The meaning of Advent

Today is the first day Of Advent. There are four Sundays in Advent 9or season of waiting) before it is Christmas Day, Nov 27th, December 4th the 11 and the 18th of December.
In western  Christianity,  Advent begins on the fourth sunday before Christmas Eve.
It is a tradition to prepare Christians for the Birth of Jesus Christ. Many Christians observe a Season of prayer and prepare spiritually, some with fasting, others with the opening of Advent calendars and chocolate, so two different contrasts there.
This is followed by Anticipation and Joy , in remembrance of Christs Birth to the virgin Mary in a lowly stable in Bethlehem.

The lighting of Candles symbolizes the light of the world and the saviours birth, each sunday a candle is lit, the final 5th candle is lit on Christmas Eve.
This year I have one Advent Candle marked into segments to  light each night, when the children were small i would make an advent candle wreath with foliage and stand it in the hearth, around each candle would be tied a tartan ribbon, a red candle we would light on Christmas day. On a sunday we would sing the old advent carols to the programme Songs of Praise, especially the advent hymn Oh come Oh come Emmanuel associated with Advent. Mainly both children would enjoy the opening of the advent calendar, working out who would have the first sweet from the calendar so they would get the last one on Christmas Day. So tonight still to Songs of Praise i shall light the candle yet again and sing the old advent carols.