My mom loved the holiday season. Thanksgiving, Christmas—all of it. She was really good at celebrating, hosting, and savoring that whole stretch of the year. And as soon as Thanksgiving dishes were put away, she’d pull out the Advent calendar and the wreath with five candles. Growing up, my brothers and I used to fight over who got to light the candles.

Mom loved Advent—mostly because of what it pointed to: Christmas, the first coming of Jesus. And my mom loved Jesus… a lot.

I miss her all the time, but especially during Advent.
One of the ways I remember her now is by doing my best to observe the season she cherished. And I want to invite you into that, too.

If Advent is new to you—or if you want a deeper sense of what it’s all about—I wrote a bit below that might help.

What Is Advent?

Advent is the four-week season before Christmas when the Church prepares—not only to celebrate Jesus’ birth, but also to remember his promised return.

The word itself comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.”

Advent isn’t merely a countdown to Christmas; it’s a season meant to cultivate “hopeful waiting, courageous peace-making, resilient joy, and self-giving love” in the midst of a still-suffering world.

The Shape of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love

Many who observe Advent use each week to focus on a theme — often Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

• Hope — Advent invites us to hope in God’s faithfulness. This is a different kind of hope than wishful thinking; it is waiting with patient expectation that God will fulfill his promises.
• Peace — During Advent, we are called to pursue true peace — not superficial calm, but the deep reconciliation, forgiveness, and healing that come through Jesus.
• Joy — Advent joy isn’t dependent on perfect circumstances; it is rooted in the presence of God, even amidst our brokenness.
• Love — The season calls us into sacrificial, self-giving love for others — living out the world as God intends, even now.

Traditions like the Advent wreath — a circle of evergreens with four candles (sometimes a fifth, the “Christ candle,” for Christmas….yes these were the candles we fought over as siblings) — help many families or churches mark the passing of these weeks, lighting one candle each Sunday to reflect the growing expectancy of the season.

Why I Love Advent — Especially Because of My Mom

I love Advent because it feels…cozy, safe, comforting. Because it gives me a chance to lean into waiting the way my mom did — not anxious or busy, but calm and grounded.

In a culture that pushes hurry and noise — especially around “the holidays” — Advent gives permission to slow down. To light a candle. To whisper a prayer. To sit with longing and ache and hope together.

Every time I do, I remember her. I remember how she taught me that light sometimes comes quietly — in the darkest weeks, the softest flames, the gentlest prayers.

What Advent Offers Us Today

• A chance to reset — Instead of diving into holiday chaos, Advent invites us to quiet our hearts and focus on what matters most.
• A way to hold waiting and hope together — To acknowledge the brokenness around us, yet trust that God is working for restoration.
• A framework to live differently — with generosity, peace, and love — Not just in December, but always.
• A connection to the bigger story — The story of God coming, of Jesus born, and of a promised return when all things will be made new.

Advent 2025 (If You’d Like to Follow Along)

If you want to walk through Advent this year, here’s the simple overview:

• Advent begins: Sunday, November 30, 2025
• Four Sundays of Advent: November 30, December 7, December 14, December 21
• Advent ends: the evening of December 24, 2025 (Christmas Eve)
• Christmas Day: Thursday, December 25, 2025

If you choose to follow along, you can light one candle each Sunday, spend time in prayer or Scripture, notice what God is doing in your life, and live with expectation—just like my mom always taught me. Many years, she even left the Advent wreath and candles out well into the new year, lighting every candle as a quiet reminder that Christ has come.

An Invitation to Try Advent with Me

If Advent is new to you — or feels “too liturgical,” or “outside your tradition” — maybe this year is a good time to try it. No robes, no incense, no stained-glass windows required. Just: a candle, a prayer, a heart open to waiting.

And maybe, if you give it a chance, you’ll find in those weeks what my mom always found — quiet expectation, humble hope, and a kind of peace that doesn’t depend on perfect lights or perfect days.

I love Advent … and I love that through it I remember her.

Sources

1. BibleProject. “Advent Guide.” https://bibleproject.com/guides/advent/
2. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). “Advent.” https://www.usccb.org/prayer-worship/liturgical-year/advent
3. GotQuestions.org. “What is Advent?” https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-Advent.html
4. Wikipedia. “Advent Wreath.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent_wreath
5. Archdiocese of Louisville. “Advent 2025 Calendar.” https://www.archlou.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Advent-2025-1.pdf
6. Dolr.org. “What is Advent?” https://www.dolr.org/what-is-advent
7. Christianity.com. “What is Advent?” https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-advent.html