Advent begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, and lasts until Christmas Eve (The start date and duration is different for those in Eastern Orthodox churches). In 2008, the Advent Sundays are November 30, December 7, December 14, and December 21. In 2009, they'll be November 29, December 6, December 13, and December 20.
The word advent means “coming,” and that is what we consider during the Advent season. We light a series of candles in an Advent wreath, pray, read from the Bible, and talk about what we’re to consider each week. We start by remembering that God’s people once waited for the Messiah, whom we believe was born on Christmas Day. We, too, look forward to the advent of that same Messiah, whom we believe will one day return. We continue each week developing that theme, with different readings and different “assignments” for the week. There are excellent web resources for Advent, though we have also relied on a simple book called Family Nights for Advent and Christmas.
Setting aside some time on Sunday afternoons is easy for us. What’s more difficult is spending time together every night, but we try, with a daily chapter from Tabitha’s Travels. Of course, sometimes that means three chapters to make up for missed days!
Each year, Halloween seems to mark the point at which life shifts into a different gear. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hannukah or Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s Day — it’ already so much! What room is there for yet another holiday this time of year?
Advent doesn’t require giving gifts, and doesn’t rely on any “things” other than a Bible and, optionally, candles and a wreath. Advent doesn’t depend on the stock market or your mortgage. Advent doesn’t require any changes to your other holiday traditions, other than setting aside a short time once a week. Still, we’ve found that taking that time, and changing our focus, even briefly, helps us to avoid some of the excesses of consumerism — but not all!
Article comments
1 - Josh Hathaway
The Advent years were tied to the Catholic years in our house, but I remember them even though I was still quite young. Fondly. When the fam shifted from Catholic to Protestant, Advent went with it. Because of that, I always tied one to the other and never looked back.
I wrote a bit about my ambivalence towards the holidays today and how I wish it were different. i think it's great that your family has discovered a way to combat a bit of that.
I also love that your wife celebrates birthdays ruthlessly. That's just funny. Well done, sir.
2 - Phillip Winn
Josh, I think I might have been dimly aware of Advent -- MAYBE -- as a younger child, but dismissed it as a Roman Catholic thing. Turns out the modern trend of Advent was started by Martin Luther, though, and you don't get any more Protestant than that!
In any case, I remain thoroughly and whole-heartedly Protestant, and enjoy Advent heatedly.
I think adverbs add spice to sentences, and "ruthlessly" is honestly the best way to describe her passion for birthdays. :-)
3 - Dave White
As a kid I have fond memories of opening up the advent calendars one day at a time, especially if it was one of the kind that had a piece of chocolate behind every door...
4 - Phillip Winn
Ah, advent calendars. Is that one of those things I was supposed to stop doing when I grew up? Oops!
5 - Mary K. Williams
Very, very nice Phillip. Thanks for the simple reminder of not only what's coming, but what we have already and not just in December, but always.
This inspires me to dig out a great book called How Far to Bethlehem by Norah Lofts. It's out of print, but I was able to find one on the 'net. I think I might start reading it to the kids at our Youth Ministry.