It will soon be the first of December. In popular opinion and cultural practice, this is the day that counting down to Christmas begins.
Advent marks a time of waiting with anticipation. This anticipation is three-fold in celebrating the coming of Christ. Firstly it’s the celebration of the coming of Christ in person at the first Christmas in Bethlehem. Secondly, we celebrate the coming of Christ into the hearts of believers. Thirdly, Advent celebrates the second coming of Christ in the future. Advent is therefore a celebration of past, present and future.
Growing up we had a cardboard Advent calendar with doors that opened each day from the first of December, to reveal a Christmas image. In a family of four children, we eagerly awaited our turn to open a door, hoping that the maths would work in our favour and we’d be the one to open the last door and reveal the image of the Nativity. I can remember gathering around the cardboard calendar and experiencing a thrill as I took part in the daily ritual of counting down.
Today Advent calendars come in all varieties with a mixture of opening doors, boxes, drawers, envelopes, bags, mini stockings and more. The contents of these containers, vary hugely and you can find Advent calendars to buy or make involving almost anything that interests you. These calendars usually begin on the first December and count down until the last day of Advent, Christmas Eve.
If we’re being official and counting down according to the Church seasons, the first official day of Advent this year is on the 3rd December. Advent dates right back to the early centuries after the birth of Christ. It’s not known for sure when Advent started but likely in the 4th or 5th Century CE. The official counting of Advent across most Christian denominations begins four Sundays before Christmas day, making the start of Advent moveable. This year we have the shortest Advent of 22 days. The longest Advent is 28 days and by a quirk of calendar maths we don’t get to experience that again until 2033.
To make things easy, we’re following the common cultural practice of beginning our countdown on 1st December. And it’s getting closer!!! Counting Down to Christmas begins very soon.
Our friends Detective Sam T. Sirhc and her trusty sidekick Leon are ready to appear in your inbox every day. So are the Christmas friends; Holly, Star, Angel and Snow who will star in our daily video vignette.
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There’s a paywall inserted right here. If you can see it this means you’re not yet a paid subscriber. You can upgrade at any time throughout Advent to become a paid subscriber.If you’d prefer not to pay via Substack but want to subscribe please email me for an invoice (caroline@kererupublishing.com) Each day free subscribers will see the countdown door and the video vignette. All other content will be below the paywall.