All About Advent
THE REAL MEANING OF THE SEASON
What is Advent?
The season of Advent is a time of expectation, when we prepare our home and our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. The word Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming”.
Advent is a season of hope, a time to nurture peace and experience joy in anticipation for the love that is made incarnate with the birth of Jesus.
Keep this purpose ever in mind as you make your plans to prepare for Christmas. Everything will make sense or become senseless in relation to this purpose. If baking cookies helps you achieve this purpose, bake away. Sitting quietly on a park bench, taking long walks in quiet places, visiting your church each day, reading, singing, serving others...whatever it is that helps you achieve the purpose of Advent, give yourself to those activities.
Wake up each day with this purpose in your heart and on your mind. Purpose has a way of transforming the way we live our lives. Allow the purpose of Advent to transform you.
When Does Advent Begin?
This year, Advent begins on Sunday, December 1, 2024. The first day of Advent marks the beginning of the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar year.
Is Christmas Day a Holy Day of Obligation in 2024?
Holy Days of Obligation are days Catholics are required to attend Mass and should do their best to avoid unnecessary work. You can attend Mass on the day of, or go to a vigil Mass the night before. Holy Days of Obligation, sometimes humorously referred to as Holy Days of Opportunity, provide chances to deepen our faith and grow in our relationship with God through worship and reflection.
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Advent Traditions
God created you to flourish. Are you flourishing this year? As you look to Christmas are you confident that what you have planned is going to help you and those you love to flourish? If not, it is time to adjust the plan. It is time for some fun, healthy, serious, lighthearted, profound, and bold routines, rituals, and traditions.
Routines, rituals, and traditions play a powerful role in human flourishing. They can be as silly as Christmas pajamas and profound as Sunday Mass.
The season of Advent is a wonderful time to establish or reestablish some routines, rituals, and traditions. Here are just a few examples of Advent traditions many Catholics implement:
Advent Calendars
One Advent tradition that kids love is the Advent calendar. This special calendar doesn’t just track the days of Advent—each day of the calendar also contains a numbered flap, which opens to show a picture or a small surprise. Each box is filled with daily inspiration that will help your kids grow through Bible verses, reflections, and holiday fun!
Advent Wreaths
Many Catholic families set up an Advent wreath, which has three purple candles and one pink candle. Every week, you light a new candle and say a special Advent prayer.
Special Advent Prayer Traditions:
Advent Novena
One special way to celebrate Advent and prepare for Christmas is to say a novena, especially to a saint like Saint Andrew or Saint Nicholas. A novena is a nine-day prayer that you typically say to a specific saint for a special intention. Some novenas are said in one day, or over nine months, but typically you repeat them over nine consecutive days. Some people add on extra practices like fasting or acts of service to deepen their novena experience!O Antiphons
You can also add the “O Antiphons” to your personal prayer. The O Antiphons are ancient prayers traditionally used during the last week of Advent (you might recognize some of them from the song “Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel”).The Advent Fast
There is great wisdom in the Christian practice of fasting—even though its benefits are largely forgotten. Fasting is a spiritual exercise, and as such is primarily an action of the inner life. Authentic fasting draws us nearer to God and opens our hearts to receive his many gifts.
Even though it’s not as common, there is an old Catholic tradition of fasting during Advent. Why? To get your heart ready for the arrival of Jesus.
Advent Feast Days and Solemnities
We become what (and who) we celebrate. If there’s one thing Catholics love, it’s to celebrate. We celebrate all that God has done for us, we celebrate different spiritual milestones, and we celebrate saints! During Advent, there’s no exception. Here are a few powerful feast days that Catholics celebrate throughout Advent:
December 6: Feast of St. Nicholas
How to Celebrate St. Nick's Feast Day: There are many St. Nicholas traditions, but one of the most fun is the custom where children leave a pair of shoes or a stocking out to receive candy or small gifts from St. Nicholas.
December 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
How to Celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception: This feast is an opportunity to celebrate the Catholic doctrine that Mary was conceived completely free of original sin. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation, so Catholics attend Mass just like any Sunday. Additionally, you could celebrate by praying a Rosary or singing Marian hymns like “Ave Maria.”
December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe
How to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Try praying a Rosary or saying a Hail Mary to Our Lady of Guadalupe. If you want to have the most powerful experience, join millions of pilgrims who journey to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City to see the real-life miraculous tilma with your own eyes!
December 13: Feast of St. Lucy
How to Celebrate St. Lucy's Feast Day: If you want to celebrate St. Lucy’s feast day, there are a few things you can do. First, you could pray a novena to Saint Lucy, attend Mass in her honor, or listen to the song “Sancta Lucia.” In Sweden, girls will serve their family a sweet treat while wearing all white and a crown with candles.
World-Wide Advent Traditions
There are amazing Advent traditions all around the world—maybe you’ll be inspired to bring them into your family’s celebrations, too! Here are just a few examples:
In Germany and Austria, Catholics celebrate St. Barbara’s feast day in a special way. On December 4th a small cherry branch is cut and put into a vase in a warm room. The branch typically blooms right around Christmas—and if the blossoms arrive on December 25, it’s considered good luck! This tradition aligns perfectly with Advent, the season of anticipation for the birth of Jesus. It serves as a symbolic reminder of the hopeful expectation and joyous blooming that accompanies his arrival.
A common tradition in Mexico and some other Latin American countries is the celebration of Las Posadas, which means “The Inns.” This is a nine-day event where the community forms a parade procession to symbolize Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn in Bethlehem. The parade is made mostly of children dressed up as different characters like an angel. Each night, participants dressed up as Mary and Joseph travel through the neighborhood or town and ask for lodging. They are denied, but the host provides refreshments! Christmas carols are sung. On the final night Mary and Joseph are welcomed and a feast is held. Children break open pinatas filled with candy and small toys.
In the Philippines, a unique tradition called Simbang Gabi is observed during Advent. It is a series of nine early morning Masses held from December 16th to 24th, often starting at 4AM! These Masses serve as a preparation for Christmas and are often followed by festive meals and gatherings.
If you want to have a powerful Advent experience, followed by an amazing Christmas, begin by deciding what matters most, and then honor, celebrate, prioritize, and bask in those few things.
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