What is Advent? Where does the word come from

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‘The arrival of a notable person or thing’ Oxford English Dictionary.

Photo by Grant Whitty on Unsplash

What and when is Advent Sunday?

Advent Sunday is the first of four Sundays leading up to Christmas. It marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical year and the period leading up to Christmas.

Symbols

The Advent wreath or Advent crown marks the passage of the four weeks of the Advent season. It started as a Lutheran practice but was later adopted by most other Christian denominations.

Etymology

Advent derives from the Latin root, adventus. This approximates as ‘arrival’ through advenire, with ad meaning ‘to’ and venire ‘come’.

When used in general English, advent describes a 'starting point' e.g the advent of mobile phones.

Biblical significance 

The word itself is not biblical but it links closely to the role of prophecy in the Old Testament. This emphasised the need 'to be ready' for a future manifestation of the Messiah.

Detail from "Prophets" (1447) by Fra Angelico. (WikiArt.org)

This preparation is often expressed in terms of moving out of darkness and towards light.

Isaiah 7:14: the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanu-el

Isaiah 9:2: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Isaiah 9:6: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given

Jeremiah 23:5: Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David and he shall reign as king and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land

Christian Tradition

The first reference to what we now term Advent in Christian teaching is in the late sixth century. By around the year 800 CE mid mid-winter festivals were adapted to the Christian calendar. 

Modern usage

Advent became an umbrella term to describe the immediate period leading up to the celebration of the birth of Christ on Christmas Day. 

An extended version of the post is available here (3 minute Medium free read)

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