Advent means "coming" or "arrival", from the Latin word adventus, and it is the four-week season of waiting and preparation that Christians keep in the run-up to Christmas. The word points to the "coming" of Jesus, both his birth in Bethlehem and the promised return Christians still look forward to. For most people in the UK today, though, Advent is simply the cosy countdown to Christmas Day, marked with candles, calendars and a growing sense of anticipation as December unfolds.
Advent comes straight from the Latin adventus, meaning "coming" or "arrival", which itself translates the Greek word parousia. In the Latin translation of the New Testament, adventus describes God arriving on Earth in the person of Jesus. So when we talk about Advent, we are really talking about an arrival worth waiting for. The word has also slipped into everyday English to describe the start of anything significant, as in "life changed with the advent of the steam engine". At its heart, every use of the word carries that same idea of something important drawing near.
Advent always begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which is the Sunday nearest 30 November, and it runs until Christmas Eve on 24 December. In 2026, Advent starts on Sunday 29 November and ends on Thursday 24 December. Because the start date shifts with the calendar each year, Advent can begin any time between 27 November and 3 December. It also marks the beginning of the Church year, so for many Christians this Sunday is a fresh start as much as a countdown.
The four Sundays of Advent and the Advent wreath
Each of the four Sundays in Advent traditionally carries its own theme: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. These themes shape the readings and reflections in many churches, and they are the meaning behind the candles on an Advent wreath. The wreath is a circle of evergreen, and its round shape stands for God's never-ending life. Around it sit four candles, usually three purple and one pink, with a fifth white candle in the centre.
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One candle is lit on each Sunday, so by the fourth week all four are glowing. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday, known as Gaudete or "Rose Sunday", a moment of joy partway through the season. Then, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, the central white "Christ candle" is lit to represent the light of Jesus arriving in the world. Here is how the four Sundays fall in 2026:
First Sunday, 29 November 2026 - Hope: the season opens by looking forward with patient, confident expectation.
Second Sunday, 6 December 2026 - Peace: a week to reflect on the peace Jesus is said to bring.
Third Sunday, 13 December 2026 - Joy: Gaudete Sunday, when the pink candle is lit and the mood lifts.
Fourth Sunday, 20 December 2026 - Love: the final candle before Christmas, focused on love and self-giving.
If you are after something warm for the wreath-lighting evenings, our women's Christmas jumpers are a cosy place to start.
Advent calendars: the everyday countdown
For most families, the most familiar Advent tradition is the Advent calendar. The classic calendar has 24 little doors, one for each day of December up to Christmas Eve, and behind each one waits a picture, a verse or a chocolate. The very first printed calendars, made in Germany in the early 1900s, showed scenes from the Nativity story rather than sweets, and many beautiful calendars still tell that story today.
You do not have to be religious to enjoy one. Opening a tiny door each morning is a lovely ritual for children and grown-ups alike, a small daily moment of excitement that makes the wait feel shorter. It is the secular side of Advent at its warmest, all about anticipation and a little treat to mark the passing days.
Celebrating Advent at home
However you mark it, Advent is a season made for slowing down and gathering close as the nights draw in. Light a candle each Sunday, hang up your calendar, and lean into the unhurried build-up rather than the last-minute rush. Some families add a "reverse Advent calendar", filling a box with food or gifts to donate, turning the countdown into an act of giving.
It is also the perfect time to get properly cosy. Pulling on a soft Christmas jumper for those darker December evenings is a small tradition in itself, whether you are lighting the wreath, decorating the tree or settling in for a Christmas film. Matching jumpers across the whole family turn an ordinary Sunday into a moment, and a set of festive Christmas pyjamas makes those calendar-opening mornings even more of a treat.
For the little ones counting down most eagerly of all, a kids' Christmas jumper brings the festive feeling right into the school nativity and the family photos. Advent, after all, is about looking forward together, and there is no warmer way to wait than side by side.
To explore the meaning of the season in more depth, the Church of England offers a lovely overview, and you can read the full history of the tradition on Wikipedia.
Did you know?
The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "coming" or "arrival".
In 2026, Advent runs from Sunday 29 November to Thursday 24 December.
The four Sundays of Advent stand for Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday, called Gaudete or "Rose Sunday".
The first printed Advent calendars were made in Germany in the early 1900s.
Frequently asked questions about What Does Advent Mean? Origin, Dates & Wreath
Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming" or "arrival". It is the four-week Christian season of waiting and preparation before Christmas, marking the coming of Jesus, both his birth and his promised return.
The four Sundays of Advent traditionally focus on Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, one theme for each week. They are reflected in the candles lit on the Advent wreath.
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. In 2026 it starts on Sunday 29 November and ends on Thursday 24 December.
The Advent wreath usually holds four candles, often three purple and one pink, plus a central white candle. One is lit each Sunday for Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, with the pink candle lit on the third Sunday (Gaudete). The white "Christ candle" in the middle is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Advent calendars count down the days of December to Christmas, with a picture, verse or chocolate behind each of the 24 doors. They began in Germany in the early 1900s and are enjoyed today as a fun daily ritual, whether or not you are religious.
