Autocephaly recognized by some autocephalous Churches de jure :
68-622: A Christingle is a symbolic object used in the Advent , Christmas , and Epiphany services of many Christian denominations . It symbolises the birth of Christ , the Light of the World . A modern Christingle is made from a candle in an orange (representing the light and the world respectively) which is typically decorated with a red ribbon and sweets or dried fruit. It has been a feature in Moravian churches across
136-543: A Chrismon tree , lighting a Christingle , as well as other ways of preparing for Christmas, such as setting up Christmas decorations , a custom that is sometimes done liturgically through a hanging of the greens ceremony. The analogue of Advent in Eastern Christianity is called the Nativity Fast , but it differs in meaning, length, and observances, and does not begin the liturgical church year as it does in
204-620: A Great Feast falls during the course of the fast; in this case, the Entry of the Theotokos (November 21). After the apodosis (leave-taking) of that feast, hymns of the Nativity are chanted on Sundays and higher-ranking feast days. The liturgical Forefeast of the Nativity begins on December 20, and concludes with the Paramony on December 24. During this time hymns of the Nativity are chanted every day. In
272-559: A Saturday or Sunday, the day is not observed as a strict fast, but a meal with wine and oil is allowed after the Divine Liturgy, which would be celebrated in the morning. In some places, the services on weekdays during the fast are similar to the services during Great Lent (with some variations). Many churches and monasteries in the Russian tradition will perform the Lenten services on at least
340-680: A reign of justice and peace. Alternatively, they symbolise the four stages of human history; creation, the Incarnation, the redemption of sins, and the Last Judgment . In Orthodox churches there are sometimes wreaths with six candles, in line with the six-week duration of the Nativity Fast/Advent. In Sweden, white candles, symbol of festivity and purity, are used in celebrating Saint Lucy's Day , 13 December, which always falls within Advent. In
408-554: A threefold coming of Christ: firstly in the Incarnation at Bethlehem , then in a perpetual sacramental presence in the Eucharist , and thirdly at his Second Coming and final judgement . Furthermore, Advent is a time to focus on his present coming to mankind in the Word and Sacraments. It is not known when the period of preparation for Christmas that is now called Advent began, though it
476-430: A week from the day after Saint Martin's Day (11 November). In the 6th century, local councils enjoined fasting on all days except Saturdays and Sundays from Saint Martin's Day to Epiphany (the feast of baptism), a period of 56 days, but of 40 days fasting, like the fast of Lent. It was therefore called Quadragesima Sancti Martini (Saint Martin's Lent). This period of fasting was later shortened and called "Advent" by
544-751: Is a growing interest in and acceptance, by some Christian denominations of blue as an alternative liturgical colour for Advent, a custom traced to the usage of the Church of Sweden (Lutheran) and the Mozarabic Rite , which dates from the 8th century. The Lutheran Book of Worship lists blue as the preferred colour for Advent, while the Methodist Book of Worship and the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship identify purple or blue as appropriate for Advent. Proponents of this new liturgical trend argue that purple
612-554: Is a season observed in most Christian denominations as a time of waiting and preparation for both the celebration of Jesus's birth at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming . It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, often referred to as Advent Sunday. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity . The name comes from Latin adventus ('coming; arrival'), translating
680-443: Is also an ancient symbol signifying several things; first of all, the crown symbolises victory, in addition to its round form evoking the sun and its return each year. The number four represents the four Sundays of Advent, and the green twigs are a sign of life and hope. The fir tree is a symbol of strength and laurel a symbol of victory over sin and suffering. The latter two, with the holly, do not lose their leaves, and thus represent
748-402: Is expected to confer with their confessor regarding any exemptions from the fasting rules, but should never place themselves in physical danger. There has been some ambiguity about the restriction of fish, whether it means the allowance of invertebrate fish or all fish. Often, even on days when fish is not allowed, shellfish may be consumed. More detailed guidelines vary by jurisdiction, but
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#1733105867258816-839: Is observed from November 15 to December 24, inclusively. These dates apply to the Eastern Catholic Churches, and Eastern Orthodox churches which use the Revised Julian calendar , which currently matches the Gregorian calendar . For those Eastern Orthodox churches which still follow the Julian calendar —the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem , the Russian Orthodox Church , the Serbian Orthodox Church ,
884-552: Is read at the Divine Liturgy is a selection from Hebrews 11:9–40 ; the Gospel is the Genealogy of Christ from the Gospel of Matthew ( 1:1–25 ) Christmas Eve is traditionally called Paramony ( Greek : παραμονή , Slavonic : navechérie ). Paramony is observed as a strict fast day, on which those faithful who are physically able to, refrain from food until the first star is observed in
952-572: Is traditionally associated with solemnity and somberness, which is fitting to the repentant character of Lent . There has been an increasing trend in Protestant churches to supplant purple with blue during Advent as it is a hopeful season of preparation that anticipates both Bethlehem and the consummation of history in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This colour is often called "Sarum blue", referring to its purported use at Salisbury Cathedral. Many of
1020-661: The Blessed Virgin . However, on some occasions that are heavily associated with Advent, such as the Rorate Mass (but not on Sundays), white is used. During the Nativity Fast, red is used by Eastern Christianity, although gold is an alternative colour. Many churches hold special musical events, such as Nine Lessons and Carols and singing of Handel's Messiah oratorio. The Advent Prose , an antiphonal plainsong , may be sung. The "Late Advent Weekdays", 17–24 December, mark
1088-787: The Coptic Orthodox Church , an additional fast is observed on the three days before the beginning of the Nativity Fast, to commemorate the miraculous moving of the mountain of Mukattam (which lies within a suburb of Cairo ) at the hands of Saint Simon the Tanner in the year 975, during the rule of the Muslim Fatimid Caliph Al-Muizz Li-Deenillah . Uniquely, the Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Nativity on January 6. Their Fast of Advent begins after seventh Sunday before Christmas. They then observe
1156-707: The Divine Liturgy on this day. The Sunday before Nativity is even broader in its scope of commemoration than the previous Sunday, in that it commemorates all of the righteous men and women who pleased God from the creation of the world up to Saint Joseph . The Menaion provides an even fuller service for this day than the previous Sunday. At the Vespers portion of the All-Night Vigil three Old Testament "parables" ( paroemia ) are read: Genesis 14:14–20 , Deuteronomy 1:8–17 and Deuteronomy 10:14–21 . The Epistle which
1224-661: The Divine Liturgy . During the Vespers, eight Old Testament lections ("parables") which prefigure or prophesy the Incarnation of Christ are read, and special antiphons are chanted. If the Feast of the Nativity falls on a Sunday or Monday, the Royal Hours are chanted on the previous Friday, and on the Paramony the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is celebrated in the morning, with its readings and antiphons, and
1292-915: The Georgian Orthodox Church , the Ukrainian Orthodox Church , the Macedonian Orthodox Church , Mount Athos , the Portuguese Orthodox Church , and all Old Calendarists , as well as some parishes of the Romanian Orthodox Church , of the Polish Orthodox Church , and of the Orthodox Church of America —the Winter Lent does not begin until November 28 (Gregorian) which coincides with November 15 on
1360-696: The Greek parousia from the New Testament , originally referring to the Second Coming . The season of Advent in the Christian calendar anticipates the "coming of Christ" from three different perspectives: the physical nativity in Bethlehem , the reception of Christ in the heart of the believer, and the eschatological Second Coming. Practices associated with Advent include Advent calendars , lighting an Advent wreath , praying an Advent daily devotional , erecting
1428-723: The Kingdom of God , and 9:2–7 , foretelling the birth of the Messiah ("For unto us a child is born...and he shall be called...the Mighty God...."). The Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of Christ is celebrated on Christmas morning. However, in those monasteries which continue to celebrate the All-Night Vigil in its long form—where it literally lasts throughout the night—the conclusion of the Vigil at dawn on Christmas morning will often lead directly into
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#17331058672581496-550: The Nativity Fast . According to Saint Gregory of Tours the celebration of Advent began in the fifth century when the Bishop Perpetuus directed that starting with the St. Martin's Day on 11 November until Christmas, one fasts three times per week; this is why Advent was sometimes also named "Lent of St. Martin". This practice remained limited to the diocese of Tours until the sixth century. The Council of Macon held in 581 adopted
1564-623: The Roman Rite of the Catholic Church , the readings of Mass on the Sundays of Advent have distinct themes: A variety of practices derived from the Roman rite are observed in various protestant churches which retain similar liturgical practices. Other variations of the themes celebrated on each of the four Sundays include: [REDACTED] This article incorporates text from a publication now in
1632-636: The Russian usage , the hangings in the church are changed to the festive color (usually white) at the beginning of the Forefeast. Two Sundays before Nativity (hence, between 11 and 17 December of each year ), the Church calls to remembrance the ancestors of the church, both before the giving of the Law of Moses and after, like Adam , "and on through Seth , Enoch , Noah , Abraham , Isaac , Jacob , King David , and other" biblical righteous. Seth, son of Adam, started
1700-585: The Three Holy Youths (December 17). These last are significant not only because of their perseverance in fasting, but also because their preservation unharmed in the midst of the fiery furnace is interpreted as being symbolic of the Incarnation—the Virgin Mary conceived God the Word in her womb without being consumed by the fire of the Godhead . As is true of all of the four Byzantine fasts,
1768-400: The public domain : Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). " Advent ". Catholic Encyclopedia . New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nativity Fast Autocephaly and canonicity recognized by Constantinople and 3 other autocephalous Churches: Spiritual independence recognized by Georgian Orthodox Church: Semi-Autonomous: In Christianity , the Nativity Fast —or Fast of
1836-465: The vestments of the clergy, and often also the tabernacle . 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. A rose-coloured candle in Western Christianity is referenced as a sign of joy ( Gaudete ) lit on the third Sunday of Advent. While the traditional colour for Advent is violet, there
1904-500: The 15th century and " O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf " , published in 1622. Johann Sebastian Bach composed several cantatas for Advent in Weimar, from Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland , BWV 61, to Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben , BWV 147a, but only one more in Leipzig where he worked for the longest time, because there Advent was a silent time which allowed cantata music only on
1972-509: The 50th year. A Christingle usually consists of: Alternate additions to the Christingle include: The name Christingle probably derives from a German dialectical word Christkindl , meaning 'Christ-child' or 'Christmas gift'. Alternatively, according to a BBC source, the name means 'Christ Light', given that the orange and candle symbolise the Light of the World. Advent Advent
2040-455: The Advent wreath originated among German Lutherans in the 16th century. However, it was not until three centuries later that the modern Advent wreath took shape. The modern Advent wreath, with its candles representing the Sundays of Advent, originated from an 1839 initiative by Johann Hinrich Wichern , a Protestant pastor in Germany and a pioneer in urban mission work among the poor. To deal with
2108-525: The Church. In the Anglican and Lutheran churches this fasting rule was later relaxed. The Roman Catholic Church later abolished the precept of fasting during Advent (at an unknown date at the latest in 1917 ), later, but kept Advent as a season of penitence . In addition to fasting, dancing and similar festivities were forbidden in these traditions. On Rose Sunday , relaxation of the fast was permitted. Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches still hold
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2176-564: The Feast of the Conception by Saint Anne of the Most Holy Theotokos . Through the discipline of fasting , when practiced with prayer, repentance , and almsgiving , it is believed that by controlling bodily desire for food, other passions are controlled as well, and that the soul can orient more away from worldly needs and more towards spiritual needs. Through this practice one is better enabled to draw closer to Christ , and engage in
2244-756: The Julian calendar. The Ancient Church of the East fasts dawn til dusk from December 1 until December 25 on the Gregorian calendar. Sometimes the fast is called Philip's Fast (or the Philippian Fast), as it traditionally begins on the day following the Feast of St. Philip the Apostle (November 14). Some churches, such as the Melkite Greek Catholic Church , have abbreviated the fast to start on December 10, following
2312-513: The Messiah; the first is the symbol of the forgiveness granted to Adam and Eve, the second is the symbol of the faith of Abraham and of the patriarchs who believe in the gift of the Promised Land , the third is the symbol of the joy of David whose lineage does not stop and also testifies to his covenant with God, and the fourth and last candle is the symbol of the teaching of the prophets who announce
2380-527: The Nativity Fast and St. Martin's Lent , has taken the name of Advent . The Eastern fast runs for 40 days instead of four (in the Roman Rite ) or six weeks ( Ambrosian Rite ) and thematically focuses on proclamation and glorification of the Incarnation of God , whereas the Western Advent focuses on three comings (or advents ) of Jesus Christ : his birth, reception of his grace by the faithful, and his Second Coming or Parousia . The Byzantine fast
2448-778: The Prophets in Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church —is a period of abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox Church , Oriental Orthodox Church and Catholic Church in preparation for the Nativity of Jesus on December 25. Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Churches commence the season on November 24 and end the season on the day of Ethiopian Christmas , which falls on January 7. The corresponding Western season of preparation for Christmas , which also has been called
2516-479: The Sunday that falls on or closest to 30 November and it ends before First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of Christmas. The first day of Advent also begins a new liturgical year . In the Ambrosian Rite and the Mozarabic Rite of the Catholic Church, Advent begins on the sixth Sunday before Christmas, the Sunday after St. Martin's Day (11 November). For Western Christians of the Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican traditions, Advent signifies preparation for
2584-523: The United Kingdom by John Pensom in 1968. He was raising funds for the charity The Children's Society . In the 2000s, over 5,000 Christingle services , in which children are presented with Christingles, were being held in the UK every year. In 2018, over 6,000 services were held for The Children's Society. Each year, Christingle raises over £1.2 million to help vulnerable young people. In 2018, The Children's Society launched its #Christingle50 campaign, which included festive services in schools and churches for
2652-436: The United Kingdom since before the World Wars . As members of Moravian churches moved away from their home congregations, they took the custom of Christingles with them and introduced it to other denominations. In the 1960s John Pensom adopted it as a fundraising tool for The Children's Society of the Church of England . The history of the Christingle can be traced back to Moravian Bishop Johannes de Watteville, who started
2720-453: The West. The Eastern Nativity Fast does not use the term parousia in its preparatory services. In the Anglican , Lutheran , Moravian , Presbyterian , and Methodist calendars, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (always falling between 27 November and 3 December), and ends on Christmas Eve on 24 December. In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church , Advent begins with First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of
2788-425: The celebration of the Divine Liturgy. When the Vigil is separate from the Divine Liturgy, the Lenten fast continues even after the Vigil, until the end of the Liturgy the next morning. On December 25, the Afterfeast of the Nativity of Christ begins. From that day to January 4 (the day before Theophany Eve) is a fast-free period. The Eve of the Theophany (January 5) is another strict fast day ( paramony ). In
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2856-404: The continuous and synergistic process of becoming more Christ-like . While fasting is practiced with the body, it is important to note that emphasis is placed on the spiritual facet of the fast rather than mere physical deprivation. Eastern Orthodox theology sees a synthesis between the body and the soul, so what happens to one can be used to have an effect on the other. In the Byzantine Rite,
2924-479: The course of the fast: Evangelist Matthew (November 16), Apostle Andrew (November 30), Great-martyr Barbara (December 4), St. Nicholas (December 6), St. Spiridon and St. Herman (December 12), St. Ignatius (December 20), etc. The Nativity Fast is not as severe as Great Lent or the Dormition Fast . As is always the case with Byzantine fasting rules, persons who are ill, the very young or elderly, and nursing mothers are exempt from fasting. Each individual
2992-401: The descendants of the Sons of God . The Menaion contains a full set of hymns for this day which are chanted in conjunction with the regular Sunday hymns from the Octoechos . These hymns commemorate various biblical persons, as well as the prophet Daniel and the Three Young Men . There are also special Epistle ( Colossians 3:4–11 ) and Gospel ( Luke 14:16–24 ) readings appointed for
3060-414: The eternity of God. The flames of candles are the representation of the Christmas light approaching and bringing hope and peace, as well as the symbol of the struggle against darkness. For Christians, this crown is also the symbol of Christ the King , the holly recalling the crown of thorns resting on the head of Christ. The Advent wreath is adorned with candles, usually three violet or purple and one pink;
3128-427: The evening or after the Vesperal Divine Liturgy, when a meal with wine and oil may be taken. On this day the Royal Hours are celebrated in the morning. Some of the hymns are similar to those of Theophany (Epiphany) and Great and Holy Friday , thus tying the symbolism of Christ's Nativity to his death on the Cross. The Royal Hours are followed by the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil which combines Vespers with
3196-498: The fancy of nineteenth-century ritualists." While the Sarum use was influential, different dioceses, including Salisbury, used a variety of coloured vestments. "In the Sarum Rite the Advent colour was red, but it could very well have been the red-purple known as murray ..." The Roman Catholic Church retains the traditional violet. Blue is not generally used in Latin Catholicism, and where it does regionally, it has nothing to do with Advent specifically, but with veneration of
3264-447: The fast traditionally entails fasting from red meat , poultry , meat products , eggs, dairy products , fish, oil, and wine. Fish, wine and oil are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays as well as most Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and oil and wine are generally allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, except in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church . The fasting rules also permit fish, wine and oil on certain feast days that occur during
3332-401: The fasting is lessened to some degree—a meal with wine and oil being served after the Liturgy. The All-Night Vigil on the night of December 24 consists of Great Compline , Matins and the First Hour . One of the highlights of Great Compline is the exultant chanting of "God is with us!" interspersed between selected verses from the prophecy of Isaiah 8:9–18 , foretelling the triumph of
3400-434: The first day of Advent often heralds the start of the Christmas season , with many people opting to erect their Christmas trees and Christmas decorations on or immediately before Advent Sunday. Since 2011, an Advent labyrinth consisting of 2,500 tealights has been formed for the third Saturday of Advent in Frankfurt-Bornheim . The keeping of an Advent wreath is a common practice in homes or churches. The concept of
3468-400: The first day of the Nativity Fast. Often the hangings in the church will be changed to a somber, Lenten colour. During the course of the fast, a number of feast days celebrate those Old Testament prophets who prophesied the Incarnation ; for instance: Obadiah (November 19), Nahum (December 1), Habbakuk (December 2), Zephaniah (December 3), Haggai (December 16), Daniel and
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#17331058672583536-439: The first of the four Sundays. During Advent, the Gloria of the Mass is omitted, so that the return of the angels' song at Christmas has an effect of novelty. Mass compositions written especially for Lent, such as Michael Haydn's Missa tempore Quadragesimae , in D minor for choir and organ, have no Gloria and so are appropriate for use in Advent. Bishop Perpetuus of Tours, who died in 490, ordered fasting three days
3604-457: The five Sundays preceding Christmas and for the corresponding Wednesdays and Fridays. The homilies of Gregory the Great in the late sixth century showed four weeks to the liturgical season of Advent, but without the observance of a fast. Under Charlemagne in the ninth century, writings claim that the fast was still widely observed. In the 13th century, the fast of Advent was not commonly practised although, according to Durand of Mende, fasting
3672-440: The impatience of the children awaiting Christmas, whom he was teaching, Wichern made a ring of wood, with 19 small red tapers and four large white candles. Every morning a small candle was lit, and every Sunday a large candle. Modern practice only retains the large candles. The wreath crown is traditionally made of fir tree branches knotted with a red ribbon and decorated with pine cones, holly, laurel, and sometimes mistletoe. It
3740-415: The latest. In Normandy , farmers employed children under twelve to run through the fields and orchards armed with torches, setting fire to bundles of straw, and thus, it was believed, driving out such vermin as were likely to damage the crops. In Italy, among other Advent celebrations, is the entry into Rome in the last days of Advent of the Calabrian pifferari , or bagpipe players, who play before
3808-418: The ornaments and ceremonial practices associated with the Sarum rite were revived in the Anglican Communion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as part of the Anglo-Catholic Oxford Movement in the Church of England. While Anglican liturgist Percy Dearmer does not object to the use of blue during Advent, he did not attribute its use to Sarum. "[T]he so-called Sarum uses are really one-half made up from
3876-455: The papal court but there was no mention of fasting. It was then customary in Rome to observe five weeks of Advent before Christmas. The Ambrosian Rite has six. The Greeks show no more real consistency: Advent was an optional fast that some begin on 15 November, while others begin on 6 December or only a few days before Christmas. The liturgy of Advent remained unchanged until the Second Vatican Council introduced minor changes, differentiating
3944-409: The pink candle is lit on the Third Sunday of Advent, called " Gaudete Sunday " after the opening word, Gaudete , meaning 'Rejoice', of the entrance antiphon at Mass . Some add a fifth candle (white), known as the "Christ candle", in the middle of the wreath, to be lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The candles symbolise, in one interpretation, the great stages of salvation before the coming of
4012-408: The practice in Tours. Soon all France observed three days of fasting a week from the feast of Saint Martin until Christmas. The most devout worshipers in some countries exceeded the requirements adopted by the council, and fasted every day of Advent. The first clear references in the Western Church to Advent occur in the Gelasian Sacramentary , which provides Advent Collects, Epistles, and Gospels for
4080-411: The relative importance of penitence and expectation during the weeks in Advent. Since approximately the 13th century, the usual liturgical colour in Western Christianity for Advent has been violet; Pope Innocent III declared black to be the proper colour for Advent, though Durandus of Saint-Pourçain claims violet has preference over black. The violet or purple colour is often used for antependia ,
4148-402: The rules strictly state that from the December 20 to December 24 (inclusively), no fish may be eaten. The Eve of Nativity (December 24) is a strict fast day , called Paramony ( lit. ' preparation ' ), on which no solid food should be eaten until Sirius is seen in the evening sky (or at the very least, until after the Vesperal Divine Liturgy that day). If Paramony falls on
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#17331058672584216-481: The shrines of Mary, the mother of Jesus: in Italian tradition, the shepherds played these pipes when they came to the manger at Bethlehem to pay homage to the infant Jesus. In recent times, the most common observance of Advent outside church circles has been the keeping of an Advent calendar or Advent candle , with one door being opened in the calendar, or one section of the candle being burned, on each day in December leading up to Christmas Eve. In many countries,
4284-421: The singing of the Great Advent ' O antiphons '. These are the daily antiphons for the Magnificat at Vespers , Evensong , or Evening Prayer , in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, and mark the forthcoming birth of the Messiah. They form the basis for each verse of the popular Advent hymn " O come, O come, Emmanuel ". German songs for Advent include " Es kommt ein Schiff, geladen " from
4352-406: The spirit of Lent from that of Advent, emphasising Advent as a season of hope for Christ's coming now as a promise of his Second Coming. The theme of readings and teachings during Advent is often the preparation for the Second Coming and the Last Judgement . While the Sunday readings relate to the first coming of Jesus Christ as saviour as well as to his Second Coming as judge, traditions vary in
4420-405: The tradition in Germany in 1747 as "an attempt to get children to think about Jesus". At that time it was just a red ribbon wrapped around a candle; it is unclear how an orange came to be incorporated into the Christingle. In the intervening years, the Moravian Church spread the tradition of Christingle through their early role in the Protestant missionary movement . The custom was popularized in
4488-435: The tradition of fasting for 40 days before Christmas. In England, especially in the northern counties, there was a custom (now extinct) for poor women to carry around the "Advent images", two dolls dressed to represent Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary. A halfpenny coin was expected from every one to whom these were exhibited and bad luck was thought to menace the household not visited by the doll-bearers before Christmas Eve at
4556-416: Was certainly in existence from about 480; the novelty introduced by the Council of Tours of 567 was to order monks to fast every day in the month of December until Christmas. According to J. Neil Alexander , it is "impossible to claim with confidence a credible explanation of the origin of Advent". Associated with Advent as a time of penitence was a period of fasting , known also as St Martin's Lent or
4624-432: Was still generally observed. As quoted in the bull of canonisation of St. Louis, the zeal with which he observed this fast was no longer a custom observed by Christians of great piety. It was then limited to the period from the feast of Saint Andrew until Christmas Day, since the solemnity of this apostle was more universal than that of St. Martin. When Pope Urban V ascended the papal seat in 1362, he imposed abstinence on
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