Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
Vivian CabreraNovember 29, 2018
Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash

The start of Advent is a few days away, and we all know what that means: stuffing our faces with all the chocolate from our Advent calendar on the first day.

We all do it. It’s not a secret. But do most of us know why we even have Advent calendars to begin with?

Some of you may know that Advent comes from the Latin word adveniat, which in English means “coming.” When you think about what we do during the Advent season, it makes sense. As we patiently (or not so patiently) wait for Christmas and the arrival of the Christ child, we experience this period of anticipation and reflection. It’s a time of joyful preparation of our hearts and minds.

Advent calendars have evolved over time, beginning in the 1900s when Gerald Lang was credited with inventing the very model. What began as a cardboard calendar marking down the days until Christmas transformed into little doors on the calendar that would open each day to reveal a surprise. Today, that surprise is usually chocolate, although you may not know what kind of chocolate you’ll be getting.

Here at America, we want to treat you to a different kind of Advent calendar—a digital one. Every day, you’ll receive an assortment of video and audio Advent reflections from various members of our team, plus links to some of the best arts and culture reviews of this year, Faith in Focus essays and a few more surprises.

Sign up to receive our daily newsletter to make sure you don’t miss out. You can unwrap the first surprise on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018!

Or visit this page every day to find out what surprises we have in store for you in the new liturgical year.

Happy Adventing!

More: Advent
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
henry dsouza
6 years 2 months ago

This is the way we can get from here to get the fortnite hack online and it was the way to get the free vbucks here.

The latest from america

Candles and a photo of Pope Francis are seen in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, where the Pontiff is hospitalized since Friday, Feb. 14. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Francis has had a severe breathing crisis today that required giving him high-flow oxygen and blood transfusions.
Gerard O’ConnellFebruary 22, 2025
Is the pope out of danger? No. Is he in danger of death right now? Also no.
Gerard O’ConnellFebruary 21, 2025
Emergency workers carry the body of a person killed during a Russian drone and missile strike Sept. 4, 2024, on residential buildings in Lviv, Ukraine. (OSV News photo/Roman Baluk, Reuters)
The White House began an effort to restore relations with Russia as President Trump repeats Russia’s narrative and talking points about the origins of the war on Ukraine.
Kevin ClarkeFebruary 21, 2025
Joining Ashley and Zac to cover the cosmos on this week’s episode of “Jesuitical” is Guy Consolmagno, S.J., the director of the Vatican Observatory and author of the new book, A Jesuit’s Guide to the Stars: Exploring Wonder, Beauty, and Science.
JesuiticalFebruary 21, 2025