ADvent explained

I'm embarrassed to to admit that I never really understood Advent. I suppose not all denominations celebrate it the same. I don't recall celebrating it as a child. But then I am pretty old, my marbles are get’n pretty loose.

But, fortunately the internet has just what my curiosity demands — and how my impatience demands it. Now!  There's really is no reason not to know the things that spark your interest. They're right at your finger tips. 

In Matthew 7:7-8, it is written: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

So, I asked.

Each day of Advent is part of a larger season of preparation and anticipation for Christmas, but the four Sundays of Advent each celebrate a specific virtue or theme. While exact traditions can vary by church or denomination, the common themes for the four Sundays are Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. 

The season itself, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, looks forward to both the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth (his first coming) and his promised return (the Second Coming). 

An Advent wreath, typically featuring three purple candles and one pink candle (and sometimes a central white candle), is used to mark the progress of the season, with one candle lit on each successive Sunday. 

  • First Sunday of Advent: Hope

    • This Sunday's candle (usually purple) is often called the "Prophecy Candle". It recalls the Old Testament prophets, like Isaiah, who foretold the coming of the Messiah. It represents the hopeful expectation of God's people for the Savior's arrival.

  • Second Sunday of Advent: Peace

    • The second candle (also purple) is sometimes called the "Bethlehem Candle". The readings for this week often focus on John the Baptist, who prepared the way for the Lord, and the promise of peace that Christ's birth brings to the world.

  • Third Sunday of Advent: Joy

    • The third candle is typically rose or pink and is known as the "Shepherd's Candle". This Sunday is referred to as Gaudete Sunday (from the Latin word Gaudete, meaning "Rejoice"). The color and theme emphasize the joy the shepherds felt at receiving the news of Christ's birth and the closeness of Christmas.

  • Fourth Sunday of Advent: Love

    • The final candle (purple) is sometimes called the "Angel's Candle". It represents God's boundless love for humanity and encourages believers to embody love in their lives as they prepare for the imminent arrival of Jesus. 

Christmas Eve/Day: The Christ CandleIn many traditions, a fifth, white candle (the "Christ Candle") is placed in the center of the wreath and lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The white color symbolizes the purity of Jesus, the Light of the World, who has entered the darkness. 

Joy To The World