In churches which follow the Church year it begins with the first Sunday in Advent, which is also the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day. The season of Advent (Coming) as a preparation for Christmas seems to have started in France in the sixth century. To begin with, the length of Advent varied. The four Sundays of Advent date from the time of Pope Gregory the Great who died in 604.

Advent is meant to be a sombre but hopeful season. It is a time for forgiveness and change. Like Lent, it used to be a time for fasting and preparing the special food which could not be eaten until Christmas, when the fast was over. Christmas puddings used to be made on the first Sunday.

Today, in some churches, the first Sunday is marked with a solemn procession. The church is darkened. The only light comes from the few candles carried by the boys or girls who help during the service. There are readings from the Old Testament which Christians believe foretell the coming of Jesus. Advent Hymns are sung.

In some churches there is the custom of the 'Advent Crown'. The crown is made up of evergreen foliage with four candles fixed in it. These candles stand for different people and events. In some churches they stand for the Old Testament Prophets, the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist and Jesus' Second Coming. On each of the four Sundays in Advent, a candle is added and lit. This indicates the increase of light as Christmas Day approaches. A fifth candle is lit on Christmas Day. The date of Christmas was deliberately chosen to coincide with the time when the days are darkest. From Christmas Day on, the days become lighter.

The tau cross is an incomplete cross which stands for the prophets who looked forward to Jesus. The tau cross is a symbol of anticipation. Purple, the colour of sorrow and royalty, is used during Advent as Christians are sorry for the wrong things they have done, but are looking forward to the coming of Jesus.