Advent Flashcards
What is Advent?
Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is an anglicized version of the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming.” It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday. The Eastern churches’ equivalent of Advent is called the Nativity Fast, but it differs both in length and observances and does not begin the church year, which starts instead on September 1
weekly themes
Week 1 Hope
Week 2 Peace
Week 3 Joy
Week 4 Love
Colors of Advent
The purple or dark blue is a symbol of royalty that anticipates the coming birth of Jesus. It also reflects a spirit of penitence and the need to prepare our hearts. Pink is a secondary Advent color that symbolizes the joy of the season. The evergreens in the Advent wreath signify eternal life that comes to us through Jesus.
the Advent Wreath
The most common sign that the season of Advent has arrived is the Advent wreath. Found in Catholic Churches and homes, this symbol is borrowed from German origins. Originally a circle of evergreens, sometimes attached to a wire, it is fitted with three purple candles, representing the penitential Sundays, and a rose colored candle for Gaudate Sunday - the joyful Sunday. Sometimes there is a white candle in the center called the Christ candle or the Mary candle.
the Jesse Tree
Jesse was the father of the great King David of the Old Testament. He is often looked upon as the first person in the genealogy of Jesus.
In Church art a design developed showing the relationship of Jesus with Jesse and other biblical personages. This design showed a branched tree growing from a reclining figure of Jesse. The various branches had pictures of other Old and New Testament figures who were ancestors of Jesus. At the top of the tree were figures of Mary and Jesus.
