The History and Heart of Advent
Most people know Advent as a countdown to Christmas, but its story reaches back centuries. The observation began in the fourth and fifth centuries in parts of Europe, where Christian communities observed several weeks of preparation before Christmas. It didn't always look the same and varied from region to region. Some fasted, others prayed or held quiet gatherings. Some regions observed it for six weeks, or even the 40 days before Christmas. It wasn't until the end of the sixth century that Pope Gregory I standardized the length of the season to the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.
Traditional German Advent Wreath
The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, the arrival of something or someone worth waiting for. At its core, it simply marked a period of waiting for something that mattered. Across the centuries, people filled that waiting with small rituals. One example of this is the creation of the first Advent wreath. In Germany in 1839, there was a Lutheran Pastor named Johann Hinrich Wichern, who spent his time caring for children in need. The children would ask him every morning how many days were left until Christmas. To help them see the days pass, he built a wooden wheel fitted with small candles for weekdays and larger ones for Sundays. This became part of their winter routine and was adopted as a tradition throughout the area. You can read a more detailed history here.
Some of the most memorable Advent traditions come from specific cultures. In Denmark, many families burn a kalenderlys, which is a single tall candle printed with the numbers one through twenty-four. Children watch the candle shrink a little each day, a very visual way to understand time. In the Philippines, Advent begins with dawn gatherings called Simbang Gabi that lead into celebrations marked by bright star-shaped lanterns. These customs are different in appearance but similar in purpose. Each one turns waiting into something shared.
In the quick pace of the holiday season, it is easy to move from one task to the next without ever pausing to enjoy what is happening around us. Most of us have had years where December seems to disappear overnight and Christmas arrives before we have truly taken it in. Observing Advent offers a gentle way to enjoy the season so that Christmas feels less like a finish line and more like something you grow toward.
There are many simple ways to observe the Advent season. Some people light a candle on Sunday evenings and sit quietly for a few minutes. Others keep a small journal during Advent, writing down one thing they noticed that day or something they felt grateful for. You might set aside time each week to read a favorite passage aloud with family, or choose one small habit that helps you slow down. Making tea and sitting by the window each morning, taking an evening walk to see the lights in your neighborhood, or writing a note to someone you care about. The practice itself matters less than the pause it creates.
Tangible traditions can also help structure the season. Our Advent Collection includes pieces designed to bring warmth to this time of year. Gather around a Pyramid Advent House, Red Scandinavian Candleholders, or Advent Countdown Candles, or try the Christmas Clock Advent Calendar with its 25 hidden pockets for daily surprises. No matter how you choose to observe, we invite you to spend this December living intentionally, so that when Christmas arrives, you have truly lived the season rather than rushing through it.