Sacred Heart professor explains history of Advent traditions

DETROIT— Just about every Catholic is familiar with the sights and sounds of Advent.

The customs and traditions have become so entrenched into the holiday that it’s almost impossible to think of a Christmas without tinsel, Advent candles or miniature manger scenes that decorate almost every family’s home during the holiday season.

But where does it all come from? Does it distract from Jesus, the “reason for the season”?

While some might worry these traditions detract from celebrating the birth of Christ, many trace their roots to sound devotion to our Lord and his coming into the world.



“Advent goes back to the fourth century A.D.,” said Robert Fastiggi, Ph.D., professor of Church history at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. “The use of candles, however, during the dark winter months probably goes back to pre-Christian times. For Christians, the use of Advent candles and the Advent wreath goes back to the Middle Ages, especially in northern and Germanic countries.”

As the concept of candles to represent time past grew, purple was chosen as the color of the candles because Advent, like Lent, is a penitential season.

Fastiggi said the progressive lighting of candles represents the different stages of salvation history, building up to the birth of Jesus.

“The use of pink for the Third Sunday of Advent injects a bit of joy in the expectation for Christmas,” Fastiggi said. “This is why the Third Sunday of Advent is called ‘Gaudete Sunday’ or ‘Rejoice Sunday.’”

But what about some of the other decorations? Why do Catholics celebrate the birth of Jesus with small figures to recreate the Holy Family, shepherds and the Magi in a manger scene?



“The Christmas manger display was begun by St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscans around 1223. It was a way of honoring the sacred humanity of Christ. A reminder to people that Jesus too, was once a baby. It shows his humanity,” Fastiggi said.

Very well, but what about the date, Dec. 25? How sure can we be that Jesus was born in the middle of winter, especially when you factor in the shepherds spending the night outside in the middle of the desert?

There are many theories, Fastiggi said.

“The Gospels don’t provide any precise information as to the time of year Christ was born. By the fourth century, Dec. 25 had become the norm for the celebration of Christ’s Nativity,” Fastiggi said. “One standard theory was the winter solstice in the Julian calendar was Dec. 25.”

Fastiggi suggested the early Christians selected Dec. 25 for Christmas to have it coincide with the winter solstice, emphasizing Jesus as the true sun that was rising. This could have been a way to offset the popular devotion to the pagan god Mithras, the sun-god of the winter solstice.

Another theory is that Dec. 25 is nine months after the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, which is understood as the time of the Incarnation. According to ancient Jewish custom, a person was said to have been conceived on the same date as their death, which for Jesus was in the springtime, Fastiggi said.

“Another theory, which is gaining more support now, is that Dec. 25 was nine months after the crucifixion of Jesus, which, according to ancient calendar, was calculated to have taken place on March 25.”

OK, but what about the gifts?

Arguably, the pressure to buy the perfect Christmas gift for friends and family take a large stressful toll on many and perhaps overshadows the purpose of the holiday. But Fastiggi said the giving of gifts is a reference to the gifts the Magi gave Jesus, although there are some cultural differences as to when the gifts should be given.

“The giving of gifts at Christmas time reflects the gifts brought by the Magi,” Fastiggi said. “In some countries, mostly in Latin America, the giving of gifts traditionally is done on Jan. 6, the Epiphany, rather than Christmas. In some countries today, however, gifts are given on both Dec. 25 and Jan. 6.”

The four-week buildup to Christmas might seem like a grind to some, but the traditions associated with Advent are meant to build up the anticipation celebrating Jesus’ birth. And many of the things Catholics do to celebrate the season are rooted in the Church’s deep, rich history.

“Easter was, and is, the most important feast on the Catholic liturgical calendar, but Christmas also is important,” Fastiggi said. “This is why we’ve had Advent to anticipate Christmas since the fourth century.”