Is Advent a Catholic time or do Protestants participate too?

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When I was in 6th grade I asked my friend what she was giving up for Advent. I had previously gone to a Catholic school, so this was something totally normal to ask a friend. However, she said “What?” So I repeated the question, and she said “What’s that?” Being only 11 years old and not understanding that there are other religions out there, I quickly just assumed she was an atheist, because I knew sort of what those people were. I later found out that she did go to church, just not Catholic church.

Anyway, I am just now deciding to figure this out, but do other religions participate in Advent?

What I do love is that there are actual “Advent” calendars out there at the stores. Not just Christmas Countdowns.
 
JustRebecca said:
When I was in 6th grade I asked my friend what she was giving up for Advent. I had previously gone to a Catholic school, so this was something totally normal to ask a friend. However, she said “What?” So I repeated the question, and she said “What’s that?” Being only 11 years old and not understanding that there are other religions out there, I quickly just assumed she was an atheist, because I knew sort of what those people were. I later found out that she did go to church, just not Catholic church.

Anyway, I am just now deciding to figure this out, but do other religions participate in Advent?

What I do love is that there are actual “Advent” calendars out there at the stores. Not just Christmas Countdowns.
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I have a friend that is Anglican Church in North America I think her church does. I am NOT Lutheran have never been one but my dad was Evangelical Lutheran and I know some do
 
I know of some Protestants that celebrate Advent. I used to sell to the Christian community (non-Catholic) and Advent items always sold somewhat.
 
JustRebecca said:
When I was in 6th grade I asked my friend what she was giving up for Advent. I had previously gone to a Catholic school, so this was something totally normal to ask a friend. However, she said “What?” So I repeated the question, and she said “What’s that?” Being only 11 years old and not understanding that there are other religions out there, I quickly just assumed she was an atheist, because I knew sort of what those people were. I later found out that she did go to church, just not Catholic church.

Anyway, I am just now deciding to figure this out, but do other religions participate in Advent?

What I do love is that there are actual “Advent” calendars out there at the stores. Not just Christmas Countdowns.
Click to expand...
The Episcopal Church (Anglican) absolutely celebrates Advent. The basics are the same, though there are some small differences, for example the typical Catholic advent wreath (3 purple, 1 pink candle) can look a little different (often blue or white candles) and vestments for the clergy are blue during the season. But by and large it’s not much different than you’d expect to find in Catholicism. It’s similarly a season to prepare for the coming of the Lord (hence the color blue for hope). Some folks in the Anglican tradition will fast or give something up, but most I’ve seen do not (I’d never heard of doing either in the Catholic Church during my nearly 3 decades in that church so to me that’s not a difference at all).
 
JustRebecca said:
When I was in 6th grade I asked my friend what she was giving up for Advent. I had previously gone to a Catholic school, so this was something totally normal to ask a friend. However, she said “What?” So I repeated the question, and she said “What’s that?” Being only 11 years old and not understanding that there are other religions out there, I quickly just assumed she was an atheist, because I knew sort of what those people were. I later found out that she did go to church, just not Catholic church.

Anyway, I am just now deciding to figure this out, but do other religions participate in Advent?

What I do love is that there are actual “Advent” calendars out there at the stores. Not just Christmas Countdowns.
Click to expand...
Am I the only one here who has never heard of “giving something up” for Advent? 12 years with the good sisters, and I missed this?
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
Am I the only one here who has never heard of “giving something up” for Advent? 12 years with the good sisters, and I missed this?
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No as I mentioned in my longer post, never heard of giving up anything for Advent during over 17 years of Catholic schooling. Lent certainly, but not Advent.
 
I rather like the idea of “giving something up” for Advent. It may be a new tradition at our house. We tend to forget that, like Lent, Advent is a penitential season.
 
Well, like some of you, I’ve never heard of giving up something for Advent, but my church does have advent candles and readings that we do. We also have specific Christmas sermons at about that time. I’m not entirely sure what the Catholic church does for advent, actually. Is it about the same?

I love Advent Calendars. We have friends who like to send out one with wrapped candies and Bible verses for every day of the month.
 
The Episcopal Church observes Advent and they have the wreath and candles, just like the Catholic Church.
 
FractalFire said:
Well, like some of you, I’ve never heard of giving up something for Advent, but my church does have advent candles and readings that we do. We also have specific Christmas sermons at about that time. I’m not entirely sure what the Catholic church does for advent, actually. Is it about the same?

I love Advent Calendars. We have friends who like to send out one with wrapped candies and Bible verses for every day of the month.
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Yes it sounds similar… I like the religious advent calendars as well.

We commonly go to confession and attend some sort of mission, like a retreat, or workshop or seminar…And certainly we do missionary work like making Christmas baskets and giving trees (where a tag is picked off a tree which is for a gift for someone needy). It is a time for reflection and with each candle that is lit, preparation for the coming of Our Lord… We may have our youth group have a special event like Bethlehem days, where we play out what happened in Bethlehem when Our Lord was born. The readings of the Church are now pertinent to the coming of the Christ King in Jerusalem and in the second coming of Our Lord. We sing “Oh Come Oh Come Emanuel”.The word Advent means to “come”.

catholiccompany.com/getfed/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-advent-wreath/

Also there is the tradition of the Oplatek Wafer which many families participate in…

polamjournal.com/Library/Holidays/xmasindex/xmas-oplat/xmas-oplat.html

Also there is St. Nicholas feast day, an early Bishop of the Church, Dec 6th, where we reflect with the Children on the story of St. Nicholas which prepares our hearts in the spirit of Giving and remembering the greatest gift of all Jesus Christ. In my home in following in the Dutch tradition, we put our shoes out and a few simple gifts are left in them, similarly to what St. Nicholas did to help a poor family.
 
I believe that liturgical churches (Anglicans, Lutherans, etc) all celebrate Advent, given that it is a liturgical season. Non-liturgical churches, however, are discovering things like Advent and are incorporating them into their own traditions. It is nice to see that happening.
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
Am I the only one here who has never heard of “giving something up” for Advent? 12 years with the good sisters, and I missed this?
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Its lent you give something up…its advent you rejoice as christmas is coming

Never gave things up for ADVENT
 
Padres1969 said:
Some folks in the Anglican tradition will fast or give something up, but most I’ve seen do not (I’d never heard of doing either in the Catholic Church during my nearly 3 decades in that church so to me that’s not a difference at all).
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I try to fast and abstain on Fridays during the entire year so anyone can really no matter what liturgical season it is. It could be said that because it is the season for giving so one would be giving up something in order to give to others… I’ve never heard of it being suggested to us to give up something specifically during Advent, just to give generously the gift of ourselves, talents or treasures to others especially as it can be very lonely,stressful, cold and difficult for people who are without homes and families during this time of year…
 
Though I’ve not done so myself, I’m familiar with the custom of giving something up for Advent. Advent used to be considered the “little Lent.” Like Lent, it too is a period of waiting, expectation, and preparation. Sacrifice, then, was and is very much in keeping with the spirit of the season.
 
It is true that similarly to Lent, Advent is a penitential time, a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of the King! That’s why these two have the liturgical color of purple. It is Christmas and the Easter Season which are seasons to celebrate the new life in Christ, that’s why the liturgical colors during these seasons are white and gold.
 
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