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Advent and Advent Calendars have been a favourite
tradition in Europe for centuries. Advent Calendars come
in many forms, the most common being a paper version
with windows that correspond to a particular day, which
children open to see a picture inside. Other forms
include candy or little drawers with coins. The purpose
of the Advent Calendar is to count down the days until
the birth of the Messiah by marking each day with an
event designed to remind each of the upcoming miracle.
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Typical Advent Calendars
from top left clockwise: Drawers for
toys or coins, themed box with candy,
Storybook Advent Calendar and
traditional paper calendar with windows. |
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Storybook Advent Calendar was created to tap into
two traditions of Advent. One is the preparation of His
coming through the reading of scripture and
inspirational passages that remind us of what we're
celebrating and the other is the children's tradition of
using a calendar to mark each day before Christmas with
a treat. In the case of the Storybook Advent Calendar
the treat is a bedtime story rather than a picture, toy,
coin or piece of candy.
Advent is derived from the Latin advenio and
means ‘to come to’ since the season is about
preparing for the arrival of the Messiah, the birth of
Jesus Christ.
It is common, especially in the Catholic and Lutheran
Churches, for children to have an Advent Calendar
beginning December 1st to mark off the days until
Christmas. Eastern Orthodox faiths begin Advent on
November 15th but Western churches celebrate Advent
during the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.
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Modern work weeks have meant that Advent
more often signifies the beginning of
the Christmas shopping and Christmas
party season with the festivities ending
on New Year's Day, but many will
withhold celebrations until Christmas
Eve since, in times past, Advent was a
time of preparation, fasting and solemn
remembrance. This is one reason why many
Christian families will wait until
Christmas Eve to put up their tree and
have Christmas music played only during
Christmastide to go with the tradition
that holiday parties and gifts didn't
begin until after Christmas. It
makes for the Christmas Dinner or Feast
being such an important concern. It
marked the end of fasting and the
commencement of the celebrations.
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ADVENT WREATH or
Advent Crown
(Picture Right):
This is one Christmas tradition that is
similar to the lighting of the menorah
in Judaism at Hanukah, but the reason
and purpose for lighting the candles
couldn't be further apart.
Whereas the menorah is lit to mark the
eight days lamp oil lasted during a war
that allowed the Israelites to recapture
and re-consecrate their temple, the
Advent wreath, with its four candles
(three purple and one rose) in a circle
surrounded by evergreens represents the
hope and anticipation of the Messiah’s
birth.
The Advent wreath originated in Germany
and began as a Lutheran tradition but
was quickly adopted by the Catholic and
Anglican Churches. It involves four
candles positioned in a circle and
surrounded by evergreen branches and
decor. Often, a large taper candle is
added in the centre for lighting the
other candles. The colour of the four
candles is important: three purple or
blue and one rose.
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The Advent Wreath
is quite prominent in Christmas
celebrations today, though
often, especially for those
outside the Catholic and
Lutheran faiths, Christians
don't realize these are meant to
be lit week by week. Many simply
believe they are a centrepiece
for a table. If you're looking
for a tradition to introduce
your family to this year, the
Advent Wreath, created over
Thanksgiving Weekend (US), is a
great one to start! |
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On the first Sunday of Advent (in 2010
this falls on Thanksgiving weekend,
November 28th), one purple candle is lit
each night of the week. On the second
Sunday, a second purple candle is lit
with the first and the two candles burn
together until the third Sunday when the
rose candle, representing Gaudete,
is lit. These three candles carry
through each night until the final
Sunday of Advent when all four candles
are lit. Then the fun and feasting
begins!
The period from Christmas Day through
January 6th is called
Christmastide and
commemorated in the song
The Twelve Days of
Christmas.
Significance of the Epiphany:
January 6th is known as Epiphany and is
one of the most important days in the
Christian calendar because it changed
the entire dynamic of God's blessing and
favour. It was on this day, the twelfth
day of Christmas, the three kings from
Persia (Iran & Syria today), pagans to
that point, visited the Christ child.
This action extended Christ's salvation
beyond the Hebrews to include the
Gentiles and ushered in the first
glimpses of the new covenant fulfilled
with the birth, death and resurrection
of the Messiah. It is the beginning of
Choosing God by choosing a relationship
with Him through Christ rather that being Chosen
because of your parent's ancestry.
This choice is confirmed through
baptism, confirmation and communion.
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Advent
Tidbits
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Colours of Advent:
Purple or Blue, with Rose for the third
Sunday only.
Days of Advent:
Traditionally November 28th (or November
15th, Eastern Orthodox) - December 25th.
Christmastide begins December 25th
through January 6th. Modern day
practices have Advent beginning December
1st and ending December 25th.
Songs of Advent
Click to listen.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Track 18 on Carols Collection Volume
One.
Gaudete
Track 11 on Carols Collection Volume
Two.
Gaudete
(Rejoice) is traditionally played on the
3rd Sunday of Advent, about a week
before Christmas.
Twelve Days of Christmas
Track 20 on Carols Collection Volume
One.
This song is traditionally played from
Christmas day through to Epiphany and
marks the end of fasting and the
beginning of twelve days of feasting and
festivity.
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