Nobody seems to know precisely when the Western Christian church started marking Advent as a season on its calendar. But it seems to have popped up early in church history, and has stayed remarkably stable since about the Middle Ages.

Advent—and why do we mark it with treat-filled calendars? What is Advent—and why do we mark it with treat-filled calendars?

since the time of Bernard of Clairvaux (d.1153), Christians have spoken of the three comings of Christ: in the flesh in Bethlehem, in our hearts daily, and in glory at the end of time" Pfatteicher, Philip H. (23 September 2013). Journey into the Heart of God: Living the Liturgical Year. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199997145– via Google Books.Advent in Mexico brings the religious ceremonies known as Las Posadas (Spanish for “The Inns.”) This nine-day celebration that marks the journey of Mary and Joseph is held from December 16 to 24. Rice, Howard L.; Huffstutler, James C. (1 January 2001). Reformed Worship. Westminster John Knox Press. p.197. ISBN 978-0-664-50147-1. Another popular activity is the "Hanging of the Greens," a service in which the sanctuary is decorated for Christmas. On the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, rose may be used instead, referencing the rose used on Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent. [25] A rose coloured candle in Western Christianity is referenced as a sign of joy ( Gaudete) lit on the third Sunday of Advent. [26] An emerging Christmas tradition is the giving of apples, sometimes sold in stores wrapped in colored paper. The season’s dates vary from year to year. In 2022, Advent begins on Sunday, November 27, and ends on Saturday, December 24. The origins of Advent

Advent? And what traditions do people follow - CNN What is Advent? And what traditions do people follow - CNN

Part of the observance of Advent, celebrated for the four Sundays before Christmas, is reenacting the centuries of anticipation of the birth of Jesus as written about by prophets like Isaiah in the Old Testament. Many songs traditionally sung during the season have lines recalling this waiting period, such as “O Holy Night” (“Long lay the world in sin and error pining / ’Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth”). That’s also why the early parts of Handel’s Messiah quote the prophet Isaiah before they get to the more familiar Christmas parts: The lyrics for “Comfort Ye My People” and “Every Valley Shall Be Exalted,” for instance, correspond directly to the readings from Isaiah 40 that a person might hear in a church pew during Advent. Stollen, which is similar to fruitcake, is one of the oldest Christmas treat traditions in Germany. And Advent calendars may hold chocolate treats behind little doors for German children.Merritt, Carol (18 September 2018). I Am Mary: Advent Devotional. Chalice Press. p.48. ISBN 9780827231566. Karkan, Betsy (2 December 2016). "Lutheran Advent Traditions". Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod . Retrieved 31 December 2022. From the Latin word for "coming", Advent is a time of preparation and anticipation for the coming of Christ both in the past in His incarnation as the baby Jesus, but also in the future with His promised second coming as Christ Triumphant. Furthermore, Advent is a time to focus on His present coming to us in the Word and Sacraments. In the Western Rite of the Orthodox Church, and in the Anglican, Lutheran, Moravian, Presbyterian, and Methodist calendars, Advent commences on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (always falling between 27 November and 3 December), and ends on Christmas Eve on 24 December. [9] [10] Vosges founder Katrina Markoff is a chef who trained under molecular gastronomy pioneer Ferran Adria, and she brings that philosophy to chocolate, sourcing high-end (and often unusual) ingredients to infuse into its products. The Vosges Advent calendar offers a little taste of everything the company makes, including milk chocolate with red Hawaiian sea salt and dragon fruit, a matcha mint white chocolate bar, and caramel toffee with roasted walnut and pecans.