Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas or sometimes the period from December 1 to Christmas Day. The term Advent means "Coming" in Latin. This is the period of celebrating the Lord's first arrival into this world as a newborn babe. Christians use the four Sundays and week of Advent to prepare, remember and meditate upon the real meaning of Christmas. There are three meanings of "coming" that Christians ascribe to the in the Advent. The first meaning of "coming" is when Jesus came into this world to be born of a virgin, to live as a man, and to die for the sins of mankind. The second can take place now if you'll repent of your sins and invite Jesus to reign in your heart. The third meaning of "coming" is for the future when Jesus comes back to this world a second time and King and Judge.
Advent Sunday can be on the 27th of November (which it was in 2016) until the 3rd of December (which it was in 2017). Advent only starts on the 1st of December when Christmas Day is on a Wednesday.
No one is certain when Advent was first celebrating but it dates back to at least 567 when monks were ordered to fast during December leading up to Christmas. Some people fast (abstain from food) during Advent to help them concentrate on celebrate Jesus' coming. In many Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches Advent lasts for 40 days and starts on November 15 and is called the Nativity Fast.
There are two types of candles that are used to count down to Christmas Day in Advent. The first looks like a normal candle, but has the days up to Christmas day marked down the candle. On the first of December the candle is lit and burned down to the first line on the candle. The same is done every day and then the rest of the candle is burned on Christmas Day. Lutheran churches in Scandinavia used 24 little candles to count down through December through the 1700's.
An Advent Crown is another form of candles used to count down Advent. They are often used in churches rather than peoples' homes. The crown is often made up of a wreath of greenery and has four candles round the outside and one in the middle or a separate place. Sometimes a more traditional candelabra is used to display the five candles. One candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, two are lit on the second Sunday and so forth. Each candle has a different meaning in Christianity. Different churches have granted them different meanings.
1. The first represents Isaiah and other prophets in the Bible that predict the coming of Jesus.
2. The second represents the Bible.
3. The third represents Mary, the mother of Jesus
4. The fourth represents John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin, who told people in Israel to prepare for the Lord's coming.
The middle or separate candle is lit on Christmas Day which represents Jesus, the light of the world. In Germany, the fifth candle is known as "Heiligabend' and is lit on Christmas Eve. In many churches the color purple is used to signify the season of Advent. On the third Sunday, representing Mary, the color is sometimes changed to pink or rose.
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