What is Advent?

Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming.” Advent begins the church year, starting four Sundays before Christmas and traditionally ends on Christmas eve. Advent was created around the time A.D. 480 as a time for Christians to fast and focus on the birth of Jesus and his second coming (when He will return to take all Christians up to Heaven with Him).  Advent is a time for self-examination and hopeful anticipation of the wonder of God incarnate.

A common sight at many churches is the Advent wreath with five candles each represent a theme of each week leading up to Christmas, and each week has its own theme: week one is hope, week two is peace, week three is joy, and week four is love; the candle in the middle is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas day.