Advent is a four week season in the lead up to Christmas where each week of Advent focuses on a different theme—hope, faith, joy, and peace.
While not all Christians celebrate Advent, it’s a tradition worth starting with your family. Why? Well, for starters, it’s a fun way to countdown to Christmas!
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, or the Sunday closest to 30 November, and ends on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is the official Christmas season which includes the twelve days of Christmas leading to Epiphany. Surely you remember the Twelve Days of Christmas song with the partridge in a pear tree!
The Meaning of Advent
The name Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means arrival.
Think of Advent as the season of preparation—to celebrate the birth of Jesus and anticipation for His Second Coming. It’s a special time to remember God’s promise in the Old Testament to send a Messiah and how Jesus fulfilled those prophecies. His birth, ministry, sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection bridged the gap between God and humankind, allowing us to have a personal relationship with God and guaranteeing us eternal life in His presence.
‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.’ John 1:14 NKJV
The Advent Calendar
Advent calendars offer more than a countdown to Christmas. They are steeped in tradition and are a daily reminder of the arrival (advent) of Jesus, making each day in December a meaningful journey.
A traditional Advent calendar is a painted wooden box with small doors numbered from 1 to 24 that hide tiny items relevant to Christmas. These days there are a variety of creative versions from calendars with fabric pockets to paper calendars with chocolates hidden behind the paper doors. The hidden items are a symbol of anticipation during the countdown to Christmas.
There is something very special about making each day, in the lead up to Christmas, an opportunity to reflect on our Saviour and how He is with us every day. This practice of reflecting on Him during Advent should flow on to the rest of the days in the year. While we are promised spending eternity in relationship with Him, that relationship begins the day you accept Him into your heart and should reflect every day of your life.
The Advent Wreath and Candles
The significance of the circular wreath is it symbolises God’s eternal nature and the everlasting life He promised us because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Four candles surround the wreath with three purple ones representing the themes of hope, faith, and peace and the fourth is a pink candle for joy. A fifth white candle is placed in the centre of the wreath to represent purity (Jesus) and is lit on Christmas Day to celebrate Jesus’ arrival.
The best place to display your wreath and candles is as the centrepiece of your dinner table. Light the Advent candles every day as you sit down to dinner together as a family.
The first purple candle should be lit on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. It represents the anticipation of waiting for the birth of a Saviour and the hope of His soon second coming.
On the third Sunday before Christmas, light the first and second purple candles. The second purple candle represents Israel’s preparation for the Christ child and our preparation and faith for His second coming.
On the second Sunday before Christmas, light the first, second and third pink candle. The pink candle represents rejoicing—the joy that the Messiah is coming soon.
On the final Sunday before Christmas, light all the candles. The fourth purple candle represents the peace that God gives to all who wait on Him.
The white candle at the centre is lit on Christmas Day as a celebration of Jesus’ birth.
Advent Devotionals
During dinner, take the opportunity to reflect on the reason for the season. Read the Bible together as a family and encourage the little ones to ask questions and reflect on the importance of the Messiah’s return.
Focus on the Family have an Advent Journey free PDF Advent devotional that is helpful if you’re just starting out in this valuable and very special tradition. It has 28 devotions for the lead up to Christmas, and Bible verses you can read together as a family.
May God bless you and your family and loved ones as you honour Him daily and delve into a deeper relationship with Him.
Have a blessed, relaxing, peaceful and joyful Christmas as you faithfully seek the peace that only comes through Jesus.
Advent calendar sourced from Shutterstock
Advent wreath sourced from Canva
