The Tradition of Advent (Special Time Before Christmas)

Advent tradition is an ancient one, dating back to the fifth century. It didn’t originate from the Bible, though, but was invented by a Bishop from Tours.

Furthermore, the custom wasn’t widely accepted in Europe until many centuries after the practice was adopted in France.

Lighting up candles placed in a wreath isn’t the only Advent tradition. In fact, wreaths weren’t related to Advent at all until Medieval times. The season has special colors, prayers, and music.

Of course, Advent traditions also differ between Catholic and Orthodox Christians.

For example, people in the Eastern part of the world don’t observe the custom of lighting up candles and start the Advent season long before Catholics.

Many people today associate the Advent season merely with calendars and Christmas markets. But these traditions have nothing to do with the original meaning of Advent. Instead, they are a modern invention.

What Is Advent?

Advent is a four-week period before Christmas focusing on the expectation of Jesus’ birth.

Indeed, the word “Advent” is based on the Latin word “adventus,” translating as “coming.” But it’s also the start of a liturgical year for Western Christians.

But the term “adventus” doesn’t relate solely to the birth of Christ. In the New Testament, this term was tied to the Second Coming of Christ.

So, the Advent season celebrates two Christ arrivals: his birth and his return at the Second Coming.

If we look deeper, it means Advent celebrates both the physical birth of Christ and his reception in the souls of believers.

Advent isn’t celebrated on a specific date every year. Instead, the start of Advent fluctuates depending on which date the first Sunday falls to. So, Advent can begin on any date from November 27 to December 3.

Eastern Christians don’t typically celebrate Advent. Instead, they follow Nativity Fast, a 40-day period of absence and penance.

During this period, Orthodox Christians limit themselves to certain foods or don’t eat at specified times. The rules differ from day to day.

Fasting Christians shall also abstain from sexual relations, drinking alcohol, and otherwise partying.

Advent History

The Advent period marks pregnant Mary’s and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Some historians believe that Joseph was originally from Bethlehem.

The possible reason for their journey is that, during that time, in Palestine, people had to register newborns in their hometown rather than at the place of residence.

But others argue the God himself has declared that Christ should be born in that region.

Historians don’t have evidence on when the tradition of Advent has started. But it likely has begun even before year 480.

The first Advent celebration recorded dates to the fifth century when Bishop Perpetuus of Tours told that, starting with November 11, people should fast every Sunday until Christmas.

November 11 is also Saint Martin’s Day, paying tribute to Saint Martin of Tours. For this reason, Advent is sometimes called Lent of Saint Martin.

Until the sixth century, the practice of fasting on Sundays was limited to the Tours region. But after the Macon council has adopted the tradition in 581, it started spreading across France.

In the 13th century, the fasting period was shortened from November 11 to November 30, Saint Andrew’s Day. By that time, the tradition had spread across all Europe and became mandatory in Rome.

Only the Second Vatican Council has differentiated Advent from the spirit of Lent that served the beginning of the tradition. This way, Advent was emphasized as a season of expectation and hope for soon Christ’s arrival.

Four Sundays

Each of the four Sundays of Advent has a special meaning, prayer, and customs. The first candle is one located at the very left on the Advent wreath.

It was traditionally purple and symbolized penance and hope for the soon arrival of Christ. This candle is called “Prophet’s Candle.”

The second Sunday of Advent is dedicated to faith. The second candle is named “Bethlehem Candle,” a tribute to the star of Bethlehem.

This star guided Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem during the period before Christmas. The second candle is also traditionally purple.

The third Sunday of Advent, or the Gaudete Sunday, is different from the first two – instead of penance and hope, it symbolizes joy and festivity. The third candle should be pink and is called “Shepherd’s Candle.”

Finally, the fourth Sunday of Advent announces Christ’s birth. The last candle is yet again purple, but this time, it symbolizes royalty and power.

This is because the purple color was scarce in ancient times, and thus, only the royals could afford it.

Sometimes, a fifth candle is lit up on Christmas Eve, symbolizing light and purity. It’s typically white and is called the “Christ’s Candle.”

However, different churches tend to give slightly different meanings for each of the Advent Sundays.

A popular alternative explanation is that the first Sunday celebrates Isaiah and other prophets who predicted the birth of Jesus; the second represents the Bible, and the third represents Mary.

Religious Traditions

The original Advent rules required monks to fast only on Sundays until Christmas. But the most dedicated Christians have exceeded the requirements and fasted the entire Advent season.

This was known as Nativity Fast and nowadays isn’t widely practiced in Western Christianity but remained traditional in the Eastern world.

The tradition to light up candles during Advent is followed not only by Catholics but also by Lutherans. However, instead of lighting one candle during four Sundays, Lutherans light up a candle every day for 24 days.

Apart from fasting and lighting up candles, the Advent season imposed other religious traditions. So, churches played liturgical music the selection of hymns and gospels differs depending on the period and region.

In England, poor women used to carry two dolls representing Christ and Mary, called “Advent images.” Everyone encountering the women should have spared a halfpenny, and refusal led to bad luck.

A local Italian Advent tradition was to play bagpipes, just like shepherds who came to Jesus manger in Bethlehem. Modern German tradition is to set up a labyrinth with 2500 candles on the third Sunday of Advent.

Traditional liturgical colors, purple and pink, have deep symbolism. But in the 12th century, Pope Innocent III declared black to be the liturgical color for Advent instead of purple.

Alternatively, Christians in some regions may use blue instead of purple to represent hope and penance.

Advent Calendars

With the start of the holiday season, all stores across the US start selling Advent calendars, featuring paper doors concealing small gifts. However, they have nothing to do with the real meaning of Advent season.

These calendars don’t even match the Advent period, starting with December 1 and marking 24 days until Christmas.

The first Advent calendar was introduced in the early 20th century by Gerhard Lang. It was inspired by a calendar Lang’s mother made for him.

The calendar didn’t feature gifts but was a piece of cardboard with 24 different Christmas-related pictures.

At about the same time, one of the German newspapers included a small gift for readers hidden behind a paper door.

Advent Wreaths

The four Advent candles are traditionally placed into a wreath of evergreen plants. But not many know that the custom is relatively new. It originated in Germany only in the 16th century.

The tradition had only spread in Germany by the end of the 19th century and was brought to America in the 20th century.

Historical evidence suggests that the tradition was popularized by German pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern who made a wreath out of a cartwheel and placed four candles in it.

While Advent candles weren’t initially placed in wreaths, this holiday decoration has existed since pagan times.

Wreaths’ circular shape represented everlasting life and fertility, while evergreen plants such as holly and ivy symbolized the soon arrival of spring.

Advent Traditions in Other Cultures

Although the meaning of the Advent season is consistent throughout all countries, some traditions differ. For instance, Austria is the motherland of the famous hymn, “Silent Night,” where it’s always sung during Advent.

For Croatian Catholics, Advent season begins a week earlier than for Americans: it starts on Saint Catherine’s Day. But the Orthodox part of the country begins Nativity Fast even earlier and doesn’t light up candles on Sundays.

In many regions, people decorate their homes and Christmas trees on one of the Advent Sundays.

Saint Nicholas’ Day, paying tribute to the man who serves the origin for Santa Claus, is also a part of the Advent season. It’s celebrated on December 6.