Season before Christmas: Where does Advent actually come from?

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Advent refers to the time of preparation for Christmas, when the birth of Jesus is celebrated. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word “Adventus” and means “arrival”. “Adventus” has always been used in connection with the coming of kings, emperors or gods, and was therefore transferred to the birth of Jesus by the early Christians. Advent also commemorates the second coming of Christ, his return on Judgment Day.

Why does Advent last four Sundays?

Advent has been celebrated since the 5th century. In early medieval Christianity, fasting occurred during Advent, usually between St. Martin’s Day on 11 November and 6 January, the original date of Christmas.

Depending on your devotion, this fast lasted from three to eight weeks. Church father Gregory I established the four weeks in the 7th century, ending unequal traditions and still valid today. The four Sundays represent the four directions, the four seasons, the four elements (fire, water, air and earth) and the four cardinal virtues (common sense, justice, prudence, courage). Four is the number attributed to the world in the Old Testament. The four weeks symbolically represent the 4,000 years between the fall of man in the Garden of Eden and the birth of Jesus, according to calculations at the time.

In the Russian Orthodox Church, the tradition of the ancient church has been preserved – in Russia we celebrate Christmas Eve on our Epiphany. Since people fast, dancing, eating and wild celebrations are prohibited on New Year’s Eve.

Three facts about Advent

1. In the 5th century, the French celebrated Advent.Depending on the source, the Advent tradition dates back to the 4th century in Italy. One thing is clear: in 460 the bishop of Tours (France) called for a 40-day fast before Christmas. The Catholic Church only abolished it in 1917.
2. The first Advent wreath had 24 candles: The inventor of the Advent wreath was a German named Johann Hinrich Wichern. In 1833, the director of a kindergarten in Hamburg placed twenty-four candles on a wooden ring to arouse children’s expectation of Christmas.
3. Gated calendars have been in use since 1920: Since the 1850s, “Advent clocks” have been known as cracked calendars or chalkboards. A Munich publisher introduced the first printed Advent calendar at the beginning of the 20th century. The first example with a small opening door is said to date back to 1920.

Where does the Advent wreath come from?

Conceptually, the Advent wreath already existed among German Lutherans in the 16th century, but the origin of the Advent wreath as we know it today dates back to Johann Hinrich Wichern. The Protestant theologian looked after families in the poor area of ​​Hamburg and noticed that the children were looking forward to Christmas. So in 1839 he quickly designed a wooden candelabra and decorated it with 24 candles. Working days were represented by twenty thin, red candles; Wichern chose four thick, white candles for Sundays.

Today only thick waxes remain from Wichern’s detailed version. The wreath also has a wealth of symbolism. Traditionally the wreath consists of pine branches held together with a red bow. The wreath is decorated with pine cones, holly and laurel leaves, and sometimes mistletoe. Evergreen leaves represent life and hope; Since its colors never fade, it also represents God’s eternity. Its round shape represents a crown, while the pointed holly leaves are reminiscent of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore on the cross.

Originally the Protestant Advent wreath was also adopted in Russian Orthodox and Catholic churches. Since Christmas lasts a little longer in Russia, Christmas wreaths have six candles. In some Catholic churches, candles bear liturgical colors. The first three candles are purple: Purple is a symbol of transformation and is worn only at Christmas and Easter. The last candle is pink, a lightened violet color, so to speak, and is an expression of joy.

Who invented the Advent calendar?

The first Advent calendars appeared in Germany in the mid-19th century; Here, children from Protestant families were allowed to erase a chalk mark on a door or wall every day until Christmas. Different traditions developed depending on the family: some burned the candle to the end, others counted the days with pictures. In Catholic families, a straw was placed in the manger every day.

The first printed Advent calendars appeared around 1900; for example, Christmas clocks where the needle is moved every day, or sticky calendars where a picture is cut out and pasted in the right place every day. Advent doors as we know them today were only invented in 1920. (chj)

Source : Blick