We will be exploring the Seasons of the Christian Calendar on this webpage.
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
Season of Advent
Advent is the beginning of the church year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which this year is December 1, and ends on Christmas Eve at sundown.
The Advent wreath is one of the ways we celebrate Advent. The Advent wreath consists of 5 candles, three purple and one pink. The white candle in the middle is the Christ candle which is lit on Christmas Eve.
December 15 we will light the candle of Joy. As we wait for Christmas, the birth of Jesus, we look forward to the joyful celebrations we will share with those we love. The third candle reminds us of our joy in Jesus Christ.
Feast Days and Special Days
December 6 - St. Nicholas Day - provides a good antidote to the commercial Santa Claus.
December 6 - National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women
(Canada)
Meaning of Name:
The term Advent comes via Old English from the Latin advents ("arrival"). It is a combination of ad (to) + venire (come). In Advent, we are anticipating the arrival of the baby Jesus as well as the Second Coming of Christ.
Liturgical Colour: Purple or Blue
Blue is used within most United Churches for Advent, though some continue with the older practice of using purple. Blue was adopted to symbolize hope and replace the penitential purple, associated with Lent.
Season of Christmas
Christmas Day is fixed on December 25 and begins the Christmas Season, which runs through January 5.
Meaning of Name:
The word Christmas comes from Old English Cristes maesse or "Christ's mass," referring to the worship service in celebration of Christ's birth.
Liturgical Colours: White or Gold
White which is all colours of light combined, traditionally, symbolizes goodness, innocence and God's faithfulness. Gold reflects glory, triumph, wealth and extravagance. Together they symbolize the light of dawn and are colours of celebration.
Advent is the beginning of the church year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which this year is December 1, and ends on Christmas Eve at sundown.
The Advent wreath is one of the ways we celebrate Advent. The Advent wreath consists of 5 candles, three purple and one pink. The white candle in the middle is the Christ candle which is lit on Christmas Eve.
December 15 we will light the candle of Joy. As we wait for Christmas, the birth of Jesus, we look forward to the joyful celebrations we will share with those we love. The third candle reminds us of our joy in Jesus Christ.
Feast Days and Special Days
December 6 - St. Nicholas Day - provides a good antidote to the commercial Santa Claus.
December 6 - National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women
(Canada)
Meaning of Name:
The term Advent comes via Old English from the Latin advents ("arrival"). It is a combination of ad (to) + venire (come). In Advent, we are anticipating the arrival of the baby Jesus as well as the Second Coming of Christ.
Liturgical Colour: Purple or Blue
Blue is used within most United Churches for Advent, though some continue with the older practice of using purple. Blue was adopted to symbolize hope and replace the penitential purple, associated with Lent.
Season of Christmas
Christmas Day is fixed on December 25 and begins the Christmas Season, which runs through January 5.
Meaning of Name:
The word Christmas comes from Old English Cristes maesse or "Christ's mass," referring to the worship service in celebration of Christ's birth.
Liturgical Colours: White or Gold
White which is all colours of light combined, traditionally, symbolizes goodness, innocence and God's faithfulness. Gold reflects glory, triumph, wealth and extravagance. Together they symbolize the light of dawn and are colours of celebration.