what is advent

Advent is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas. It is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas. The word "Advent" means "arrival" and signifies the start of an event or the arrival of a person. It is dedicated to anticipating the arrival of Jesus of Nazareth, the long- awaited Messiah and King, and is observed with various traditions and rituals by Catholics and other liturgical groups such as Lutherans, Anglicans, and Methodists. The Advent season is a time of reflection, anticipation, and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and for his expected return in the Second Coming