Advent
Fill the gaps with suitable expressions:Advent (from the Latin word adventus 1)................................. "coming” or "arrival") is a four-2).......................... period when the Christian Church 3).................................. the first coming of Jesus Christ and anticipates his second coming. Advent starts on the fourth 4).................................. before December 25th which can fall on any 5)................................... between (and including) November 27th and December 3rd. It lasts until midnight on Christmas 6).............................. Advent has probably been observed since the fourth 7)............................ Originally, it was a time of preparation for Epiphany and it was not connected with Christmas. The current form of Advent crystallized 8).........................Pope Gregory I who set the four-week length and wrote liturgical materials for use in Advent. The 20th century brought a rediscovery of joy in Advent preparations. |
Advent symbols
Guess what the symbols are: Advent 1)................................... = made of circle of evergreen branches to symbolize eternal life and the endless nature of God’s love Advent 2)................................... = they stand in a circle and each of them represents one of the four Sundays of Advent Advent 3)................................... = used as a countdown to Christmas Advent 4)................................... = violet or blue, rose and white |
Insert the above mentioned colours into the gaps below:1).............................has traditionally been the primary colour of Advent, symbolizing repentance and fasting. Today, however, many churches have begun to use 2)............................ instead. 3)........................is also one of the colours of Advent used during the third Sunday. It represents joy and reveals a shift in the season away from repentance toward celebration. 4)..........................is the colour of the central Advent candle, representing purity. |
Advent traditions and customs
The lighting of the Advent wreath is usually one of the most common traditions. One candle is lit each Sunday of the season and a short statement about the meaning of each candle is shared:
First Advent Sunday – Candle of Hope
Second Advent Sunday – Candle of Peace
Third Advent Sunday – Candle of Joy
Fourth Advent Sunday – Candle of Love
In the centre is a fifth candle, so-called Christ Candle, which represents the birth of Jesus Christ and is lit on Christmas Day.
Advent calendars which can be made or bought are also popular during the season. Despite the name, most commercially available Advent calendars begin on December 1st, regardless of when Advent begins. Usually these calendars have 24 windows to represent the 24 days to Christmas Eve. Traditional calendars open up to show a picture or a message linked with Christmas time. Popular Advent calendars today usually have small chocolates or toys hidden behind each window.
A Barbara branch is the name given to a twig that is broken from a fruit tree (especially cherry), placed in a bowl of water, and kept in the house. According to legend, if the Barbara branch blooms on or before Christmas Day, good luck or a wedding will come to the person whose branch it is.
In English history, poor women would carry "Advent images" – two dolls dressed as Christ and the Virgin Mary. Upon showing these images to passersby, the women would be given small amounts of money. Failing to donate was considered bad luck.
Test your knowledge HERE |
Correct answersFill the gaps.. 1) meaning, 2) week, 3) celebrates commemorates, 4) Sunday, 5) date, 6) Eve, 7) century, 8) under Guess what.. 1) wreath, 2) candles, 3) calendar, 4) colours Insert the above.. 1) Violet, 2) blue, 3) Rose, 4) White |
Jazyková agentura SkřivánekSkřivánek je největší jazykovou agenturou ve střední a východní Evropě. Na trhu jazykových služeb působí již od roku 1994. Kanceláře a učebny agentury Skřivánek najdete v 22 městech ČR a v dalších 13 zemích světa. |