Advent

Advent is the Christian season of preparation for Christmas, observed during the weeks before December 25. It looks toward both the celebration of Jesus’s birth and the anticipated return of Christ.

Incarnation: The Christian belief that God became human in Jesus Christ. Christmas celebrates the incarnation that Advent anticipates.
Advent calendar: A calendar that counts down the days to Christmas, often with a daily opening or activity. It turns Advent’s waiting into a sequence of daily observances.
Gregory the Great: Pope from 590 to 604 whose reforms shaped Western Christian liturgy and church practice. Tradition associates Gregory with shaping the Roman observance of Advent.
Nativity Fast: The Eastern Christian fasting period preceding the feast of the Nativity of Christ. It parallels Advent as preparation for Christmas but follows a distinct calendar and discipline.
Second Coming: The Christian expectation that Jesus Christ will return at the end of history. Advent also directs attention toward Christ’s future return.
Advent wreath: A wreath with candles used in many churches and homes during Advent. Its candles mark the passage of the season week by week.
Roman Rite: The liturgical tradition that developed in Rome and is used by the Catholic Church and other communities. The Roman Rite established the Western Advent season’s four-Sunday pattern.
Lent: The Christian season of prayer, fasting, and repentance before Easter. Both seasons prepare for major feasts, but Lent centers on Easter and lasts longer.
Christian liturgical year: The annual cycle of seasons and feast days that structures Christian worship. Advent opens the liturgical year in many Western churches.
Advent Sunday: Any of the four Sundays observed during Advent in many Western churches. These Sundays structure the season’s worship and countdown to Christmas.

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