The word ‘advent’ comes from a Latin phrase that means ‘coming’. With this definition in mind, the Advent is a Christian celebration that begins on the Sunday that falls at around four weeks to Christmas. This celebration is held to celebrate the first coming of Jesus Christ which happened two thousand years ago, and in anticipation of his second coming. It also marks the beginning of the church year.
Every item used in celebration of Christ’s first coming is symbolic. The Advent wreath is a round wreath made of evergreen leaves and branches, with five candles in it, one in the center and four in the circle. Once this season begins, churches hang evergreen wreaths on church doors, with the Advent wreath put in a center position or somewhere at the front near the podium.
The circular shape of the wreath symbolizes God’s unending love for mankind, and the green symbolizes the hope of eternal life that Jesus Christ gave us when he was crucified on the cross. The three of the four advent candles on the circumference of the circle are usually either blue or purple to symbolize the royal descent of Christ, whereas the remaining one is pink. Two of the blue candles are lit on the first and the second Sunday of Advent, with one lit the first time and both the second time. On the third or fourth Sunday, depending on the church, the pink candle is lit, along with the other two or three, symbolizing the anticipation of Christ’s near arrival. On Christmas day, the white Christ Candle is lit, signifying that the light of the world has arrived.
The celebrations that mark the Advent include singing a number of hymns that are special to this season during church services, and the reading of prophetic scriptures from the Bible to remind the congregation of Christ’s second return. It is a season of hope and joy. Many Sunday Schools put up plays about the nativity story during this time. Families around the world also do many different things to celebrate such as baking special cakes and cookies, preparing delicious feasts, and reading stories of the birth of Jesus to their children.
Advent is also marked by a great number of people in the congregation donating food and clothing to the needy as a sign of good will, and evangelizing. All of these celebrations finally culminate on Christmas Day when Christians all around the world thank God for sending the gift of his son, with the day ending in hearty merriment.
In conclusion, what is the meaning of the Advent? Advent is a season when people reaffirm the existence of God, the truth that he sent his son to earth to die on the cross for our sins, and the promise that this son will come back again and take us as believers to new heights of glory. For more information on the birth of Christ, read the first chapters of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, for an intimate feel of how important the coming of Christ has been to the world.
