Preparing for Advent 2018

Advent begins tomorrow, Sunday 2 December 2018. 

No, Advent does not always begin on 1 December, whatever the chocolate Advent calendars tell you. 

Advent is a season that includes the 4 Sundays that come immediately before 25 December (Christmas Day). So the first Sunday of Advent falls on a different day each year, any day between 27 November and 3 December and the season lasts until Christmas Eve (24 December). If you want to know what Advent is about, you can find a brief explanation in 'Last Day of the Year'.

In recent years I have tried to find helps for personal daily Advent reflection, sometimes using a book about Advent, Bible readings for Advent, poetry, music or images. This year, like last, I plan to join in with #AdventWord. This is a digital online Anglican Advent calendar. The calendar provides a single word for each day and a reflection, for example, the word for the 1st day of Advent (tomorrow) is 'Journey'. Anyway can then contribute responses using pictures, reflections etc posted on social media sites. I hope to publish a response on this blog each day. of Advent 2018. Whether or not I manage that remains to be seen.

Are you planning to observe Advent in any particular way? If so, what? Do you follow any particular Advent season traditions? Let me know in the comments. I like to be open to new ideas.

Image Credit: Pixabay, CCO Licence