Advent in Western church

when is Christmas always celebrated in the Western church?

25th of December

what has been suggested about the early Christians choosing the date the 25th of December?

Chose it to replace the Roman winter saturnalia

define the festival saturnalia.

An ancient Roman midwinter festival in honour of the God Saturn

when does the festival saturnalia start and finish?

Lasted from 17 to 23 December and particularly the Roman winter solstice festival of Dies Natalis’s Solis Invicti (the ‘Birthday of the Unconquered Sun’)

what do some of the symbols associated with Christmas originate from?

Pagan traditions e.g. The custom of lighting candles anticipates the return of sunlight and the cutting of evergreen trees for decorations illustrates the triumph of life over darkness and death

what is Christmas preceded by in the Western Church?

Four weeks of preparation known as the season of Advent

define the term Advent.

In the Western Christian calender the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas

what is Advent the beginning of?

The Western Church year

Advent allows Christians to anticipate two events. What is the first event?

The celebration of Jesus’ First Coming to earth as a baby boy

Advent allows Christians to anticipate two events, what is the second event?

Jesus’ Second Coming to the end of time

what is the technical term used for Jesus’ second coming?

Parousia

define the term parousia.

The Second Coming of Christ

what is often done during Advent to prepare for parousia?

Biblical readings and hymns

what is the traditional liturgical colour used during ADevnt?

Violet or purple

what colour is becoming increasingly popular in Protestant churches during Advent?

Blue, which represents hope

what colour may be used on the Third day of Sunday?

Rose

what is the Third Sunday of Advent also known as?

Gaudete Sunday

what does Gaudete mean?

Rejoice

how many candles does an advent wreath have?

Four (3 purple and 1 rose coloured)

where are the candles inserted in the wreath? What do these candles represent?

Around it edge, one for each of the 4 Sundays in Advent and one white candle in the middle

what does the first candle represent?

Hope

what does the second candle represent?

The Prophets

what does the third, which is rose-coloured, represent?

Used to match the liturgical colour for Gaudete Sunday and represents joy

what is the fourth candle known as? What does it represent?

The Angel Candle, represents the Annunciation

what is the 5th candle known as and when is it lit?

Christ candle and is lit during the Christmas Eve service

What calender is used during Advent and who was it first used by?

Advent calendar, first used by German Lutheran in the 19th century and 20th century but is now widely popular

what do the calendar windows for each day open to reveal?

An item relevant to the preparation for Christmas - a biblical verse, a poem, a prayer, or a small gift such as a chocolate or a toy

what is usually set up in homes at the beginning of Advent?

Christmas decorations

what has been relaxed in the Western Church?

The traditional expectation that Christians should fast during Advent, but the season is still kept as a season of penitence

what may be sung at Evening Prayer from 17 to 23 December?

The Great Advent ‘O Antiphons’

what does each Antiphons call upon in the Great Advent ‘O Antiphons’?

The attributes of Jesus mentioned in the Bible: ‘O Wisdom’, ‘O Lord’, ‘O key of David’, ‘O Emmanuel’