<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><base href="https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/the-beautiful-meaning-and-purpose-of-advent.html?aps=f9a52ee9fe1af6e97d460e2c6d6a7f4db2bb2da6cf328c9281519dc75a8392ba&utm_content=1129189_20241201_278&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lst_bst_daily_bible_living&utm_source=newsletter&bt_ee=OluaDmB6dpFKTONYCprmDkFBi8Smr1rmvlULitKmPQCnW768EP1s%2BUoXUif1baQx&bt_ts=1733051213517"><style id="print"></style><title>What is Advent? Meaning and Traditions Explained</title><div class="original-url"><br><a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/the-beautiful-meaning-and-purpose-of-advent.html?aps=f9a52ee9fe1af6e97d460e2c6d6a7f4db2bb2da6cf328c9281519dc75a8392ba&utm_content=1129189_20241201_278&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lst_bst_daily_bible_living&utm_source=newsletter&bt_ee=OluaDmB6dpFKTONYCprmDkFBi8Smr1rmvlULitKmPQCnW768EP1s%2BUoXUif1baQx&bt_ts=1733051213517">https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/the-beautiful-meaning-and-purpose-of-advent.html?aps=f9a52ee9fe1af6e97d460e2c6d6a7f4db2bb2da6cf328c9281519dc75a8392ba&utm_content=1129189_20241201_278&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=lst_bst_daily_bible_living&utm_source=newsletter&bt_ee=OluaDmB6dpFKTONYCprmDkFBi8Smr1rmvlULitKmPQCnW768EP1s%2BUoXUif1baQx&bt_ts=1733051213517</a><br><br></div><div id="article" role="article" style="-webkit-locale: "en"; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" class="system exported">
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<div class="page" style="text-align: start; overflow-wrap: break-word; max-width: 100%;"><h1 class="title" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.95552em; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: start; hyphens: manual; display: block; max-width: 100%;">Advent: The Beautiful Meaning, Purpose, and Traditions Explained</h1><h2 class="subhead" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start; hyphens: manual; display: block; color: rgba(27, 27, 27, 0.65); font-size: 1.46664em; margin-top: -0.35em; line-height: 1.27275em; max-width: 100%;">Compiled & Edited by Crosswalk Editorial Staff
Crosswalk.com
Updated
Oct 23, 2024</h2><div class="leading-image" style="max-width: 100%; margin-bottom: 1.15em; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);"><img src="https://i.swncdn.com/media/700w/via/5551-nativity-manger-christmas-lights-gettyimages-.jpg" alt="Advent: The Beautiful Meaning, Purpose, and Traditions Explained" class="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; margin: auto; display: block; clear: both;" data-unique-identifier=""></div>
<p style="max-width: 100%;">In the quiet anticipation of Christmas, a time of profound spiritual reflection and preparation unfolds within the Christian calendar. For many, it is a time marked by the lighting of candles, the joy of cherished traditions, and the vibrant chords of carols that herald the birth of a child in Bethlehem. This sacred season is known as Advent, a word that itself holds the promise of something extraordinary yet to come. But what is Advent, and why is it so significant in the lives of millions of Christians worldwide?</p><h2 style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">What Does Advent Mean?</h2><p style="max-width: 100%;">The Advent season is a four-week period before Christmas that celebrates the anticipation and coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The origin of "advent" is from the Latin word <em style="max-width: 100%;">adventus,</em> which simply translates as "coming" or "arrival." Not only is the Christian meaning for preparing and celebrating the coming of Jesus Christ, his birth at Christmas, but also to celebrate the new life when someone accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, and lastly, the anticipation of Jesus returning again. </p><p style="max-width: 100%;">There are beautiful and rich traditions behind the celebration of Advent. Let's take a deeper look at the focus and themes of each week of Advent, and some of the traditions celebrated worldwide during the Advent season. May you find time to slow down this Christmas season, say "no" to the things that distract you from Jesus, and say "yes" to the gift that God wants you to experience.</p>
</div></div></div><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">rev. Dr. Carolyn Peters, Ohio National Federation Of The Blind, board member. Ohio Communities Of Faith division, President. Miami Valley Chapter, President. 937-657-5134<div></div><div>Dr.carolyn.peters@gmail.com</div><div><br></div><div>👩🦯</div></div></body></html>