Why is Advent actually called Advent, and why do we light four candles instead of three during Advent? What does Lent actually have to do with Advent? We will answer it for you.
“Come, come, a little light burns, first one, then two, then three, then four.” But wait. Why actually? Why do we light candles four Sundays before Christmas?
Why is Advent actually called Advent?
Before we go on a brief journey through time, let's start with names. Advent comes from the Latin word “adventus”, which means arrival.
Why do we celebrate Advent?
So do we celebrate the arrival of Sunday? No. We prepare for Christmas and the coming of Jesus at Christmas. The Bible describes Jesus as “the light of the world.” And Advent also has a lot to do with light. In addition to lighting candles, we hang Christmas lights and decorate the tree with lights or candles. So, during Advent, we shine our light on Jesus.
Image: shutterstock
But that's not the only reason to celebrate. Meanwhile, Christians in the Western church tradition celebrate the beginning of a new church year. The Old Church Year ended on the Saturday before First Advent.
renew
This story has been published on Watson, but due to the current situation we decided to update and publish it again.
Why do we light four candles during Advent?
Why do we light four candles? Now we must take a quick detour to another era. Advent dates back to the seventh century. At that time, Advent was not yet called Advent, but “tempus ante natale Domini” (the time before the birth of the Lord).
At that time, Pope Gregory the Great decided to designate the four Sundays of Advent as Advent because after the fall, Adam and Eve were tempted by the fruit and had to wait four thousand years until the savior, Jesus, came. The four candles burned out quickly, but they symbolized four thousand years.
Symbolic image of Adam and Eve. Image: shutterstock
Lent in the era of Cinnamon Star and Mailänderli
This tradition of lighting candles is so ingrained in our society that it’s hard to imagine life without it. But things are different with Advent fasting. The time before Christmas was originally considered Lent. The complete opposite of Advent as we know it today. Mailänderli and Co. does not contain cinnamon stars at all.
Image: shutterstock
When does the First Coming begin?
Since the First Advent always begins on a Sunday, there is no official date. The date of Advent changes every year. First Advent usually begins on the last weekend of November. The First Advent may also occur in December.
When does Advent start in 2024?
On Sunday, December 1, 2024 we will light the first candle. The Second Advent takes place on December 8, 2024, the Third Advent takes place on December 15, and the Fourth Advent takes place on December 22 – two days before Christmas Eve.
(Science and Technology Committee/Leo)
Arrival from the perspective of Watson users
1/52
Arrival from the perspective of Watson users
The largest Advent wreath in the world is located in Toggenburg
Video: srf
You may also be interested in:
In 2013, a British man’s hard drive containing Bitcoins was accidentally thrown away by his partner. But the city of Newport prohibited him from looking for it in the landfill. Now he wants to sue the city.
James Howells, a 39-year-old IT specialist from Wales, has been trying to gain access to Newport landfill for more than a decade, believing there was a hard drive containing his lost bits coin wealth, which made him very angry. .
