Advent

Advent (ad-venio in Latin or "to come to") is a time of preparation for the Lord's birth on Christmas Day. Advent is the beginning of the Church year and is comprised of the four Sundays before Christmas culminating on Christmas Eve and marked by special seasonal devotions. During Advent we are called to prepare for the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, His final coming at the end of the world, and His coming into our hearts today. Some popular Advent activities and devotions are the lighting of the Advent wreath each Sunday and using a daily Advent calendar for children.