Christian Advent Season
About the Christian Advent Season
When is Advent? Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas: November 27, 2022; December 3, 2023; December 1, 2024; November 30, 2025; November 29, 2026, November 28, 2027; December 2, 2028
The Christian Advent season is holy in the Christian calendar. It is the beginning of the liturgical calendar. Advent is a very special time, as Christians wait and prepare for the coming of the Lord, Jesus whose birth we celebrate on Christmas. While Santa Claus’ arrival is a big event, we must remember Jesus’ birth on earth is much bigger, and the real cause of Christmas. The Advent Wreath symbolizes this with four Advent candles. Three candles are purple, and one is pink.
In the early days of the church, Advent was a time of prayer and confession. Today, Advent is more a time of preparation and expectation of the coming of the Lord.
The Advent Wreath is an important symbol of the Advent season. It usually sits on the dinner table and is a constant reminder of the holy season. The wreath is of German origin.
The lighting tradition – The fourth Sunday before Christmas is the first Sunday of Advent. the first Advent candle is lit at dinner and a short prayer is said. The first candle is lit each night along with a short prayer. On the second Sunday of Advent, a second purple candle is lit. On the third Sunday, the pink candle is lit. Finally on the fourth Sunday of Advent, just a few days before the birth of Christ, the final purple candle is lit.
The Components of the Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath has two basic parts: the wreath itself and the candles.
The wreath is made of evergreen, either real or artificial. Its circular shape represents eternity, for it has no beginning and no end. The evergreen symbolizes growth and everlasting life.
There are four candles, three purple, and one pink. They represent the four weeks of preparation. As another candle is lit each week, it reminds us of the growing light of Christ’s presence.
Today’s Quote: “To be a Christian without prayer, is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” – – Martin Luther King
The Meaning of Each Advent Candle
The first purple candle represents hope.
The second purple candle stands for love.
The third candle lit is the pink candle. It represents joy.
The fourth and final candle lit is another purple candle. This symbolizes peace.
Did You Know? The third Sunday of Advent, when the pink candle, is lit is referred to as “Joyful Sunday?”
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