Everything about Advent: How students can celebrate the coming of Christ this time of year

By Eden Morris I Reporter

Advent is here and people are celebrating it differently, whether by purchasing an Advent calendar, engaging in devotional activities, or attending Advent services at church.

According to BibleProject.com, Advent is “a four-week season in the church calendar dedicated to anticipating the arrival or “Advent” of Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Messiah and King. Christians of all backgrounds celebrate this time with thoughts of hope, peace, love and joy. And while their practices may look different, they all focus on the hopeful arrival of Jesus.”

The word Advent comes from the Latin word Advent, means “arrival”.

Flower Mound sisters senior Madison O’Rourke and sophomore Mackenzie O’Rourke celebrate Advent with their family each year in the Methodist tradition.

“Every week, a month before Christmas, we light a candle in our house to await the coming of Christ,” Mackenzie said. “It’s a fun tradition we practice to bring the meaning back to the real reason for Christmas.”

Madison and Mackenzie said their family celebrates Advent both at church and at home, lighting candles together during the service and as a family.

“On the first Sunday of Advent we light the first purple candle, which symbolizes hope,” Madison said. “On the second Sunday of Advent we light the second purple candle, which symbolizes peace. On the third Sunday of Advent we light the pink candle, which symbolizes joy. And on the fourth Sunday we light the last violet light, which symbolizes love.”

Southlake senior Emma Fraga said she enjoyed Advent celebrations at home growing up.

“My mom built these Advent houses when we were little,” Fraga said. “Me and my brother and sister took turns every three days because there were three of us. My mother would put a small piece of candy, a small bracelet or Lego inside for my brother. Before Christmas Eve we got a little joy. It was so cute and funny.”

Baylor University is hosting a free and open-to-the-public Advent celebration on Thursday, with guest speaker Beth Moore leading a time of reflection. The first service will be at 3:30 p.m. and the second at 5 p.m. in the Paul W. Powell Chapel at George W. Truett Theological Seminary.