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3 historical facts to know about Advent

By Brandon Showalter, Opinion writer and social commentator
Christmas crib
Christmas crib | Getty Images/ Pascal Deloche

1. Advent is a season of penitence

During Advent, Christians remember the first coming of the Lord, who was born in Bethlehem, in anticipation of the second coming of Jesus, who will return to Jerusalem. The Latin word Adventus means "coming" and is a translation of the Greek word parousia, which in the New Testament often refers to Christ's second coming.

Although it remains unclear when the first celebration of Advent took place in Church history, in The Synod of Saragossa in 380 AD, it is declared that Christians ought to use the week prior to Christmas to be present in church meetings and to prepare spiritually for Christmas.

In 490 AD, Saint Gregory of Tours advised monks to "observe fasting everyday during the month of December, up to Christmas day" (Canon 17, Council of Tours). Pope Gregory the Great and Pope Gregory VII in the Council of Tours (563 AD), and the Council of Mâcon (581 AD), respectively, "helped solidify Advent as a liturgical celebration for the Christian year," according to Seedbed of Asbury Seminary.

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