When Does Advent Start?
When does Advent start? The answer depends on tradition, but the most common Christian practice is that Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. For many Christians, Advent is the beginning of the church year and the season that leads into Christmas, preparing the worshipping community to remember the coming of Christ. In some households, Advent starts on December 1, especially where Advent calendars are used, though this is not the historic liturgical pattern. According to the traditional Western calendar, Advent starts on the Sunday closest to November 30, the feast of St. Andrew. In 2025, Advent starts on November 30 and ends December 24.
Understanding when Advent starts requires understanding what Advent means. The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, “coming,” referring to both the incarnation of Jesus and his future coming. Because of this dual meaning, Advent is a season of waiting, joy, repentance, and expectation. The date it begins is tied to the church’s effort to focus attention on the meaning of Christ’s arrival and the hope of his return.
How the Church Determines When Advent Starts
When people ask “When does Advent start?” the answer is rooted in the church’s calendar. In the Western church, Advent always begins on the Sunday closest to November 30. This guarantees four Sundays before Christmas Day, establishing a fixed seasonal rhythm that stretches back more than a thousand years. The logic behind this structure is simple: the church wanted a full cycle of preparation Sundays emphasizing prophecy, repentance, hope, and the coming kingdom of God.
Three key points help explain how the start date is set:
Advent begins on the Fourth Sunday before Christmas.
This can fall anywhere between November 27 and December 3. Advent always ends on Christmas Eve.The determining anchor is St. Andrew’s Day (November 30).
The Sunday closest to this date becomes Advent Sunday, the first day of the season.The season contains four Sundays.
Each Sunday traditionally highlights major themes of expectation, such as hope (Isa. 2:1–5), peace (Isa. 11:1–5), joy (Isa. 35:1–10), and love or preparation (Isa. 40:1–11).
Eastern Christian traditions begin Advent much earlier, typically in mid-November, forming a longer season sometimes called the Nativity Fast. But the central theme is shared: the coming of Christ.
Why the Start of Advent Matters for Christian Worship
Knowing when Advent starts is not only a matter of scheduling. The start of Advent marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical year. This reminds the church that the story of redemption begins not with human accomplishment but with divine arrival. God comes to his people, fulfilling promises and initiating renewal (Isa. 9:1–7; Gal. 4:4).
Advent opens the year with:
Expectation — remembering Israel’s long wait for the Messiah (Isa. 7:14; Mic. 5:2).
Preparation — calling believers to repent and watch for the kingdom (Matt. 3:1–3).
Hope — grounding faith in God’s promise to send a Redeemer (Luke 1:30–33).
Longing — looking ahead to Christ’s return (Rev. 22:20).
Beginning the year with Advent captures the entire sweep of the Gospel: Christ has come, and Christ will come again. The season teaches believers that time itself is shaped by the saving work of God.
How Different Traditions Answer the Question: When Does Advent Start?
While the traditional liturgical answer is clear, variations exist among Christians. These differences highlight how Advent is practiced in churches and homes.
1. The Liturgical Tradition
In Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and many Reformed traditions, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. The season includes purple or blue vestments, readings from the prophets, and the omission of festive elements such as the Gloria in some services. The third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, uses rose-color vestments and emphasizes joy (Phil. 4:4–7).
2. The Eastern Tradition
Eastern churches begin Advent earlier, around November 15. Their season is more ascetic, involving fasting, prayer, and focused readings preparing for the Feast of the Nativity.
3. The Household Tradition
Some families ask “When does Advent start?” in relation to Advent calendars rather than liturgical worship. Many calendars begin December 1 for simplicity, though this does not always align with Advent Sunday. Homes may mark each day with Scripture readings, candles, or daily devotionals.
4. The Devotional Tradition
Many Christian resources encourage believers to start Advent practices on December 1 even if Advent Sunday falls earlier. This allows for a consistent 24-day structure.
Why Advent Starts Before Christmas: The Spiritual Purpose
The question “When does Advent start?” points to the deeper truth that Advent is a season of waiting, mirroring the biblical pattern of longing for God’s salvation. The early Sundays of Advent emphasize prophetic expectation, recalling passages such as Isaiah 11:1–9 or Isaiah 40:1–5. The church reenacts Israel’s waiting, remembering the centuries between the promise and the arrival of the Messiah.
Advent starting before Christmas reinforces three biblical themes:
1. God fulfills His promises through time.
Israel waited for the child who would be “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God” (Isa. 9:6). Christians now wait for the full revelation of Christ’s kingdom (Rom. 8:18–25).
2. The people of God live between two comings.
Advent celebrates the incarnation (Luke 2:10–11) while stirring anticipation for the return of Christ (Titus 2:11–13).
3. Waiting forms the soul.
Scripture repeatedly calls believers to “wait for the LORD” (Ps. 27:14) with hope and steadfastness.
Advent begins early because Christian hope begins long before Christmas morning.
How the Start of Advent Shapes Christian Practice
When Advent begins, it inaugurates a time of reflection, prayer, and preparation. Churches often incorporate:
Advent candles representing hope, peace, joy, and love.
Readings from Isaiah and the Gospels anticipating Christ’s coming.
Hymns such as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” echoing Israel’s longing.
Repentance and spiritual watchfulness (Mark 13:33–37).
In homes, the start of Advent might include lighting the first candle, beginning an Advent calendar, or reading Scripture as a family.
Knowing when Advent starts helps God’s people prepare intentionally rather than letting the season slip into cultural busyness.
Example: When Advent Starts in 2025
Because Advent begins on the Sunday closest to November 30, the 2025 dates are:
Advent starts: November 30, 2025
Advent ends: December 24, 2025
This maintains the four-Sunday structure and aligns with the traditional liturgical calendar.
Bible Verses About Advent
“Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” (Isaiah 2:5)
“A shoot from the stump of Jesse… shall bear fruit.” (Isaiah 11:1)
“The glory of the Lord shall be revealed.” (Isaiah 40:5)
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son.” (Isaiah 7:14)
“For to us a child is born.” (Isaiah 9:6)
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mark 1:15)
“You also must be ready.” (Matthew 24:44)
“Our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior.” (Titus 2:13)
“Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior.” (Philippians 3:20)
“Surely I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:20)
