Advent is a popular season of the Church Year, among Catholics and Orthodox, but many others wonder what it is about.
They have heard the name, perhaps have heard of a few of the customs, such as the Advent wreath, but otherwise, the season remains a mystery.
Is it Christmas? Is it just like Christmas or isn't it? What are its liturgical colors (i.
e.
what colors are used in church worship during this period)? What does the title "Advent" even mean? These are excellent questions.
An understanding of the Church year is an important aspect of Christian doctrine, although a lot of Christians do not avail themselves of this amazing spiritual tool to deepen their prayer life.
Also, even those that aren't Christian may find benefit in discovering this season of contemplation and simplicity.
Advent comes from the Latin word meaning "arrival" and is about the arrival of Jesus Christ.
The official color of Advent season is violet/purple (except Advent week three, which is rose/pink), and it is observed for four Sundays before Christmas and lasts roughly four weeks.
It can begin in either early December or the end of the month of November, depending on the year.
Most people probably aren't aware that in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, Christmas starts on Christmas day, and continues for a few weeks as its own season.
For most Americans, Christmas seems to begin in October or even September (I saw Christmas trees at a store in July!).
This is probably why a lot of modern people do not understand Advent, because for most all people, Christmas begins when the season of Advent is happening.
The truth is that Advent season is a different Christian season than Christmas, and the focus of Advent is altogether distinct from Christmas.
Advent is a period of expectation, the expectation of the first coming of Christ.
Advent commemorates the hundreds of years of waiting for his birth, death, and resurrection.
This makes sense, since Advent leads up to Christmas.
Thus, during the roughly four weeks of Advent, Christians wait for the birth of God's Son, along with the Old Testament prophets, priests, and common people.
Thus, Advent is definitely not Christmas, because the whole point is to wait symbolically for Christmas.
Advent is also about waiting for the second coming of Christ.
This is also a major theme of the season.
This is why Scripture readings at Advent also relate to the second coming of Jesus.
In essence, we wait symbolically with those that lived before Jesus, as we wait in reality for his second coming.
Thus, Advent has two major themes woven into one.
Advent is much like Lent, in that it is a season of austerity, a scaled back season in the Church year.
While not a true fast in the official Catholic sense, it is a bare season, a less festive and more sober time period prior to the joyful and celebratory season of Christmas.
Thus, traditionally Advent has been a time of penitence and fasting, as opposed to the celebrating associated with Christmas.
The "Gloria" section of the Mass is not used during Advent season, and there is an emphasis on repentance, which is also shown by the prominence of John the Baptist in the Advent season.
St.
John is a symbol of Advent because not only was he the final prophet right before the coming of Jesus, he also called individuals to repentance in preparation for Christ's message.
Overall, the message of this article is that Advent isn't Christmas, but its own unique season.
One is simple, the other celebratory.
The former penitential, the latter joyous.
Advent is about waiting, while Christmas is about fulfillment.
Even though a lot of individuals start celebrating Christmas around September these days, in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, Advent is an expectant, simple, period that leads up to Christmas, with its own customs and traditions, including the advent wreath, a beloved devotional consisting of a greenery wreath and four of five candles (the candles vary depending upon whether the "Christ candle," lit during Christmas day, is included).
For more information on the season and the Advent wreath, please see below.
They have heard the name, perhaps have heard of a few of the customs, such as the Advent wreath, but otherwise, the season remains a mystery.
Is it Christmas? Is it just like Christmas or isn't it? What are its liturgical colors (i.
e.
what colors are used in church worship during this period)? What does the title "Advent" even mean? These are excellent questions.
An understanding of the Church year is an important aspect of Christian doctrine, although a lot of Christians do not avail themselves of this amazing spiritual tool to deepen their prayer life.
Also, even those that aren't Christian may find benefit in discovering this season of contemplation and simplicity.
Advent comes from the Latin word meaning "arrival" and is about the arrival of Jesus Christ.
The official color of Advent season is violet/purple (except Advent week three, which is rose/pink), and it is observed for four Sundays before Christmas and lasts roughly four weeks.
It can begin in either early December or the end of the month of November, depending on the year.
Most people probably aren't aware that in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, Christmas starts on Christmas day, and continues for a few weeks as its own season.
For most Americans, Christmas seems to begin in October or even September (I saw Christmas trees at a store in July!).
This is probably why a lot of modern people do not understand Advent, because for most all people, Christmas begins when the season of Advent is happening.
The truth is that Advent season is a different Christian season than Christmas, and the focus of Advent is altogether distinct from Christmas.
Advent is a period of expectation, the expectation of the first coming of Christ.
Advent commemorates the hundreds of years of waiting for his birth, death, and resurrection.
This makes sense, since Advent leads up to Christmas.
Thus, during the roughly four weeks of Advent, Christians wait for the birth of God's Son, along with the Old Testament prophets, priests, and common people.
Thus, Advent is definitely not Christmas, because the whole point is to wait symbolically for Christmas.
Advent is also about waiting for the second coming of Christ.
This is also a major theme of the season.
This is why Scripture readings at Advent also relate to the second coming of Jesus.
In essence, we wait symbolically with those that lived before Jesus, as we wait in reality for his second coming.
Thus, Advent has two major themes woven into one.
Advent is much like Lent, in that it is a season of austerity, a scaled back season in the Church year.
While not a true fast in the official Catholic sense, it is a bare season, a less festive and more sober time period prior to the joyful and celebratory season of Christmas.
Thus, traditionally Advent has been a time of penitence and fasting, as opposed to the celebrating associated with Christmas.
The "Gloria" section of the Mass is not used during Advent season, and there is an emphasis on repentance, which is also shown by the prominence of John the Baptist in the Advent season.
St.
John is a symbol of Advent because not only was he the final prophet right before the coming of Jesus, he also called individuals to repentance in preparation for Christ's message.
Overall, the message of this article is that Advent isn't Christmas, but its own unique season.
One is simple, the other celebratory.
The former penitential, the latter joyous.
Advent is about waiting, while Christmas is about fulfillment.
Even though a lot of individuals start celebrating Christmas around September these days, in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions, Advent is an expectant, simple, period that leads up to Christmas, with its own customs and traditions, including the advent wreath, a beloved devotional consisting of a greenery wreath and four of five candles (the candles vary depending upon whether the "Christ candle," lit during Christmas day, is included).
For more information on the season and the Advent wreath, please see below.