How Do Christians Celebrate Advent?

For Christians, Advent, a time of preparation, begins on the Sunday nearest to 1st December. There are four Sundays of Advent before the celebration of Christmas as well. At Masses and Services, a candle on the Advent Wreath is lit each Sunday. The wreath consists of three purple candles, one pink and one white candle in the middle of the wreath. The pink candle is for the third Sunday of Advent and the purple ones for the rest. The white candle is lit at the Celebration of the Nativity on Christmas Day.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the readings focus on the coming of Christ to his people on earth and the prophecies by John the Baptist and others associated with the birth of the Son of God. At the celebration of Mass, the priest wears purple vestments to emphasise the solemnity of the season. Churches hold special Advent services and Services of Reconciliation, where the Sacrament of Confession is widely offered and encouraged to the faithful. Many Catholics go on retreat at this time.