Advent Countdown

Christmas Traditions Around the World

Advent calendars were popular with immigrant families.
They usually are comprised of little windows or houses
with flaps to be opened each day of the month of December up to, and including, Christmas day. Behind these flaps was a poem, scripture, fortune, or piece of chocolate candy. Each day this tradition would be a ritual to open the little door for that particular date and receive a reward or verse. Children relished this wonderful tradition, and families still celebrate the twenty-five days leading to Christmas with advent calendars to this very day.

The Season of Advent Traditions

In the Western Christian tradition Advent is the start of the Christian year, beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ending on Christmas Eve. If Christmas Eve is on Sunday it is counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent until sundown when Christmas Eve begins.

The idea of Advent is to prepare for the Second Coming while remembering the First Coming of Christ at Christmas.

The four Sundays of Advent are often celebrated by the gradual lighting of four candles (the coming of light into the world). Children can be involved in an Advent wreath by helping create a circle of evergreen branches, representing everlasting life. The candles will be placed in this circle of evergreen branches (A Wreath). Gathering seedpods, nuts, and cones for decoration remind us of the symbol of resurrection.

Historically, the Advent color is purple, a sign of penance, however, some churches are now using blue. For the third Sunday a rose candle is used to represent a time of less penance and more rejoicing.

On the first Sunday of Advent, light one candle, the second Sunday two candles are lit; Third Sunday two purple and one rose candle are lit and on the fourth Sunday light all candles.

Eastern churches do not have a Season of Advent, but do follow the original forty-day routine of fasting, prayer and reflection.