Advent, In Expectation of Christmas

Be it glögg and ginger snaps, the lighting of the wreath, or the expectant opening of the calendar window to find the cheap chocolate inside, Advent is both the month of anticipation before the coming Christmas holiday and the beginning of the western liturgical year. It's also oft forgotten and sometimes ill understood. So what does Advent really mean, anyway?

Patheos contributors illuminate why we light the candles, Advent's history, its current significance, and why this season is a particularly sacred time of the year.