The Significance of Advent Before Christmas
(Baonghean.vn) - Advent is considered a season of fervent spiritual preparation, filled with hope and joy.
Advent is the four-week period before Christmas. The main theme of Advent is preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, which usually lasts from 22 to 28 days and includes four Sundays before Christmas Day, ending on Christmas Eve (December 24th).
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The first Sunday of Advent (the fourth Sunday before Christmas) also marks the beginning of the annual Catholic liturgical calendar, which usually falls between November 27 and December 3.
From a Christian perspective, Advent (in Vietnamese, meaning "waiting," "hope"; in Latin: adventus, meaning "coming") is the first season of the liturgical year, encompassing the four Sundays before Christmas (about a month) and ending on Christmas Eve.
Advent is closely linked to and leads into Christmas. Christians embrace the spirit of God's people of old, awaiting the coming of the Lord. The Church invites the faithful to prepare to celebrate the first coming of the Son of God to humankind, while also looking forward to the second coming of Christ. Therefore, Advent should be considered a season of fervent preparation of the soul, filled with hope and joy.
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Stages of the Advent liturgical celebration
Phase I: From the First Sunday of Advent to December 16th.
Phase II: From December 17th to December 24th.