Advent is celebrated all around the world and is the period before Christmas that is used to acknowledge the second coming of Jesus Christ. While many people think of the chocolate-filled calendars when they think of Advent, it is so much more. There is more importance in Advent than what many people realize. This is a special time in the Christian church’s religious celectration and should be recognized for its true meaning.

At St. Jude Shop, we can help you learn more about Advent and celebrate it in a traditional way. We offer a variety of books about Advent, as well as Advent candles, wreaths, and calendars to help you celebrate in a meaningful way. In this blog, we are going to talk about some things you may not know about Advent! Read on to learn more and shop our collection of Advent items today.

The Start Date Varies

While many people begin their Advent calendar on the first of December, Advent doesn’t always start then. Advent always contains four Sundays and starts on the Sunday that is closest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, which is on November 30th. This means it can be as early as November 27th or as late as December 3rd.

It Began As a Period of Fasting

While no one truly knows when Advent started being observed, we do know that it started with fasting. Monks in the 5th century CE would fast three times a week throughout November. This was in preparation for Christmas or Epiphany, during which baptisms for new Christians would happen each year. Advent is a time when Christians are encouraged to fast so that they can focus on prayer and repentance. While fasting may not be a common tradition for Advent anymore, it is how it all started.

Two Meanings

There are two meanings of the Advent season. The first meaning of Advent is to celebrate Jesus Christ coming to the world as a man. The second meaning of Advent is to celebrate or prepare for the second coming of Jesus. Because of this, Advent is a time of joy and sorrow. This is a time when Christians pray and reflect on the past year. They mourn the sin and evils of the world, while also preparing for new beginnings and the second coming of Jesus Christ. This is a time to express hope and allows them to renew their faith.

This season is also a reminder of the Old Testament and the promises of the Messiah coming. Isaiah is often read during the Advent season to remind us that we are waiting for the second coming of the Messiah.

A Day to Rejoice

Gaudete Sunday, which is the third Sunday of Advent, is a day when Christians celebrate Jesus Christ’s anticipated arrival. While the weeks leading up to this joyous Sunday are filled with repentance, this is one that is celebrated with joy and gratefulness. On this Sunday, blessings, redemption, and joy are preached and Christains pray to reflect on things that they are grateful for.

The Importance of Sundays

Each Sunday of Advent is important and is used to celebrate or focus on a certain religious topics. These topics include the Prophets, the Messiah, or John the Baptist. These Sundays are an important part of Advent and allows for Christians to spend time remembering the first coming of Jesus and anticipating the second coming.

Christmas Music Is Played Too Early

While many people get excited about the Christmas season and start playing Christmas music after Thanksgiving, this is actually too early to start listening, but that is not because it is not December yet. Devout Christians celebrate Advent by singing hymns that are specific to Advent, including “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” The Christmas music is not listened to until Christmas Eve. So, next time you are having a discussion about when it is appropriate to start listening to Christmas music, remember this.

Advent is a special season in the Christian church. It is a season with a lot of meaning and is meant to be celebrated a certain way. While many people simply get a chocolate-filled calendar to count down the days until Christmas, this is a time of year that is so much more meaningful than that.

We hope you learned something new about Advent and this special season that you can share with your family! If you want to celebrate Advent in the right way, St. Jude Shop can help. We offer a variety of books about Advent that can help you learn more, and help you teach your children! We also can provide you with Advent candles, wreaths, and calendars to help you celebrate the right way. Start shopping and contact us with any questions you may have.