But what is the season of advent all about?

What is it for?

What am I supposed to do (besides the study)?

I went to my Advent study and this is what Gretchen Saffles says:

“Advent is a latin word that means ‘coming.’ There are two advents in Scripture – the first advent was the incarnation of Christ, and the second advent refers to the future event of Christ’s return to defeat Satan forever and restore God’s kingdom. As Christians, we base our entire lives upon the first advent. We believe that God’s Son became flesh and dwelt among us, lived a sinless life, and died a death we deserved in order to ransom us from the rule or rebellion. We also root our hope in the second advent of Jesus as we eagerly wait, in confidence, for the day he comes again to reign and rule forever. (Romans 8:19; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13).”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

So, the Season of Advent is the time for followers of Jesus to come together and remember all that the Israelites went through in the Old Testament as they awaited for the Messiah to come.

• It is also a time for Christians to step away from the packages, ribbons and bows – and remember their savior.
• It is a time for us to prepare our hearts and homes for Christ’s birth…in the world as we live it today. 
• It is a time for families and communities to remember through prayer, reflections, music and good deeds, what the true meaning of Jesus’ birth really is.

And, as we light the candles of hope, love, peace, and joy, let us remember that the flame of joy can burn brightly within every woman, igniting a sense of empowerment and gratitude.

How to celebrate the Season of Advent –

Because Advent happens throughout the world there are many different ways to celebrate.

I found the BEST information on this blog post: The Meaning of Advent.

Here are a few things that I found: 

Advent Wreath

The most significant tradition in the the Season of Advent is the Advent Wreath.  The wreath and candles are full of symbolism tied to the Christmas season. So what does the Advent Wreath symbolize? 

The wreath is made of various evergreens and signifies continuous life. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, and the everlasting life we have in Christ.

Even the individual evergreens that make up the wreath have their own meanings that can be adapted to our faith. The laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering. The pine, holly, and yew signify immortality and the cedar signifies strength and healing. The pine cones that decorate the wreath symbolize life and resurrection.

The wreath as a whole is meant to remind us of both the immortality of our souls and God’s promise of everlasting life to us through Christ.

Wow…who knew! And then there are the candles…

Advent Candles

The candles also have their own special significance. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, and one candle is lit each Sunday. Three of the candles are purple because the color violet is a liturgical color that signifies a time of prayer, penance, and sacrifice.

• The first candle, which is purple, symbolizes hope. It is sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle” in remembrance of the prophets, especially Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. It represents the expectation felt in anticipation of the coming Messiah.
• The second candle, also purple, represents faith. It is called the “Bethlehem Candle” as a reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
• The third candle is pink and symbolizes joy. It is called the “Shepherd’s Candle,” and is pink because rose is a liturgical color for joy. The third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday and is meant to remind us of the joy that the world experienced at the birth of Jesus, as well as the joy that the faithful have reached the midpoint of Advent.
• On the fourth week of Advent, we light the final purple candle to mark the final week of prayer and penance as we wait for the birth of our Savior. This final candle, the “Angel’s Candle,” symbolizes peace. It reminds us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”

Now, I am fascinated and I just love all of this. In today’s world, most of us have 4 candles that match our home decor, and we light one each Sunday.