Guides · Quiet Light Church
What is Advent, and when does it start in 2026?
Advent is the season of waiting and preparation before Christmas in many Christian traditions. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and runs to Christmas Eve, 22 to 28 days in all. In 2026 it starts on Sunday, 29 November and ends on 24 December. Many people light one wreath candle each Sunday.
What Advent means
The word comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “arrival.” For many Christians it is a quiet season to wait, reflect and prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth.
Practices differ between traditions, and not every church observes it in the same way.
The four candles
An Advent wreath usually holds four candles, one lit on each Sunday. Hope, peace, joy and love are common themes, though the names and their order vary by tradition. Many wreaths use three purple candles and one pink one, lit on the third Sunday, and some add a white candle for Christmas.
Advent at Quiet Light Church
From 29 November to 24 December 2026, the cathedral has an Advent calendar with one window a day. Each holds a verse and a small free gift, and nothing in the windows is sold.
On Sundays, that week’s wreath candle is lit. The weekly themes are Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
Questions
- When does Advent start in 2026?
- On Sunday, 29 November 2026, and it ends on 24 December.
- When does Advent start in 2027?
- On Sunday, 28 November 2027, the fourth Sunday before Christmas.
- Which colour are the Advent candles?
- Often three purple and one pink, with the pink lit on the third Sunday. Some traditions use blue or other colours, and some add a white Christmas candle.
- Do I have to open a window every day?
- No. The calendar is an invitation, not an obligation. Come when you can.
- Is the Advent calendar free?
- Yes. Each window gives a verse and a small free gift.
Sources
Updated: 2026-10-30