We’ve all heard and probably had an Advent calendar sometime during our lifetime, but do you know the real reason behind the celebration of Advent?
In the religious calendar, Advent is the start of the season in which Christians/Catholics and some other religions prepare to celebrate and commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.
The word Advent derives from the Latin phrase “Adventus Domini”, which translates to the arrival of the Lord.
The Advent season changes from year to year as it starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is also called Advent Sunday or First Sunday of Advent and Advent will always end on Christmas Eve.
Some of the traditions held in churches and homes during the Advent season are the decoration in the house of an Advent wreath furnished with four ornamental candles, many Advent wreaths include a fifth candle, and this one symbolizes the Christ candle. This candle is either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Another traditional held during the Advent season is that of an Advent calendar.
It is thought that the calendars originated from German Protestants. They would make chalk marks on doors or light candles to count the days leading up to Christmas.
Gerhard Lang is the name that is associated with being the producer of the first printed Advent calendar back in the early 1900s.
Nowadays some of the most popular advent calendars are LEGO, whom feature a range of different themes every Christmas, including the LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar, LEGO City Advent Calendar and the new favourite amongst girls, the LEGO Friends Advent Calendar.