Happy Advent

[Me-Nuriko]

Today it's the first Sunday in Advent.

I have no idea how, or if, you celebrate this in all the different countries, but since I'm a curious person, I'll ask: How do you guys celebrate Advent?

In Sweden we decorate our homes by putting electric candlesticks with 7 (or sometimes 5) electric candles, or hanging stars with electric lightbulbs in them, in the windows. It's very pretty when it gets dark. My children used to take walks just to look in all the windows at the first of Advent.
We also light an ordinary candle in a candlestick of four. The first Sunday we light the first candle, the second Sunday we light both the first and the second and so on.

There use to be a lot of concerts in different churches, too. I was at a concert yesterday, where my husband was playing. (He's a musician.)

So, is this similar to what you do?

[cesmith]

When I was little we used to make Advent wreaths with candles at Church for all the Parishioners. Haven't had one in years. As the kids grew up we did Advent calanders, opening a window everyday. Now, we don't really do much. We don't even decorate the house or put our tree up untill a week before Christmas. I like to try to keep it up untill close to my sons birthday's in January.

[elven dreamer]

Hehe...my family doesn't really do Advent, like Lent. Although we're Christian, the only thing we ever do for Advent is the tacky calendars with choccy in them, and rarely at that. When we lived in Australia we attended church every second week or so, and during November/December that led to the Advent candles being lit. That's about it...though we did put the Christmas tree up a week ago. Can't wait for xmas...am begging my parents for an iPOD or similar. Haven't got a chance of getting one though. >.<

[Salmastryon]

I have no clue what advent is besides count down to Xmas. ^^; When me and my brother were kids mom would get an advent candle. Each day we would take turns on who would burn the candle down a day.

So, what exactly is advent?

[Me-Nuriko]

I really don't know if this applies to all the Christian world, or if it's a Swedish thing. But here the 'year of the Church' begins with the first Sunday in Advent. There are four Sundays in Advent, and the last one is the one closest before Christmas. So the fourth can be at its latest at the 24th of December.
I'm not sure, but I think Advent means something like Waiting, so it means the time in waiting for Christ to be born.

[treneka]

Well, I'm not sure about the other Christian religions, but I know that the Catholic year begins with Advent. Hurray for the end of Ordinary time for a while! In any case, my household celebrates it by cleaning like mad in preparation for putting up decorations. I usually create a wreath of pine and place a new candle in it every Sunday. I also start making candies and baking cookies (it takes a lot of both to fill all the family shoes and stockings). My husband celebrates by getting one of those chocolate-filled advent calendars and and writing up his annual Christmas list.

Ah, fun times.

[narrizan]

This seemed as good a place as any for this post...I'm sorry I've been silent of late. RL has really been crazy starting about 3 or 4 months agao. I assure you I am alive and well. We just put the tree up two days agon in our house and the boy keeps asking me if he can open his pressies already. I haven't even done all the shopping! Heheh leaving it till Thursday seems like insanity but that's the closest time I have!
In any case....

[glow=red,2,300]Merry Christmas and a Hopeful Healthy and Happy NEw YEar ;D ;D ;D
To Everyone and all their families too. More plotbunnies more 42 challenges and just more words put together. Have fun everyone. [/glow]

much love from me and mine

god bless

zan out!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D