First Sunday of Advent
December 1
The Advent season marks the beginning of the Christian year across many western churches in the United States. Its length varies from 22 to 28 days, starting on the Sunday nearest St. Andrew’s Day and encompassing the next three Sundays, ending on Christmas Day.
The four weeks of Advent are popularly considered to symbolize the four thousand years of darkness before the coming of Christ. Followers set up Nativity scenes, light Advent candles, and decorate wreaths in their homes to signify Christ’s presence.
Four candles adorn an Advent wreath, one for each week. A fifth candle is sometimes placed in the center for the beginning of the Christmas season.
Advent colors are worn by the priests and deacons and decorate the church. They are represented in the candles that surround the Advent wreath:
- Violet: royalty, repentance, and fasting (First, Second, and Fourth Week of Advent)
- Rose: abundant joy (Third Week of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, joy in Latin)
- White: light and purity (Christ Candle, center candle completes the season and begins Christmas)
Advent is the season in which we celebrate new beginnings. It is the season in which we begin the liturgical year and prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Savior.
Family Activity: Blessing an Advent Wreath
Family Activity: Blessing of the Family Christmas Tree
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