Advent and Christmas

In western churches, Christmas Day always falls on 25 December. In the eastern, Orthodox Church it is celebrated in early January. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ around 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem. Advent is seen as a time of preparation, looking back to Christ’s birth and looking forward to his second coming. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day – so it can fall any time between 27 November and 3 December. In the Anglican Church, Advent is seen as the beginning of the church year. Some Christian traditions begin Advent slightly earlier.