Q & A

But, strictly speaking, Christmas Day is only the beginning of Christmas, not the end. The season that precedes it is Advent and, although the two are often seen as synonymousIf two words are synonymous, they have the same meaning., they are quite different festivals. Several well-known "Christmas" hymns, such as O come, O come Emanuel and The Angel Gabriel are, in fact, Advent hymns.

For Christians, Advent, which starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, is a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is a time of deep thought when they reflect on the enormity of the birth of God incarnateIn human form. .

The word "advent" comes from the Latin for "the coming". Since medieval times, Christians have spoken of three comings, all of which are central to Advent: "in the flesh in BethlehemA Palestinian town south of Jerusalem. It is the biblical birthplace of Jesus. , in our hearts daily, and in glory at the end of time".

It is the last of those appearances, when Christians believe Jesus will return to judge humanity, that gives Advent its darker, more serious edge. Dr John Hall, the Dean of Westminster Abbey, says that the themes of Advent are death, judgment, heaven and hell. It is a contemplation of our own mortality, and our own morality.

Traditionally, it has also been a season of austereMinimal, bare or unadorned. The word often comes with a connotation of seriousness, perhaps excessive seriousness. denial, in sharp contrast to the rush of consumerismSociety's obsession with acquiring consumer goods. that greets the weeks before Christmas. French children are taught that Advent is le petit Careme ("little Lent"). Liken LentIn the Christian calendar the period of penitence runs from Ash Wednesday (when penitents mark their foreheads with ashes as a sign of repentance) to Easter. Deeply significant in Christianity, it is followed by Easter Sunday. Easter and its symbolism coincide with the celebration of spring., it is a time of patience before a great celebration.

For many people, the sober anticipation of Advent, with its chilly, candle-lit cathedrals, is not only more spiritually enriching than Christmas, but also makes the true festive season even more special. Do periods of self-restraint make celebrations better?

The slow procession through an Advent calendar, gradually edging towards the day itself, is, for some people, one of the most memorable things about the winter months. Nothing can beat the gradual accumulation of presents under the tree. Without periods of austerity, pleasure would be meaningless. As Albert CamusA French philosopher and author, born in 1913. put it, "We need the sweet pain of anticipation to tell us we are really alive."

What nonsense, reply others. Advent traditions were invented in a time when a shortage of luxuries meant enjoyment was hard to come by. But, now, our societies are rich and plentiful. Why is it seen as virtuous to live a life of monotonyThe same thing happening over and over again, causing boredom. and boredom? We should chase as much pleasure as we can.

What do we know? Many believe that Advent simply starts on the first day of December. In fact, it is the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which this year is 1 December. We know that, historically, the seasons of Advent and Christmas were very different, with Advent being a period of denial and austerity before the celebrations of the 12 days of Christmas.

What do we not know? We do not know whether modern society's blending of Advent and Christmas will last forever. And while Lent itself has dwindled in popularity, self-denial is still a popular urge, as seen by campaigns like Dry January.