Today is the 1st of Advent, but what does Advent really mean? Today we dig into some history and facts. We also take the opportunity to recommend some fun Christmas calendars in the blog world, as well as our most Christmassy posts. Wishing you a great 1st Advent!
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What is Advent?
Advent is a church holiday that falls on the four Sundays before Christmas Eve. First Advent is the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, i.e. the Sunday between 27 November and 3 December. This celebration marks the beginning of both Christmas and the Christian church year. It is also the time when people really start to get into the mood for Christmas, with lights, Christmas tables, Christmas markets and perhaps some Christmas shopping.
History
Advent has its historical roots in the 'Advent Lent', which, like Easter, was 40 days long. So the church tradition is that this is a time of fasting, preparation and waiting for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas.
What does Advent mean?
Well, what does Advent actually mean? The word is Latin for 'arrival' and refers to the birth of Christ. We simply wait!
Advent candlesticks
In the 20th century, special Advent candlesticks began to be used in Sweden, with one candle for each Sunday until Christmas. These were a development of the 'Advent trees' brought to Sweden by Ersta Diakoni in the 1870s.
Advent calendars
The advent calendar is thanks to a creative German mother and her equally creative son. In the 1880s, the mother gave her son a piece of cardboard with 24 cookies to count down to Christmas Eve. When the son grew up, he became a partner in a printing company and developed his mother's idea. Today, calendars are popular and come in all shapes and sizes.
More Christmas inspiration in Advent?
Are you more excited about Christmas at this time of year? We have a lot of Christmas inspiration to offer.
Articles on Christmas food
Here you can read more about Christmas food, both in Sweden and in other countries:
Articles on Christmas traditions
Want to know more about Christmas traditions. Why do we do what we do? And how do others do it? Read more here:
Christmas gift ideas and tips and Christmas markets:
Last but not least, we offer some Christmas gift ideas and tips on Christmas markets around Europe:
What is your relationship with Advent? Do you light candles, or have some kind of Advent calendar?
You might also like:
Christmas rhymes - 25 tips for Christmas presents with rhymes
Christmas markets in Sweden - 12 Christmas markets
Christmas in Split - spending Christmas in Croatia
Christmas markets in Sweden in 2023 - 8 cosy markets with Christmas spirit
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Matts Torebring says:
As usual, a nice post. For us as a family, Advent and Christmas is one of the most beautiful and wonderful holidays we have all year. Nothing in the world, no travel, nothing, could lure us away from this, as long as we are healthy. To sit in church and sing the old Christmas hymns is so atmospheric and beautiful. A way to stop and look around, in a stressful everyday life,
02 December 2018 - 6:41
Helena says:
Thank you very much! It sounds like you have great advent traditions! Wishing you a nice advent!
02 December 2018 - 10:40
Ama de casa says:
I LOVE Christmas and First Advent is the starting point. Then it's time to go all-in - bring out all the Christmas stuff! Including the Christmas tree. Although here I don't have room for a big Christmas tree, I compensate with three small ones on the terrace instead. Can't be too much Christmas! (Although there will be no Christmas presents, probably why I like Christmas even more now - no stress whatsoever 🙂 ).
I ran a Christmas calendar in the blog for a couple of years as a kind of "annual story" with a picture per day from something that happened during the year from January to December and the actual Christmas Eve on Christmas Eve then. Very difficult to choose "only" 24 pictures from the past year actually 🙂 .
02 December 2018 - 9:39
Helena says:
Haha, like the enthusiasm! 🙂 We're not so good at Christmas decorations ... Fortunately, others are good at it, so there is still a little Christmas spirit 😉 .
02 December 2018 - 10:42
Ama de casa says:
Ooops! The trigger finger came on too quickly. Of course, I want to wish you both a really happy first advent! 🙂
Hugs
02 December 2018 - 9:40
Helena says:
Thank you, and you too! 🙂
02 December 2018 - 10:42
Maria/ Magnolia Magis says:
I wish you a very nice first Advent! For me, Advent is light, hope and joy. As long as the children lived at home, we had an advent calendar with a little treasure hunt. This year they each got an Advent calendar from Friends, the Kindness Calendar. It is based on doing something nice every day. Yesterday it was to smile at people you don't know, for example. Yes, we have one too? I follow three advent calendars on Facebook. Yoga, food health and thoughtful words by Kay Pollak. And now it's time to check out today's exercises! Have fun! ?
02 December 2018 - 9:55
Helena says:
Thank you very much! Cozy with a treasure hunt, and the kind calendar sounds super nice! 🙂 Nice calendars you found on FB too!
02 December 2018 - 22:01
Renate's travels says:
Interesting post about Advent! I think Advent is both beautiful and hectic, with many preparations before Christmas. The whole city is covered in lights and it is very beautiful in the dark. 🙂
02 December 2018 - 10:28
Helena says:
Agree, both nice and hectic! 😉
03 December 2018 - 6:06
Ann says:
Lovely =)
We will do advent blogging with wish lists every Sunday =)
02 December 2018 - 12:04
Helena says:
Great! The address you entered for your blog (anngelic.com) does not work, is it true that it is the nouw address you should use?
03 December 2018 - 6:10
Role o Carina says:
When you were a little boy, you used to go to church with your parents!
Nowadays we don't make such a big fuss about Christmas in our house 🙂 .
Happy 1st Advent on your.....
02 December 2018 - 12:35
Helena says:
Thank you very much!
03 December 2018 - 6:12
Maria's Memoirs says:
Thanks for the link ? I guessed that you would also like the dialect calendar, hehe 😉.
02 December 2018 - 15:24
Helena says:
Haha yes exactly, the dialect theme was fun! 🙂
03 December 2018 - 6:12
Ann-Louise says:
Thanks for the link! ? We usually light candles and have coffee every Advent Sunday and William has some Advent calendars that he opens. I used to decorate a lot in the past but now it gets less every year. The most important are the Advent candlesticks in the window because they light up a bit when it's so grey and dull outside. Wishing you a nice first advent!
02 December 2018 - 17:00
Helena says:
Advent candlesticks are nice! Wishing you a nice first advent!
03 December 2018 - 6:13
BP says:
Very useful and interesting in your post. Much (read: everything) was new to me. I am terrible at such info. So thank you:-)
We are like you, not at all "Christmassy". But I actually bought a poinsettia today. It remains to be seen how long it will survive this time;-)
02 December 2018 - 17:47
Ruth in Virginia says:
Poinsettias in the windows are something very special in Sweden.
I remember when we travelled by tram across the Traneberg Bridge and the
saw all the windows of the apartment buildings from a distance with the nice
the stars - like the red-orange ones best.
Advent didn't mean anything to me, but when I was a child, the
second Advent Christmas signage day, when everyone who could went out and
back on Storgatan, admiring everything in the windows. The Salvation Army's
a brass band honked its horn in the square. It was during the war, so everything
uplifting was appreciated.
Advent is something that is forgotten here, except perhaps for those who...
goes to church.
03 December 2018 - 3:36
Helena says:
Ruth, interesting to hear about your memories! Interesting also the comparison with the USA. Although people are not particularly religious here, they still celebrate Advent!
03 December 2018 - 6:18
Helena says:
Nice with a poinsettia! As I said, we're not "Christmassy" either, but I think this kind of tradition is interesting 😉.
03 December 2018 - 6:15
Travel Friday says:
Thanks for the tip about my calendar. I LOVE anything to do with Advent and Christmas, best time of the year!
04 December 2018 - 9:49
Lena - good for the soul says:
I always look forward to Advent. After a long dark, (often) slushy and boring autumn, it's so cosy when you "get" to start picking out some winter decorations and then Advent decorations to later top it off with Christmas decorations. Lighting candles can be done at any time, but it feels a little more effective during Advent.
Hug Lena
07 December 2018 - 7:09