We often hear about the season of Christmas in the end days of November and the beginning days of December. We see the focus of everyone gearing up for Christmas, spiritual or otherwise, and see the purchasing of presents, the Santa displays coming out, the nativity scenes, and Christmas trees going up. But there is a season before Christmas that is sacred and ancient- and that season is the Season of Advent.
What is Advent?
Advent is an ancient tradition that focuses on the waiting for the Messiah, similar to how pagans celebrate the Winter Solstice in expectation of the arrival of Spring.
The first day of Advent always falls on the Sunday after Thanksgiving (which, this year, was December 1, 2013) and it is the beginning of the watch for the birth of the Christ child in the manger. There is an air of expectation, an air of hope, of joy as the days draw closer to the coming of the Christ child. This is the symbolism of Advent.
Advent is primarily celebrated (in my experience) by Methodists, Anglicans, and Catholics. It is a time of reflection and somber readings of the Bible, and from the Book of Common Prayer. It is a time of lighting candles, each one symbolizing something different and very important for the believer that celebrates Advent.
How is Advent celebrated?
Advent is celebrated with the traditions of lighting purple/dark blue, pink and white candles. There are verses read, songs sung that tell of the expectation of the Messiah’s birth, and the sermons are focused around it as well.
What do the candles symbolize?
- Purple/dark blue – symbolizes repentance, seriousness, and royalty
- Pink – joy
- White – the Messiah
Each candle is lit after a selected reading is read from the Bible and there is a prayer that is prayed in the communion of the people gathered together celebrating Advent.
Why is Advent not celebrated widely?
Many Protestants ignore Advent because it is not taught in scripture and they associate it with Roman Catholicism, which is considered idolatry to many Protestants. (This is not the case, but that is another discussion for another time). However, there is a growing popularity of Advent and I personally hope to see a return to a more spiritual season for Christians rather than this consumerism that has overtaken this holy season.
The Eastern Orthodox Church.
The Eastern Orthodox Church does not celebrate Advent in the way that the Western churches do. Instead of Advent beginning on a Sunday as it does here, the Eastern Orthodox Church instead has a nativity feast that begins in the middle of November and lasts until Christmas Eve.
Have a blessed Advent season!
Edited by DH.
