The Season of Advent
Liturgical Color: Purple (sometimes blue)
Advent is the beginning of the Church's liturgical year. It begins four Sundays before Christmas day.
Advent is a time of preparation. It is not intended to be a penitential season, but it is not a celebration either. It is meant to bring the feelings of anticipation you get right before you open your presents on Christmas.
To signify this period of anticipation, an Advent Wreath is used. Three purple candles and a rose candle are used. One purple candle is lit the first week, two the second. On the third week, the two purple candles and the rose candle are lit. The rose candle signifies the joy in our anticipation. Then all four candles are lit on the fourth Sunday.
Finally, on Christmas, a white candle is placed at the center of the wreath to signify the newborn King.
Here three popular hymns of the Advent season:
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Text
Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending