Advent

Advent is a time of repentance and preparation.  People commonly mistake it for "The Christmas Season".  At 12:00pm Christmas night, the radio goes back to regular music and people take down their tree on the 26th!  The Christmas season for us begins on Christmas Eve and goes through Candlemas on February 2nd.  I'm excited to get our advent wreath out, and start singing "O, come O come, Emmanuel" at Mass!  It's my favorite Advent song, especially the Latin harmony version our schola does!

The word Advent comes from the Latin 'Adventus, a, um' meaning 'Arrival, coming' and from the verb 'Advenire' meaning 'to come', ad- meaning 'to' and veni meaning 'come'.  We are waiting for the coming of the Lord at Christmas and at the end of the world, for Jesus in our hearts, and His arrival at Bethlahem.

What are some of your family's Advent traditions?

Every year at Advent my family has a blessing of the Advent wreath, blessing of the Christmas tree, and a nativity countdown set.  I also have a small manger and Baby Jesus in my room.  Every Advent, I try to do as many good deeds or sacrifices as possible.  For every act, I place a straw in the manger.  By Christmas, the manger will (hopefully) be full of straw to make a soft bed for Baby Jesus! When my sister and I were younger, we visited www.holyheroes.com for fun Advent activities!  You can go there and sign up for Advent Adventure where they'll send you e-mails with all kinds of fun activities, videos, print-outs, and so much more!

                                     

My facorite music to listen to durring Advent is "Advent at Ephesus" by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles! They have such beautiful music!  It's great to listen to during school!

Here's a cassual Advent outfit inspiration!  Piece together what you have and find stuff and second hand stores!  

"Buy used and save the difference!"

as the Duggars say!

Here's a nice skirt idea for advent as well!  Check out Virjinyah's modesty post for Advent at Catching Our Lad's Roses!

May God bless your Advent!