What is Advent?

Advent is the Catholic liturgical season of preparation leading up to Christmas Day. The word advent is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means coming. Advent season is explained in plain English below.

Advent simply explained is a time for waiting in anticipation for Christmas season to begin. This year Advent will begin on December 3, 2023. It will be the first Sunday in December.

During Advent we anticipate the coming of Jesus as a baby. It’s a penitential time full of reflection, excitement, and hope as we prepare to celebrate his birth.

When Does Advent Begin?

Advent officially begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on December 24. It marks the beginning of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar year. This year Advent begins on Sunday, December 3, 2023. Christmas Eve is the Fourth Sunday of Advent, with Christmas falling on a Monday. Four weeks isn’t long, but that still leaves plenty of time to spend some quiet time preparing for Jesus’ coming.

Many people want Advent in plain English words.

What Does the Advent Wreath mean?

What does each candle stand for?

Each Advent candle has a different symbol: the first one represents God’s people and is considered as the Candle of Hope; the second one represents The Old Testament Prophets and is considered as the Candle of Peace; the third one represents John the Baptist and is considered as the Candle of Love; and the fourth one.

The color of these candles can vary, but it is common for the first, second, and fourth candles to be purple, while the third is rose-colored, red, or a pinkish hue. In some cases, all the candles are red, blue, or white; often, a fifth white candle is placed in the middle of the wreath and lit on Christmas Day itself. Catholic tradition even states that the four candles, representing the four weeks of Advent, each stand for 1,000 years to total the 4,000 years from Adam to the birth of the Messiah.