When Does Advent Begin?

Advent CalendarThe Christian season of Advent always begins four Sundays before Christmas Day. So the number of days in Advent varies. For 2014, count back four Sundays before Christmas and you arrive at November 30 as the start date. Advent ends on Christmas Eve 25 days later.

If you’re doing an Advent wreath, lighting a new candle each Sunday in preparation for Christmas, there will be years (like this one) when starting on December 1 is too late. You would miss the first Sunday.

Professor Carol’s Advent Calendar begins this Sunday and focuses on the artistic expressions that have been passed down to us. Each year we add some new materials and we also revisit some of the popular essays from prior years. Among the new items this year, we will take a look at cradle songs. We also talk about Christmas in Russia. See why the Orthodox celebrate Christmas on January 6. Who do you suppose gives Christmas blessing with honey on the forehead? And what flower blooms in the snow when watered with tears? We hope you’ll join us.