During the early centuries of the church, a number of traditions sprung up as ways to teach Christians about the life of Christ and to create opportunities to practice spiritual disciplines. Together, these traditions form the church calendar, which begins its year with Advent: a season of expectation and waiting that stretches from the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming.” That is why we often speak of Christ’s advent, i.e., his coming. The season of Advent is one in which Christians have traditionally set aside time to remember our need for a savior and to focus on God’s gracious promise that He will provide one.
From “Advent at Calvary Church” 2013