Christmas Series: Advent

History of Advent: Why We Celebrate Christmas on December 25

What does Advent mean, and how does it relate to Saturnalia

Bill Petro
ILLUMINATION
Published in
5 min readDec 1, 2024

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Advent candles. Image: Christianity.com

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Here begins our series of articles on the History of Christmas.

The traditional season of Advent, leading up to Christmas, this year starts on Sunday, December 1. It is celebrated in the church calendar as one of the most festive seasons of the year.

What does Advent mean, what day was the Nativity, and what is its relation to the Saturnalia?

Meaning of Advent

The word “Advent” from the Latin adventus means the “coming” or “arrival” of the Christ Child, which is marked by the four Sundays preceding Christmas, commemorated in churches and homes by lighting four Advent candles. The Greek word in the New Testament for Jesus’ arrival is parousia, (παρουσία) a word commonly used during that time in anticipation of the arrival of a king, emperor, or high official.

As we shall see in this series, many of the traditions, customs, and stories of the Advent Season have Christian roots, while others have non-Christian sources. Some are legendary, and others are firmly rooted in history.

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ILLUMINATION
ILLUMINATION

Published in ILLUMINATION

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Bill Petro
Bill Petro

Written by Bill Petro

Writer, historian, technologist. Former Silicon Valley tech exec. Author of fascinating articles on history, tech, pop culture, & travel. https://billpetro.com

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