Advent

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Advent is the period leading up to Christmas and officially starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, the nearest Sunday to 30th November, ending on Christmas Eve, 24th December.

In modern times, most people think of Advent as meaning the period running from 1st to 24th December, and commercial Advent Calendars almost always cover this period, and sometimes Christmas Day as well. These calendars contain 24 or 25 numbered "windows", one of which is opened each day to reveal (usually) a chocolate, and behind it a seasonal picture. Christmas has become so commercialised in the last few decades that these pictures might not have any real link to the story behind Christmas at all.

The word Advent is from the Latin word meaning arrival. In many Western churches, it is the start of the liturgical (ceremonial) year. At this time, even the least well-prepared begin to think about getting ready for Christmas and many put decorations in their houses, and even outside, although the tradition of putting these up at midnight on Christmas Eve is still followed by others.

The shops will probably have been full of Christmas bunting, gift ideas and cards for at least a month already, but the number of shoppers begins to build to a peak in December, culminating on the 24th, when everybody and his mother seems to be out getting the last few things needed to make this Christmas the best ever.

It's a great time if you like Christmas carol muzak, but truth to tell, this can get a little wearing on the nerves, which may account for the smaller numbers attending the traditional Christmas Carol services in the churches. Personally, by about the 16th, I'm feeling pretty much "all carolled out".