Advent Calendar: Day One

 Welcome to the first day of my 2016 Advent Calendar. During the run up to Christmas I will be posting on here every day and the content will include pictures, stories, information, music, poems or activities relevant to the season. Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches as a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is a version of the Latin word adventus translated from the Greek word parousia meaning "coming".Practices associated with Advent include keeping an daily Advent calendar, lighting the candles on an Advent wreath, praying an Advent daily devotional, as well as other ways of preparing for Christmas, such as setting up Christmas decorations, a custom that is sometimes done liturgically, through a hanging of the greens ceremony.The equivalent of Advent in Eastern Christianity is called the Nativity Fast, but it differs both in length and observances, and does not begin the liturgical church year as it does in the West. An Advent calendar is a special calendar used to count or celebrate the days in anticipation of Christmas. The date of the first Sunday of Advent varies, falling between 27th November and 3rd December, so the Advent calendar usually begins on 1st December. Some have speculated that the Advent calendar may trace its history back to the time os St. Peter although in its's present form it has been used by German Lutherans since the 19th century.Of course these days there are no end of variations to the traditional Advent calendar many of which are a lot more secular. Mine posted here will be seasonal rather that religious but I hope that everyone will take some joy from my eclectic tastes!