In Western Christianity, Advent Calendar begins on the 4th Sunday previous to the Christmas Day, or the Sunday which falls nearby 30th November (the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle in the Catholic tradition).
Thus, in Western Churches, the 1st Sunday of Advent can fall as early as 27th November or as late as 3rd December.
Advent Calendar Dates Year wise: Sundays of Advent
The Advent Colander Dates in year lasts in December after the Christmas eve. When Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, it is the last or 4th Sunday of Advent.
Advent Calendar Dates for 2020
Below is the list of Advent dates for the year 2020 beginning on 29th November 2020 and ending on 20th December 2020, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent.
| 29th November | 1st Sunday of Advent |
| 6th December | 2nd Sunday of Advent |
| 13th December | 3rd Sunday of Advent |
| 20th December | 4th Sunday of Advent |
Advent Calendar Dates for 2021
Below is the list of Advent dates for the year 2021 beginning on 28th November 2021 and ending on 19th December 2021, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent.
| 28th November | 1st Sunday of Advent |
| 5th December | 2nd Sunday of Advent |
| 12th December | 3rd Sunday of Advent |
| 19th December | 4th Sunday of Advent |
Advent Calendar Dates for 2022
Below is the list of Advent dates for the year 2022 beginning on 27th November 2022 and ending on 18th December 2022, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent.
| 27th November | 1st Sunday of Advent |
| 4th December | 2nd Sunday of Advent |
| 11th December | 3rd Sunday of Advent |
| 18th December | 4th Sunday of Advent |
Quick read: 28 Famous Christian Female Singers
Advent Calendar Dates for 2023
Below is the list of Advent dates for the year 2023 beginning on 3rd December 2023 and ending on 24th December 2023, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent.
| 3rd December | 1st Sunday of Advent |
| 10th December | 2nd Sunday of Advent |
| 17th December | 3rd Sunday of Advent |
| 24th December | 4th Sunday of Advent |
Advent Calendar Dates for 2024
Below is the list of Advent dates for the year 2024 beginning on 1st December 2024 and ending on 22nd December 2024, which is the 4th Sunday of Advent.
| 1st December | 1st Sunday of Advent |
| 8th December | 2nd Sunday of Advent |
| 15th December | 3rd Sunday of Advent |
| 22nd December | 4th Sunday of Advent |
Previous Advent Calendar Dates (the Year 2014 to 2019)
As per the Julian Calendar used by the Eastern Orthodox Churches, Advent starts earlier, on 15th November, and lasts 40 days, rather than 4 weeks.
Advent Dates for 2014
| 30th November | 1st Sunday of Advent |
| 7th December | 2nd Sunday of Advent |
| 14th December | 3rd Sunday of Advent |
| 21st December | 4th Sunday of Advent |
Advent Dates for 2015
| 29th November | 1st Sunday of Advent |
| 6th December | 2nd Sunday of Advent |
| 13th December | 3rd Sunday of Advent |
| 20th December | 4th Sunday of Advent |
Quick read: What are the 4 Types of Love in the Bible?
Advent Dates for 2016
| 27th November | 1st Sunday of Advent |
| 4th December | 2nd Sunday of Advent |
| 11th December | 3rd Sunday of Advent |
| 18th December | 4th Sunday of Advent |
Advent Dates for 2017
| 3rd December | 1st Sunday of Advent |
| 10th December | 2nd Sunday of Advent |
| 17th December | 3rd Sunday of Advent |
| 24th December | 4th Sunday of Advent |
Quick read: Holy Saturday Folklore
Advent Dates for 2018
| 2nd December | 1st Sunday of Advent |
| 9th December | 2nd Sunday of Advent |
| 16th December | 3rd Sunday of Advent |
| 23rd December | 4th Sunday of Advent |
Quick read: Can you Wear Short Skirts in Church?
Advent Dates for 2019
| 1st December | 1st Sunday of Advent |
| 8th December | 2nd Sunday of Advent |
| 15th December | 3rd Sunday of Advent |
| 22nd December | 4th Sunday of Advent |
Importance of Advent Calendar Dates
Advent is a holiday for all the folks who celebrate the event is the church’s liturgical year.
The term “advent” originates from the Latin phrase “adventus” which means “onset” or “coming,” mainly the arrival of somewhat or someone of great implication.
It is mainly observed in churches that obey a religious calendar of liturgical terms, spreads, statues, diets, and blessed days. Those churches include Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican / Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian.
The term of Advent is an era of both regret and festivity. Christians spend time in divine research for the coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas.
Supporters recollect not only the Lord’s 1st coming to earth as a human baby but also rejoice his constant company with us today through the Divine Spirit.
It is also a time for celebrants to forestall his return at the 2nd Coming of Christ.
The Candles of the Advent Garland
The illumination of an Advent Wreath is a customary practice that initiated in Germany in the 16th century. On the twigs of the wreath are 4 candles: 3 purple and 1 pink candle. In the middle of the wreath sits a white candle.
On the 1st Sunday of Advent, the 1st purple (or violet) candle is lit. This is named the “Prophecy Candle” and recalls the psychics, mostly Isaiah, who predicted the birth of Jesus Christ. It signifies optimism or hope of the coming Messiah.
Read: When Is Good Friday?
Each Sunday subsequent, an extra candle is lit. On the 2nd Sunday of Advent, the 2nd purple candle called the “Bethlehem Candle,” is lit. This candle signifies affection and denotes Christ’s trough.
On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, the pink (or rose) candle is lit. This Sunday is called “Gaudete Sunday”.
Gaudete is a Latin phrase meaning “celebrate.” The change from purple to pink indicates the change in season from sorrow to the festivity. The pink candle is called the “Shepherds Candle” and signifies happiness.
The last purple candle is called the “Angels Candle,” It is lit on the 4th Sunday of Advent and signifies amity and peace.
Customarily, on Christmas Eve, the white centre candle is lit. This “Christ Candle” signifies the life of Jesus Christ that has come to light the realm. It denotes pureness.
The Nordic Julekalender/Julkalender
In Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden there is also custom of having a so-called Julekalender in the form of a television or radio show, starting on 1st December and completion on Christmas Eve i.e. 24th December.
Such a show 1st aired on radio in 1957 in the form of the Swedish radio series Barnens adventskalender; the 1st televised show of the genre aired in 1960 in the form of the Swedish program Titteliture.
The first Julekalender aired in Denmark was Historier fra hele verden in 1962.
The televised Julkalender has now prolonged into the other Nordic countries; in Finland, for example, the show is called Joulukalenteri.
Over the years, there have been several kinds of Julekalender; some are focused at kids, some at both kids and adults, and some focused at grown-ups alone.
There is a Julkalender radio show in Sweden, which airs in the days leading up to Christmas.
A typical instance of a Julekalender liked by children (as well as grown-ups, if purely for sentimental details) is the 1979 Norwegian TV show Jul i Skomakergata; another is the 1990 Icelandic television show Á baðkari til Bethlehem.
Conclusion
An Advent calendar is a distinct calendar used to count the days of Advent in hope of Christmas.
Since the date of the 1st Sunday of Advent differs, falling between 27th November and 3rd December in many Advent calendars, particularly those that are reusable, often begin on 1st December.
While those that are formed for a precise year often contain the last few days of November that are part of the liturgical season.
The Advent calendar dates were 1st used by German Lutherans in the 19th and 20th centuries.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Do you start at 1 or 24 on the Advent calendar?
Advent calendars usually don’t follow the period of Advent. In its place, they begin on 1st December and mark the 24 days before Christmas. Currently, most Advent calendars include paper gates that open to disclose an image, Bible verse, or piece of sweet.
What are the 4 weeks of Advent called?
Other variants of the themes eminent on each of the 4 Sundays include The Prophets’ Candle, denoting courage; the Bethlehem Candle, denoting trust; the Shepherds’ Candle, denoting delight; and the Angel’s Candle, denoting amity.
Is Advent a Catholic calendar?
Advent is the start of the Western liturgical year. In the Roman Ritual of the Catholic Church, the Western Rite of the Orthodox Church, and in the Anglican, Lutheran, Moravian, Presbyterian, and Methodist calendars, Advent begins on the 4th Sunday before Christmas i.e. the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew’s Day.
What are the colours of Advent?
Advent and Lent are eras of training and regret and are signified by the colour purple. The meals of Christmas Day and Christmastide, Epiphany Sunday, Baptism of the Lord Sunday, Transfiguration Sunday, Easter Season, Trinity Sunday, and Christ the King Sunday are signified by white colour.
What are the symbols of Advent?
The Advent garland, a rounded wreath with 4 candles, is present in many churches and homes during Advent and is representative of several facets of the Christmas season and Advent. Three purple or blue candles (signifying remorse) and 1 pink candle (signifying bliss) aroused 1 lit for each Sunday of Advent.