The first 24 days of December is the time period known as Advent. This time period leads up to Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. Advent from a language prospective actually owes its roots to a Latin word, “adventus.” This word means “coming” and it denotes that the holiday precedes the day that Christ comes.
One way that Advent is prepared for is by use of a device known as an Advent calendar. A simple device, in many cases actually created by children, this device allows the celebrants to track how far they are along in the Advent holiday period.
An advent calendar usually includes advent candles to track the days of the holiday period. Since there are 24 days that come before Christmas, each day is assigned a candle in the calendar. When a day arrives, the family celebrating the holiday denotes that day by lighting a candle on its behalf.
An advent calendar can appear in a number of forms and fashions. In particular, they are typically used either by or for children celebrating the holidays with their family. For instance, an advent calendar can appear in the form of a Christmas tree with candles attached to the different branches of the tree.
Another advent calendar design is a candy holder calendar. The candy holder calendar includes 24 pockets that are filled with candy. As each day arrives in the holiday season, someone, usually a child, takes the candy out of the holder and eats it.
An advent wreath is another form of preparation for the Advent holiday. Unlike the calendar that tracks each day of the season, the wreath tracks the four weeks of the holiday period. There are four candles that make up the wreath and as each week arrives, a candle is lit to commemorate the arrival of one of the weeks of advent.
In preparing and celebrating the advent holiday days and weeks, celebrants engage in a wide variety of activities. From a religious standpoint, this is a time period where there is much prayer and even fasting in some cases. Priests and Pastors tailor their teachings and sermons to focus on the coming of Christ and what the Christmas holiday is all about. Some worshipers may even decide to sacrifice certain activities such as watching television, listening to certain types of music, etc.
At home, there are a number of Advent activities that can be conducted together as a family. For example, some families have their kids gather together and actually create their own advent calendar or wreath to celebrate the holiday season. Other families have their kids color in special advent themed coloring books that commemorate the holiday season.
Advent is a special time for millions of families all across the world. The decision for how you and your family prepare for it is a personal one. If you need ideas and suggestions, what we have provided here will help give you some ideas as well as help prompt you to come up with your own ideas as to how to celebrate this significant holiday season.
Kerry Beck offers free advent calendars with daily Christmas projects to prepare you for Christmas. you will discover alot about Christmas around the world with some of the daily projects.
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© Kerry Beck, 2008
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about Kerry Beck
Kerry Beck offers free advent calendars with daily Christmas activities to prepare you for Christmas. You’ll learn more about holiday traditions with some of the daily activities. You can receive her free Advent Countdown here: http://www.ChristmasCelebrationIdeas.com
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