What is Advent?

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David2010

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I have a couple questions about Advent; they are selling Advent wreaths and candles in the back of the church now, so it comes to mind.

First of all, what, exactly, is Advent? Is it simply a fancy way of referring to the four weeks leading up to Christmas?

And secondly, when do you start lighting the candles? This year, Advent begins on November 28. So do I light the first candle on November 28? That means the four candles would be lit on December 19. Or should the first candle be lit the Sunday following November 28?
 
Advent is the first season of the new liturgical year. It is a season of preparation and expectation. That does not just mean getting presents wrapped and that Mary is expecting her Child. We are to prepare ourselves for Jesus’ coming to us and wait for Him in joyful expectation.

I don’t know about the Advent candles for sure, but we always light one the first sunday of Advent, two on the second sunday, three (the pink one third) on the third sunday, and all four on the fourth sunday.
 
seanflynn said:
. . .

I don’t know about the Advent candles for sure, but we always light one the first sunday of Advent, two on the second sunday, three (the pink one third) on the third sunday, and all four on the fourth sunday.
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Some reload with white candles and continue to use the Wreath through the Christmas Season.
 
A couple more–related–questions have come to mind since I made the initial post in this thread:
  1. Can the candles be lit on Saturdays instead of Sundays, say, after we get back from Saturday evening mass? Or is it best to do it on a Sunday?
  2. Is there a prayer or something to be said as you light the candle(s), or just after they are lit? You don’t just light the candle and walk away, do you?
 
Advent is a for week preparation for Christmas, remembering the time before Christ came. In the traditional mind it starts with the Saturday evening (vespers) before the first Sunday of Advent, it this year 27th November evening. (the latest possible date is 2nd December evening, which will be in 2017)

When I was child we lighted the candles every night, one candle on the first week, two on the second and so on. Also on the early morning we attended the so called Rorate Mass. After the Mass we all sung a hymn with the antiphon: Roráte caéli désuper, et núbes plúant jústum. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorate_Coeli

Also part of the Advent is the O antiphons. Beginning of 17th December special Antiphons for Magnificat remember the preparation for the Emmanual, Christ coming.

Special Mexican celebration is the Posadas

mexconnect.com/articles/2816-las-posadas

9 day remembering the travel of Mary and Jesus to Betlehem.

In Hungary children went from house to house also about for 9 days before Christmas performing a mystery play about Christ’s birth. The best group acted before the Midnight Mass of Christmas too.

Another Hungarian custom was the chair of Lucy. According to the belief if someone made a chair starting at the evening of St Lucy’s feast (12-13) and finishing on the night before Christmas from logs of 13 different trees, than standing on that on the Christmas Mass one saw the witches.
 
David2010 said:
A couple more–related–questions have come to mind since I made the initial post in this thread:
  1. Can the candles be lit on Saturdays instead of Sundays, say, after we get back from Saturday evening mass? Or is it best to do it on a Sunday?
  2. Is there a prayer or something to be said as you light the candle(s), or just after they are lit? You don’t just light the candle and walk away, do you?
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Yes there are prayers given. However, it is a private devotion; so no mandatory format. As I recall we got it from the Lutherans.

I don’t have a reference at hand, but suspect that if you Google “Advent Wreath” you’ll get more than you ever wanted to know.
 
I purchased an Advent Wreath and candles and lit the first one this afternoon. It came with a small piece of paper that listed the themes of each week, and short prayers to be said as the candles are lit.

In case anybody is interested:

First Sunday of Advent: Theme: Hope (or Faith)
Light one purple candle
Prayer: O Emmanuel, Jesus Christ, desire of every nation, Savior of all people, come and dwell among us.

Second Sunday of Advent: Theme: Love
Light second purple candle
Prayer: O King of all nations, Jesus Christ, only joy of every heart, come and save your people.

Third Sunday of Advent: Theme: Joy
Light pink candle
Prayer: O Key of David, Jesus Christ, the gates of heaven open at your command, come and show us the way to salvation.

Fourth Sunday of Advent: Theme: Peace
Light third purple candle (now all four candles are lit)
Prayer: O Wisdom, holy Word of God, Jesus Christ, all things are in your hands, come and show us the way to salvation.
 
The word “Advent” comes from the Latin “advenire” which means “arrival” and refers to our awaiting the arrival of the commemoration of Christ’s birth, and His Second Coming. This somber, penitential season of expectation lasts from the first Sunday of Advent (“Advent Sunday”) to 24 December (22 - 28 calendar days). Its color is violet.
catholicforum.fisheaters.com/
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newliturgicalmovement.org/index.html#7314642022570426954

newliturgicalmovement.org/2010/11/customs-of-advent-advent-wreath.html

vultus.stblogs.org/

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