As children – not to mention a number of sweet-toothed adults too – open their first advent calendar doors and as the world is decked in coloured lights and tinsel, it is worth reflecting on this season and how it has changed throughout time and across places.
Advent – from the Latin Adventus (“Coming”) – represents a time of waiting and preparation. For early and medieval Christians, this preparation echoed Lent – again preparing mind, body and soul through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.
The Council of Tours, 461 AD, established that monks should fast from the feast of St Martin on 11 November to Christmas Day; and this was then expanded to the laity at the Council of Macon in 585 AD.
