Advent ( latin: adventus Redemptoris, would come from the Redeemer would 41?; It is the first period of the Christian liturgical year, which consists of a time of spiritual preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ. Their duration usually from 22 to 28 days, since necessarily integrate it all four Sunday nearest to the feast of the Nativity ( 41 Christmas liturgical celebration; but, in the case of the Orthodox Church, advent extends for 40 days, from November 28 until January 6.The Christian faithful are considered the advent as a time of prayer and reflection, characterized by the watchful waiting ( i.e., time of hope and waking ) repentance, forgiveness and joy. In the Orthodox Church, advent includes as particular strict abstinence from certain foods, which makes a strict fasting ( known as the fast of the Nativity ) in the case of the Coptic Orthodox Church.With liturgical particularities, practically all historical Christian churches celebrate this time: the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, Orthodox Apostolic Catholic Church, 40 Protestant churches; Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Moravian, etc. ) the Coptic Orthodox Church, among others.During advent, a Crown of pine branches is placed in churches and also in some households, call Crown of advent, with four candles, one for each Sunday of Advent. There is a small tradition of Advent: each one of these four sails is assigned a virtue that needs to be improved in that week, example: the first, love; the second, peace; the third, the tolerance and the fourth, faith.Sundays of advent family or community meets around the advent wreath. Then, read the Bible and some meditation. The Crown may be to the temple to be blessed by the priest.
