snowflakes

The Season of Advent

Here’s something I didn’t know before….The Season of Advent. I see the word “Advent” everywhere I went. Even though the posters, flyers and advertisements are all in German, but this word shares the same spelling as in English. I wiki-ed it, and here’s the information I found:

Theme: Preparing for the Coming of the Lord
Dates: Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on the day before Christmas. Thus it begins on 2 December and ends on 24 December at sundown. (Christmas Eve begins at sundown.)
Colors: In most churches, the decorations are purple or blue; royal colors to welcome the King.

More infos here.

There are many wreaths on sale around town during Advent. There are 4 candles on each wreath, with one candle representing each of the four Sundays preceding Christmas.

In the home an Advent wreath is often placed on the dining table and the candles lighted at meals, with Scripture readings preceding the lighting of the candles, especially on Sunday. A new candle is lighted each Sunday during the four weeks, and then the same candles are lighted each meal during the week. In this context, it provides the opportunity for family devotion and prayer together, and helps teach the Faith to children, especially if they are involved in reading the daily Scriptures.

An Advent Reflection: There are just so many meaningful Christian traditions that we have overlooked. But no matter what denominations we are in, no matter which tradition we practice, as long as we earnestly seek Him, He can be found. As christmas is drawing near, let us use this time to be thankful and to appreciate that the best gift to the world is Jesus Christ!

Happy Advent everyone!

Up next, colourful christmas markets, stay tuned!