It’s advent!

I adore Advent – it’s no secret that Christmas is my favourite time of year. Advent for me is a chance to luxuriate in the joys of Christmas: the sights, smells, and most importantly tastes of a time of year that (if I could get away with it) I would probably celebrate 11 months of the year, not one.

But just what is Advent itself? Where did it come from, and why do we still celebrate it?

Great questions!

For a start, like many parts of the English language the word ‘advent’ comes from a Latin word; in this case, adventus, which means coming or arrival. It refers specifically to the coming of the Messiah, a promised leader of the Jewish nation. Jesus was and is considered by many to be that Messiah, so his birth is the ‘coming’. That’s why Advent precedes Christmas, the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

We don’t actually know exactly when Advent started to be celebrated, but it was definitely being celebrated by 480. By 567, monks were ordered by the Council of Tours to fast during Advent; just like the common practice of fasting during Lent and then feasting at Easter, many people fasted during December and then feasted at Christmas.

There are plenty of religious traditions in Christian churches connected to Advent, including the lighting of candles and reading specific portions of the Bible. For me, Advent is a time to celebrate the light in the darkness during winter: warmth, friends, family, loved ones, good food, terrible TV, and of course, as much cheese as I can physically get away with.

What about you? Do you have any Advent traditions?