Avondale Pattillo UMC
From Advent to Epiphany...
Advent
The word "Advent" comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "coming". Though we often focus on the past -- the birth of Jesus, when he first came to us -- there are two other aspects to "coming" that are very pertinent to Advent. In the present, we rejoice at the presence of the Holy Spirit, Christ with us. And, of course, we look forward to the future for the second coming of Christ. All three aspects of Advent deserve our attention and reflection.
Also available on this site:
- A format for family Advent ceremonies
- Scripture readings and suggested hymns for Advent through Epiphany
- A list of many seasonal activities for singles and families.
Advent didn't become part of the official church year until about the fourth century, when the Festival of Christmas was established. But the festival held at Christmas time is not only a Christian event. If you go back thousands of years to ancient Egypt, Asia or elsewhere, you will find that a festival was being held at the same time of year that Christianity celebrates the birth of Christ. People celebrated the end of the winter season and the approach of spring. The end of darker, drearier days and the beginning of longer, brighter ones.
Ancient people celebrated the solstice as a time of renewal and rebirth and as a promise, always fulfilled, that soon the land again would be green and lush. Ancient celebrations such as the Saturnalia in Rome and the feasts that were held in the Nordic countries to honor Balder, the god of the sun, served to take minds off the short gloomy days and to help people look forward with hope to better days ahead.
History of the length and dates
Advent officially starts on the Sunday closest to Saint Andrews' Day, which falls on November 30th.
In the early centuries, lectionaries (books containing the scriptural readings for the Liturgy of the Word) listed six Sundays in Advent.
According to the Harper Collins Encyclopedia of Catholicism, Gregory the Great, who died in 604, was the real architect of the Roman Advent. Gregory fixed the season at the current four weeks and composed seasonal prayers and antiphons.
Most people are familiar with the Advent wreath and some even use one in daily family Advent ceremonies. Fewer people are familiar with the story behind the Jesse tree or with the origin or symbolism of Chrismons.
Advent colors - a blue surprise!
The traditional colors of Advent and of Advent Wreath candles have been purple, pink, and white. But blue has begun replacing the purple. Why? Purple is the color for the Lenten season. It indicates penance and repentance. So why use it for Advent? Well, Advent was originally 40 days long, just like Lent, and the church used to stress penance during Advent.
But at the Vatican II Council, the emphasis during Advent was changed to one of hope. Blue is the church color associated hope.
Most modern Christian churches no longer stress penance during Advent. Rather, Advent is a most often seen as a time of preparation, hope, and joy... of looking forward to Christ's second coming as well as backward to his birth. Since the color blue represents hope, many congregations believe that blue candles fit modern Advent celebrations and services better than purple.
The links below are off-site and open in a new window.
- More about Advent and Christmas season traditions...
- Advent hymns online
- Angelic announcement - cross stitch chart
- How to crochet an angel
Avondale Pattillo UMC
3260 Covington Hwy., Decatur, GA 30032
404-294-4063
This page was last edited February 9, 2007 10:32 PM