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First Sunday of Advent2027 Countdown
Sunday, November 28, 2027
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About First Sunday of Advent
The First Sunday of Advent opens the Christian season of Advent, the four-week period of waiting and preparation that leads to Christmas. Depending on the year it falls between November 27 and December 3, and in 2026 it arrives on November 29. Advent is less about countdown panic and more about intentional anticipation.
The most recognizable symbol is the Advent wreath, an evergreen circle holding four candles, one of which is lit on each Sunday. Many churches use purple or deep blue during the season, and families light their own wreaths at dinner while a verse is read or a song is sung. The candles traditionally represent hope, peace, joy, and love.
Outside of church, Advent has taken on a life of its own through advent calendars, daily book chapters, puzzle doors, and chocolate windows. Whether the countdown is spiritual or purely confectionery, the season's mood is the same: something good is coming, and the waiting is part of the gift.
History of First Sunday of Advent
Advent took shape between the fourth and sixth centuries as a season of fasting and preparation for both Christmas and, in some traditions, the baptism of new Christians. Early observances in Gaul and Spain lasted up to six weeks and resembled Lent more than today's gentle countdown. Rome settled on four Sundays beginning in the sixth century under Pope Gregory the Great. The Advent wreath is a much newer creation, credited to German Lutherans in the nineteenth century, including pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern, who added candles to a wooden ring to help children count the days. Advent calendars grew from the same German habit of chalk marks and candle tallies, and printed versions with little doors appeared in the early twentieth century, soon followed by the chocolate-filled kind.
2027 vs 2028 dates
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the First Sunday of Advent?
- Because the date changes each year, the First Sunday of Advent falls anywhere between November 27 and December 3, since Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas. In 2026 it lands on November 29.
- Is the First Sunday of Advent a public holiday?
- No. Advent is a church season, and the First Sunday of Advent is not a public holiday, though it is a regular day of worship in many churches.
- How do people celebrate Advent?
- People celebrate by lighting candles on an Advent wreath each Sunday, opening advent calendars daily, reading seasonal scriptures, and doing small weekly acts of charity.
- What do the Advent candles mean?
- The four candles traditionally stand for hope, peace, joy, and love, with one lit on each Sunday before Christmas. Some traditions add a white Christ candle on Christmas Eve.