First Sunday of Advent (Catholic / Christian Protestant)

For Catholics, the new Liturgical Year commences with the first Sunday of Advent. In this new liturgical year, the Church not only wishes to indicate the beginning of a year, but the beginning of a renewed commitment to the faith by all those who follow Jesus Christ. Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas. Advent means ‘Coming’ in Latin. This is the coming of Jesus into the world.

Many christians celebrate the Advent season with special hymns and prayers. Some also create, at home or church, wreaths of evergreens with four candles, one for each week of the season. A new candle is lit each week, symbolizing the approaching light of Jesus, who came into the world at Christmas.