Advent

Today is the third Sunday of Advent. This is the period approximately four weeks long leading up to Christmas day. The name comes from the Latin adventus, which means 'coming', as in the coming of the Christ child. Churches traditionally light a series of four candles (or fork 'andles here by Jim Walshe), one each Sunday, often set in an evergreen wreath. A fifth candle, the 'Christ candle' is lit and set in the center on Christmas day to celebrate Christ's birth.