Advent
Advent is a season observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity. The name was adopted from Latin adventus "coming; arrival", translating Greek parousia from the New Testament, originally referring to the Second Coming.
| Advent | |
|---|---|
Lighting the candles of an Advent wreath in a church service | |
| Observed by | Christians |
| Type | Christian, cultural |
| Significance | Preparation for the Second Coming and commemoration of the birth of Jesus |
| Observances | Church services, completing an Advent calendar and Advent wreath, praying through a daily devotional, erecting a Chrismon tree, hanging of the greens, lighting a Christingle, gift giving, family and other social gatherings |
| Begins | Fourth (or, in the Ambrosian and Mozarabic Rites, sixth) Sunday before Christmas |
| 2023 date | 3 December 19 November (Ambrosian and Mozarabic Rites) |
| 2024 date | 1 December 17 November (Ambrosian and Mozarabic Rites) |
| 2025 date | 30 November 16 November (Ambrosian and Mozarabic Rites) |
| 2026 date | 29 November 15 November (Ambrosian and Mozarabic Rites) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Christmastide, Christmas Eve, Annunciation, Epiphany, Epiphanytide, Baptism of the Lord, Nativity Fast, Nativity of Jesus |
The season of Advent in the Christian calendar anticipates the "coming of Christ" from three different perspectives: the physical nativity in Bethlehem, the reception of Christ in the heart of the believer, and the eschatological Second Coming.
Practices associated with Advent include Advent calendars, lighting an Advent wreath, praying an Advent daily devotional, erecting a Christmas tree or a Chrismon tree, lighting a Christingle, as well as other ways of preparing for Christmas, such as setting up Christmas decorations, a custom that is sometimes done liturgically through a hanging of the greens ceremony.
The analogue of Advent in Eastern Christianity is called the Nativity Fast, but it differs in meaning, length, and observances, and does not begin the liturgical church year as it does in the West. The Eastern Nativity Fast does not use the term parousia in its preparatory services.