What is Advent? The Beautiful Season of Waiting
- Next Generation IMPACT
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
If you grew up in church, you probably remember Advent wreaths with their purple candles, or maybe lighting one more candle each Sunday as Christmas got closer. But if you didn't grow up with this tradition, Advent might feel a bit mysterious. Or maybe it's just gotten lost in the shuffle of holiday chaos.
Here's what Advent really is. It is the four-week countdown before Christmas when Christians intentionally slow down to prepare their hearts for celebrating Jesus' birth.
What "Advent" Actually Means
The word "Advent" comes from the Latin adventus, which means "coming" or "arrival." And isn't that exactly what this season is about? Waiting for Jesus to arrive in the Christmas story.
It's kind of like how you would prepare your home and your heart if someone incredibly important was coming to visit. You wouldn't just wing it. You would get ready with intention.
Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas Day, and it serves a beautiful dual purpose: it helps us remember Christ's first coming as a baby in Bethlehem, and it reminds us to watch for His promised return. It connects the past, present, and future of our faith all at once.
The Four Themes of Advent
Each week of Advent carries its own theme, though these can vary slightly depending on your church tradition. Typically, the four Sundays focus on hope, peace, joy, and love. These aren't just nice-sounding words. They are invitations to reflect more deeply on what Jesus coming to earth really means for us.
Week by week, as you move through these themes, you're building toward Christmas with growing anticipation and understanding. It's a progression, a journey towards the manger.
The Advent Wreath Tradition
One of the most recognizable Advent traditions is the Advent wreath. You've probably seen it: a circular wreath with four candles around the outside (sometimes with a fifth candle in the center for Christmas Day). Each Sunday, you light one more candle, so the light gradually increases as Christmas approaches.
It's a simple but powerful visual reminder: Christ came as the light entering a dark world. And each week, that light grows brighter.
Why Advent Matters Now
Here's the truth. The weeks before Christmas can feel absolutely frantic. Shopping, decorating, parties, school events, family obligations. It is a lot.
Advent offers something countercultural in the middle of all that noise:
Whether you observe Advent through church services, daily devotional readings, or simple family traditions like lighting candles at dinner, the point is the same. It's about creating space to remember why Christmas matters in the first place.
Because the arrival we're celebrating? It changed everything.
Celebrate Advent with your family with this free online Advent Calendar or devotional counting down to Christmas