunday Greetings
- Happy first Advent Sunday everyone! Light a candle and have a peaceful Sunday everyone!
- The church year begins today. It starts with a phrase being whispered, then spoken, then proclaimed, and finally sung out by all of creation: “He is coming!” The King will return. Justice is on its way. Happy Advent Sunday.
- The Church proclaims two things, just by being here. 1) Jesus came, as he promised. 2) Jesus is coming, as he promised. Happy Advent Sunday!
- May hope, peace, joy, and love fill your home and heart! Wishing you a blessed Advent.
- I wish that the season of Advent brings with it peace and happiness.
- Sometimes God shows us His love through miracles… Through answered prayers… And sometimes, through someone like you. Wishing you a blessed Advent.
- Wishing that the season of Advent will fill your heart with Peace and Happiness now and forever.
- May this holy season, usher in new promises, new dreams and new hopes in your life.
- Happy Advent, Love & Blessings!
- And the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God; and behold, thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. Luke 1:30-31
Happy Wishes for Advent Season
- May the holy and blessed occasion of Advent bring peace, joy, and warmth.
- May the joy and wonder of Advent – Refresh your spirit and light up your life.
- May the Advent Season bring to you peace, warmth, and cozy gatherings with loved ones. Happy holiday season.
- You are held in my prayers and loving thoughts… And sheltered in His love, on Advent and always.
- May the Lord’s blessings always be with you.
- May the advent of Jesus mark the beginning of all good things in your life…
- Wishing you peace and happiness on the Advent of the Son of God
- Thinking about you… And wishing that the Lord’s grace and glory fill your life with love and joy… Have a blessed Advent!
- May the advent light always shine on you…
- Joy, love, peace… May you be blessed with all these and more on the holy season of Advent.
First Second Third Fourth Advent Sunday Messages
- Good Morning to You! The lovely Advent season has arrived once more. I was thinking about and that’s why I am sending all my best and fondest wishes to you today and hoping you have a pleasant time.
- May the advent of Christ usher in happiness and prosperity, in your life and your loved ones too. Have a blessed Advent
- May the Lord guide you in whatever you do. Happy Advent
- With the Advent of the Lord, May your world be bright with light and hope. And peace and happiness fill your heart and home!
- On this auspicious occasion of Advent, I am wishing that the blessings of the Lord be with you and all that you do!
Advent Morning Greetings
- Good Morning to You! The lovely Advent season has arrived once more. I was thinking about and that’s why I am sending all my best and fondest wishes to you today and hoping you have a pleasant time.
- Happy Advent Sunday! First of advent – första advent – means it’s finally time for Christmas decorations.
- Wishing you all a Happy First Advent Sunday. Not the biggest Xmas fan but sure love the cozy lights and some jingling bells.
- We wish everyone a happy and peaceful first Advent!
Best Poem for Advent
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
Oh, come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads to Thee,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
O, come, Desire of Nations, bind,
All peoples in one heart and mind,
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
Happy Advent Quotes
- “It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope.” ~ Pope Benedict XVI
- “The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord” ~ Henri Nouwen
- “Advent is a journey towards Bethlehem. May we let ourselves be drawn by the light of God made man.” ~ Pope Francis
- “At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God’s own love and concern.” ~ Mother Teresa
- “Advent increases our hope, a hope which does not disappoint. The Lord never lets us down.” ~ Pope Francis
Interesting Facts about Advent Season
- Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas eve. The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the new church year.
- The term ‘Advent’ comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning ‘coming’ or ‘visit’.
- Advent has two main themes. It highlights the celebration of Christ coming into the world as a man and the second coming when the Lord will return.
- Advent colors are purple and rose.
- Advent season is a reminder of the Old Testament promises of the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah is frequently read during this season to keep in mind that we (Christians) are awaiting the day when the Messiah will come again.
- Advent includes two parts. The first part of Advent before December 16 is preparation for the second coming of Christ. The second part from December 17 to 24 is centered around the commemoration of the first coming of Christ – Christmas.
- Although scholars are not sure precisely when Christians started observing Advent, we all do understand that monks in the 5th century CE started fasting thrice per week in November, possibly to prepare for Christmas or Epiphany, during which Christians were baptized every year. Comparable to Lent, where Catholics fast and pray for 40 days before Easter, Advent encourages Christians to observe a fast so that they can concentrate on repentance and prayer.
- Advent is a period of both joy and sorrow. During Advent, devout Christians have some opportunity to pray, reflect on the last year, and mourn for the sin and evil on earth. Advent is also a chance to express hope. Christians prepare for new beginnings, look ahead to the second coming of Christ, and renew their faith.
- Most advent calendars are made from simple cardboard, and every opened window shows a Christmas-related quote or interesting information. However, the latest Advent calendars come packed with candy, chocolate, or candy treats. Additionally, there are advent calendars comprising LEGO pieces and diamonds.
- About each of the four Sundays of Advent, many churches concentrate on a particular spiritual topic like the Prophets, the Messiah, or John the Baptist. Clergy can give sermons and light candles. Christians spend time remembering the first coming of Christ and expecting His second coming. Because Sundays are so significant during Advent, a few churches do not permit funeral masses on these days.
- About the third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, Christians take a rest from repenting to observe Christ’s impending arrival. Churches use rose-colored candles and decorations, as well as the clergy preach about happiness, salvation, and blessings. Christians can pray and reflect on the things that they are thankful for.
- Although shops and radio channels begin blasting Christmas music long before Thanksgiving, devout Christians do not celebrate Advent by singing Christmas music.
- Nowadays, some devout Christians fast during Advent, while others just avoid consuming particular foods like meat, milk, or desserts. Other Christians focus their time on praying and repentance instead of fasting. Generally, members of Eastern Orthodox churches are more inclined to fasting than members of Western churches.
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