A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION. THE TRADITION OF ADVENT.
WHAT IS THE ADVENT TIME?
ADVENT IS A VERY SPECIAL SEASON. THE FIRST DAY OF ADVENT IS THE FIRST DAY OF A NEW LITURGICAL (OR CHURCH) CALENDAR AND THUS BEGINS A FOUR-WEEK PREPARATORY PHASE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS AT CHRISTMAS.
ADVENT IS ABOUT THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN PREPARE OUR HEARTS AND HOMES FOR THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD TODAY. IT IS A WONDERFUL TIME FOR FAITH COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES TO REMIND THEMSELVES THROUGH PRAYER, SPECIAL MUSIC, AND GOOD DEEDS WHAT THE TRUE MEANING OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS IS. MANY DIFFERENT TRADITIONS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOUR WEEKS OF ADVENT.
When is the Advent season celebrated?
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and leads to the birth of Christ and the second coming of Christ. This means that Advent lasts about a month in total.
In 2019 the Advent season began on Sunday, December 1st and ends on Tuesday, December 24th. Since 2020 is a leap year, Advent begins on Sunday, November 29th and lasts until Thursday, December 24th.
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and leads to the birth of Christ and the second coming of Christ. This means that Advent lasts about a month in total.
In 2019 the Advent season began on Sunday, December 1st and ends on Tuesday, December 24th. Since 2020 is a leap year, Advent begins on Sunday, November 29th and lasts until Thursday, December 24th.
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The advent wreath with candles
The most important tradition of the Advent season is the Advent wreath with candles. The wreath and candles are full of symbolism tied to the Christmas season. The wreath itself, made up of various evergreen plants, signifies continuous life. The circle of the wreath, which has neither a beginning nor an end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul and the eternal life that we find in Christ.
An Advent Crown is another form of candle that is used to count down Advent. These are often used in churches rather than people's homes. The crown often consists of a green wreath and has four candles on the outside and one in the middle or in a separate place.
The candles themselves also have a special meaning. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, and one candle is lit every Sunday. Three of the candles are purple because the colour purple is a liturgical colour that signifies a time of prayer, penance, and sacrifice.
The first purple candle symbolizes hope. It is sometimes referred to as the "prophecy candle" to remember the prophets, especially Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. It represents the expectation.
The second candle is also purple and represents faith. This candle is called the "Bethlehem Candle" to commemorate the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.
The third candle is pink and symbolizes joy. It's called "Shepard's Candle" and is pink because the rose is a liturgical colour for joy. The third Sunday in Advent is Gaudete Sunday and is intended to remind us of the joy the world experienced at the birth of Jesus. It also reminds of the joy that has reached the centre of Advent.
In the fourth week of Advent, we light the last purple candle. And thus, the final week of prayer and repentance will be marked as we await the birth of our Savior. This last candle, symbolized as "angel candle", says peace. It reminds us of the angels' message: "Peace on earth, goodwill towards people."
One of the most popular symbols during the Advent season is the Advent wreath
Using an Advent wreath is an excellent way to prepare your mind and heart for Christmas.
The advent calendar
The advent calendar is a nice way for the family to count down the Christmas days with an advent calendar. The excitement increases every day. There are many different calendars, often with surprises like a piece of chocolate or candy behind a tiny door for each day.
In the 19th century, German Protestant Christians counted until Christmas by marking 24 chalk lines on a door and rubbing off one every day in December.
Advent calendars are a great way to keep track of the days leading up to the birth of Christ.
Paper calendars first became popular in Germany in the early 1900s, although people made their own in the 1850s. There is some debate about where and when the first mass calendar was printed, but it was in the first decade of the 20th century. The best known and most popular early manufacturer of printed Advent calendars was a German printer named Gerhard Lang. His first calendars consisted of two sheets of paper, a "back" piece of card with the numbers 1 to 24 and a separate sheet of pictures that you could cut out and stick on the numbers every day.
The first calendars with "doors" were made in Germany in the 1920s. During the Second World War, the production of advent calendars was stopped due to a shortage of cardboard.
