Advent

Meaning

Advent (from the Latin Adventus, "coming," sc. Redemptoris, " the coming of the Saviour ") , a term used in Christian tradition, refers to the "Coming of the Savior" or "the Christ," and is also related to the "Second Coming of Christ referred to as the Second Advent. Thus, for Christians, since Advent represents the coming or birth of Christ, the period prior to the birth and celebration, has grown into a very significant preparation period, a holy season of the Christian church, often marked by special prayers, fasting and other spiritual reflections and exercises, as well as special celebrations, events and festivals at Christmas, the day of the celebration of the Christ's birth. Other religious traditions, including Buddhism Meitreya, Hinduism Avatar, Judaism Messiah, Zoroastrianism Saoshyans (Savior), and Islam Imam-Mahdi include similar ideas and expectations regarding the "Coming of a Savior" and the Second Coming. This remarkable coincidence of expectations for a saving human intervention, an Advent event, for the sake of believers in these faith traditions, ties back to the overall purpose of religion as the reunification of humankind with God, the Creator.

Origin and History of Advent

In Eastern Orthodox churches - where it is also called the Nativity Fast, Winter Lent or the Christmas Lent - it lasts forty days, beginning on November 15, and in other churches from the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew's Day (30th of November) until Christmas. It is uncertain at what date the season began to be observed. A canon of a council at Saragossa in 380, forbidding the faithful to be absent from church during the three weeks from the 17th of December to the Epiphany, is thought to be an early reference to Advent. The first authoritative mention of it is in the Synod of Lerida (524), and the Council of Tours (567), and since the 6th century it has been recognized as the beginning of the Western ecclesiastical church year.

In the Roman Catholic Church, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. The earliest Advent can begin is November 27 and the latest is December 3. Very often Advent begins on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Technically speaking, Advent ends on December 23. However, if December 24, Christmas Eve, should fall on a Sunday, the Sunday obligation for Catholics to attend Mass still applies, and it is treated as the Fourth Sunday of Advent, and the Vigil of Christmas is commemorated in the Mass. If December 24 occurs during the week, it is not a part of Advent; the Mass of the Vigil is said.

From the 6th century the season was kept as a period of fasting as strict as that of Lent (commencing in some localities on 11 November; this being the feast day of St. Martin, the fast became known as "St. Martin's Fast" or "St. Martin's Lent"), but in the Anglican and Lutheran churches this rule was relaxed, with the Roman Catholic Church doing likewise later, but still keeping Advent as a season of penitence. In addition to fasting, dancing and similar festivities were forbidden, and to the present day, in accordance with the symbolism of liturgical colors, purple vestments are worn at the church services, although in recent years blue has gained favour, an apparent revival of the Sarum Rite, which dates from medieval England (Sarum being the Latin name for Salisbury, where the custom of using blue vestments at this time of year originated).

With the view of directing the thoughts of Christians to the first coming of Christ as Saviour, and to his Second Coming as Judge, special lessons are prescribed for each of the four Sundays in Advent, which are traditionally celebrated with four candles, often on an Advent wreath, with one to be lit each Sunday. The first, second and fourth are purple (or blue), but the third is often pink, to represent Gaudete Sunday with a less sombre liturgy.

In many countries Advent was long marked by diverse popular observances, some of which still survive. Thus in England, especially the northern counties, there was a custom (now extinct) for poor women to carry round the "Advent images," two dolls dressed to represent Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. A halfpenny was expected from every one to whom these were exhibited, and bad luck was thought to menace the household not visited by the doll-bearers before Christmas Eve at the latest.

In Normandy farmers employed children under twelve to run through the fields and orchards armed with torches, setting fire to bundles of straw, and thus it is believed driving out such vermin as are likely to damage the crops. In Italy among other Advent celebrations is the entry into Rome in the last days of Advent of the Calabrian pifferari or bagpipe players, who play before the shrines of the Mary, the mother of Jesus . The Italian tradition is that the shepherds played on these pipes when they came to the manger at Bethlehem to do homage to the Messiah.

Modern Developments of Advent Tradition

While considered a penitential season in the Christian tradition, Advent is not considered as strict as Lent, and generally fasts are not required. And, in many places it is marked by popular observances, mentioned above, including the lighting of Advent candles.

External link

Catholic Advent Traditions and Customs
Liturgy of Hours for Advent
The Christian Season of Advent at the Christian Resource Institute
Catholic Encyclopedia: Advent

ca:Advent cs:Advent da:Advent de:Advent et:Advent es:Adviento nl:Advent ja:アドベント no:Advent pl:Adwent sv:Advent (högtid)

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