The True Meaning of Advent

Every year, somewhere between Thanksgiving leftovers and my third peppermint mocha, I find myself wondering about the true meaning of Advent.

Not in a dramatic, choir-singing-in-the-background kind of way.

More like… standing in Target, holding a strand of tangled lights, Mariah Carey playing for the 47th time, and thinking:

“Wait. Wasn’t there something I was supposed to be doing before Christmas?”

If you’ve ever felt that—like December just punches you in the face with glitter and deadlines—you’re not alone.

I grew up knowing Advent was “that candle thing before Christmas.” We had the wreath. We lit the candles. Someone read something from the Bible. I mostly just waited for cookies.

But the older I get (which is rude, by the way), the more I realize Advent is not just pre-Christmas decoration filler.

It’s deeper.

Quieter.

And honestly? Kind of rebellious in modern America.

So… What Is Advent, Really?

Let’s clear this up in normal-person language.

If you’ve ever Googled what is Advent while wrapping presents at midnight—same.

Advent is the four-week season leading up to Christmas in many Christian traditions. It starts four Sundays before Christmas Day.

The word “Advent” literally means coming.

That’s it.

It’s about waiting. Anticipating. Preparing.

But not in a “prep the house for guests” kind of way.

More like prepping your heart.

Which sounds cheesy. I know. Stick with me.

Advent Season Meaning: It’s Not Just “Countdown to Gifts”

Here’s where I used to get it wrong.

I thought Advent was basically a holy countdown calendar. Like the chocolate ones, but more churchy.

But the Advent season meaning goes way beyond “Christmas is almost here!”

It holds two ideas at the same time:

Waiting for Jesus’ birth (the Christmas story)
Waiting for Christ to come again

Yeah. It’s layered.

Advent lives in tension.

And if you’re anything like me, tension is not your favorite place to be. I like resolution. Clear answers. Wi-Fi that works immediately.

But Advent says: Wait.

Sit in it.

Don’t rush to the manger scene just yet.

My First “Oh… This Is Different” Advent

There was one year—maybe five or six years ago—when I actually tried to observe Advent intentionally.

I bought one of those devotional booklets. You know the ones. Calm cover. Minimalist design. Probably purchased after a moment of spiritual ambition.

Night one, I lit the first candle.

It was quiet.

Too quiet.

I remember thinking, “Is this it?”

No choir. No snow falling outside like a Hallmark movie. Just me, a candle, and my dog staring at me like I’d lost it.

But something subtle shifted that season.

Instead of blasting Christmas music on December 1st (okay fine, November 15th), I waited.

I let the longing build.

And weirdly? Christmas felt heavier. In a good way.

The Problem: We Don’t Like Waiting

Let’s be honest.

We are terrible at waiting.

Amazon Prime has ruined us.

Two-day shipping? Not fast enough.
Streaming? Immediate.
Food delivery? 30 minutes or we riot.

And here comes Advent like, “You’re going to wait four weeks.”

Excuse me?

The true meaning of Advent confronts our obsession with instant everything.

It reminds us that hope grows slowly.

And hope is different from hype.

Hype screams.
Hope whispers.

Christian Advent Traditions (And Why They’re Not Random)

I used to think Christian Advent traditions were just old rituals passed down because “that’s what we’ve always done.”

Wreath. Candles. Purple paraments at church.

But each candle actually represents something:

Hope
Peace
Joy
Love

And sometimes a fifth white candle on Christmas Eve for Christ.

Lighting one candle at a time forces you to slow down.

You don’t get all the light at once.

And if that’s not a metaphor for life, I don’t know what is.

Preparing for Christmas Spiritually (Not Just Financially)

Can we talk about the credit card bills for a second?

December in America feels like a sprint.

Buy gifts.
Attend parties.
Take photos.
Look festive.
Be cheerful.

Exhausting.

Preparing for Christmas spiritually feels almost countercultural.

Instead of “What should I buy?” Advent asks:

What am I hoping for?
Where do I feel darkness?
What needs healing?

Those questions are not Instagram-friendly.

But they’re real.

A Slightly Embarrassing Story (Because Why Not)

Back in 8th grade, I once wrapped a Christmas gift so badly that my mom asked if I’d used my feet.

I had rushed it.

Tape everywhere. Paper wrinkled like it had been in a fight.

That’s how I used to approach December spiritually. Rushed. Sloppy. Just trying to get to the “good part.”

Advent feels like someone gently saying, “Slow down. Try again.”

I should probably be embarrassed, but honestly? That memory cracks me up.

And it kind of proves the point.

Why Advent Still Matters in 2026

You might be thinking, “Okay, but why does this ancient church season still matter now?”

Fair question.

We live in a loud world.

Constant news cycles. Notifications. Group chats that never sleep.

Advent is quiet.

Almost stubbornly so.

It says:

You can’t rush redemption.
You have to wait.

And in a culture drowning in anxiety and distraction, that rhythm feels… grounding.

It gives December depth instead of just decoration.

How I Actually Try to Live Advent (Imperfectly)

I’m not a monk. I forget days. I eat Christmas cookies before dinner.

But here’s what I try:

1. Light a Candle Weekly

Even if it’s just for five minutes.

2. Limit Christmas Music Early On

I know, controversial. But saving “O Holy Night” for later? Worth it.

3. Read the Nativity Story Slowly

Not just Luke 2 on autopilot. But really imagine it.

Dust. Animals. Confusion. Teenagers saying yes to something huge.

4. Acknowledge My Own Longing

Advent gives permission to admit things aren’t perfect.

That you’re waiting for something too.

Healing. Direction. Peace.

A Pop Culture Comparison Because My Brain Works Like That

You know how in The Great British Bake Off, they don’t just throw everything in the oven at once and hope for magic?

There’s proofing time. Resting time. Waiting.

Advent is proofing time.

You can’t rush the rise.

(Also, if you’ve never watched that show, fix that immediately. It pairs beautifully with tea and reflection.)

For thoughtful reflections on faith and culture, I’ve found some gems on sites like Christianity Today. Not always perfect, but thought-provoking in a good way.