Advent Calendar Day 4

The Tradition of Advent

How about some history of why we even do Advent Calendars and how they came to be? I know I am I nerd but I love to find things out in fact one Christmas I found out why we have fruit cake! ( Perhaps I will post it on my blog for you to read up on that too! ) 

 Advent means "coming" and there are three meanings of 'coming' that Christians describe in Advent. The first, and most thought of, happened about 2000 years ago when Jesus came into the world as a baby to live as a man and die for us. The second can happen now as Jesus wants to come into our lives now. And the third will happen in the future when Jesus comes back to the world as King and Judge, not a baby.Some people fast (don't eat anything) during advent to help them concentrate on preparing to celebrate Jesus's coming. In many Orthodox and Eastern Catholics Churches, Advent lasts for 40 days and starts on November 15th and is also called the Nativity Fast. That is defiantly not one of my traditions! Christmas candy! now there is a tradition I love!

Candles:
There are two types of candles  used to count down to Christmas Day in Advent. The first has the days up to Christmas Day marked down the candle. On the first of December the candle is lit and burnt down to the first line on the candle. The same is done every day and then the rest of the candle is burnt on Christmas day. I use one of these candles to count down during Advent.sounds fun!
An Advent Crown is another form of candles that are used to count down Advent. These are used in Churches rather than in people's homes. The crown is made up of a wreath of greenery and has four candles round the outside and one in the middle or in a separate place. One candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, two are lit on the second Sunday and so on. Each candle has a different meaning. The middle or separate candle is lit on Christmas Day and represents Jesus, the light of the world.
The box:
In medieval  in England there were an early form of Nativity scene called 'advent images'. They were a box,  with a glass lid that was covered with a white napkin, that contained two dolls representing Mary and the baby Jesus. The box was decorated with ribbons and flowers and sometimes even apples. They were carried around from door to door. It was thought to be very bad luck if you haven't seen a box before Christmas Eve. People paid the box carriers a halfpenny to see the box. sounds like a great way to create money to by some stocking stuffers haha.
When did "Advent" start?
Advent was first recorded about 380AD in Spain.
And now you know!

my favorite advent is any thing to do with holiday baking or christmas candy! and 2 times worse than any other year since i was sick last christmas time,