The season of Advent occurs in the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It's about preparing the mind, body, and soul for the Messiah's joyous arrival and marking the church's birth. What is the Messiah, and how does this differ between Christianity, Islam, and Judaism? Here's a bare-bones mini-messianic primer for those not familiar with Abrahamic faiths. Christians believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah (savior and liberator of the people) promised to the Israelites and the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. Muslims believe Jesus is a prophet of God but not a Messiah. Many of His sermons and teachings are in the Qu'ran. Judaism believes Jesus is a man who lived and was a teacher (rabbi), not the Messiah promised, nor a prophet. Judaism believes the Messiah is yet to come. Okay, so the cousins don't agree on everything. No surprise there. Advent is a Christian celebration unique to its faith. However, has it always been observed as it is today? NOW & THEN The commercialization and the secularization of Christmas during the past century shifted the public understanding of Advent. Today it is more likely to signify the beginning of the Christmas shopping and party season. Festivities begin in late November and end on New Year's Day. Traditionally, Advent was a 40-day fast, similar to Ramadan, a time of preparation, prayer, and solemn reflection beginning on November 12 and continuing through Christmas Eve. Observant Christians abstained from celebrations until Christmas Eve, including putting up their trees. In the ninth century, Advent became four weeks long and followed the traditions of Lent, featuring abstinence in exchange for complete daylight fasting. Until the last two centuries, Christmas music and parties only occurred during Christmastide (Christmas Eve through January 5). The Christmas feast marked the end of fasting and the commencement of the celebrations. ADVENT TRADITIONS ADVENT CALENDARS: Advent Calendars have been a favorite European tradition for centuries within Protestant and Catholic faiths. It is common for children to have an Advent Calendar beginning December 1 to mark off the days until Christmas. Eastern Orthodox faiths begin Advent on November 15, but western churches celebrate Advent during the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Advent Calendars come in many forms, the most common being a paper version with windows corresponding to a particular day, which children open to see a picture inside. Other forms include candy or little drawers with coins. The purpose of the Advent Calendar is to count down the days until the birth of the Messiah by marking each day with an event designed to remind each person of the upcoming miracle. Advent comes from the Latin "advenio," which means "to come to." The Advent season is about preparing for the arrival of the Messiah—the birth of Jesus Christ. ADVENT WREATH: The Advent wreath originated in Germany and began as a Lutheran tradition before moving to the Catholic and Anglican churches and is similar to the lighting of the menorah in Judaism at Hanukah, but the reason and purpose are different. The menorah represents the eight days lamp oil lasted during a war that allowed the Israelites to recapture and re-consecrate their temple. The Advent wreath, with its four candles (three purple and one rose) in a circle surrounded by evergreens (symbolizing hope and eternal life), represents preparation for the Messiah's birth. A large white taper candle is often in the center for lighting the other candles. In church, the vestitures of the clergy and drapings of the altar will be purple or rose, coinciding with each Sunday of Advent. On the first Sunday of Advent, Christians light a single purple candle and continue to light it each night of the week. On the second Sunday, a second purple candle joins it, burning together until the third Sunday when a rose candle, representing Gaudete (Rejoice), is lit. Gaudete marks the halfway point of the season and is accompanied by relaxing the rules and adding colors and flowers. These three candles, two purple and one rose carry through each night until the final Sunday of Advent, when all four candles burn together, signaling that the feasting begins! The Advent wreath is prominent in Christmas celebrations today, though it is often mistaken for a pretty centerpiece rather than its true purpose. ADVENT MUSIC: Since music is relegated to Christmastide, there aren't a lot of Advent songs. However, the following carols are about it. O Come, O Come Emmanuel Gaudete Twelve Days of Christmas. That's Advent. It marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical and ecclesiastic year, which is central to the faith and the celebration of Christmas. A blessed Advent to all those observing. This article is adapted from the interactive edition of The Storybook Advent Calendar: 24 Stories for Christmas by Lewis Brech (LD Lewis & Michael Brech), available on Apple iBooks, Kindle, and GooglePlay. The music, performed by Michael Brech, is also available on iTunes, iHeart, Amazon, and other streaming services via Storybook Advent Carols Collection Volume One: 20 American Christmas Classics and Storybook Advent Carols Collection Volume Two: 20 British Christmas Classics.