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Advent
Advent is a customary time of contemplation and pre-advent is a time of contemplation and preparation for Christmas. Advent has parallels with the season of Lent that precedes Easter. "Advent" is a Latin word meaning "the coming."
The season of Advent is celebrated in Churches for four Sundays prior to Christmas Day and an Advent Wreath is commonly used. The wreath symbolizes a light in the midst of darkness. This wreath comprises seasonal plants, such as holly and ivy and usually has four red candles surrounding a central white one.
Each Sunday of Advent a candle is lit during the service until on Christmas Day all four red and the central white candle are burning. The candles remind us of the light of God coming into the world, and the light from the candles grows brighter as each week comes closer to Christmas
Advent Calendars are popular with children as they usually contain a piece of chocolate or a picture for each day starting from December 1st and ending on Christmas Day. Part of the fun of Christmas is opening a new flap each day to obtain the small gift underneath.
Author Unknown
When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow, We hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago, And etched on vacant places Are half-forgotten faces Of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know.
--Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The tradition of Christmas lights dates back to when Christians were persecuted for saying Mass. A simple candle in the window meant that Mass would be celebrated there that night.
