As December dawns, our eyes will naturally turn to Christmas, if they haven’t already. We will be looking forward to the food, the gifts, the family gatherings and the flowing mulled wine. For many, Christmas holds a deeper meaning too. Whatever your traditions are, however you celebrate Christmas, most, if not all of us, will observe Advent in some form. Advent calendars, either containing chocolate or some other goodie, mark each day of expectation. We build up the anticipation and get excited for the celebrations to come.
This was no different to the observance of Advent throughout history. It was always a time of preparation, anticipation, and even fasting. Advent is the time where we get our hearts, minds, and indeed, our bellies, ready for Christmas.
When Did Advent Begin?
Advent, derived from the Latin adventus (meaning ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’), traditionally begins on the first Sunday after St. Andrew’s Day (27th November). In late antiquity and the early medieval period, it lasted for five Sundays and provided a lengthy season for Christian converts to prepare for baptism at Epiphany (6th January).
The medieval Church formalised many Advent traditions. In the late fifth century, Bishop Perpetuus of Tours ordered fasting three days a week from St. Martin’s Day (11th November) until Christmas. This practice, known as the Quadragesimal Sancti Martini (the Forty Days’ Fast of St. Martin), became central to the season. By the eighth century, Advent had been shortened to four weeks, though its emphasis on fasting, prayer, and reflection endured.
By the 13th century, the term ‘adventus’ was widely associated with Christ’s Nativity as well as His Second Coming. For medieval people, Advent wasn’t just a spiritual observance; it also had practical benefits, as fasting conserved food supplies for the harsh winter ahead and heightened the anticipation of Christmas feasting.
Advent Foods
Although not as strict as Lent, Advent involved fasting on “Ember Days” (Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays), when only one meal was permitted. This meal typically consisted of fish or vegetables, as Christians abstained from meat, dairy, wine, and ale. Eggs, however, were allowed, and exemptions were made for pregnant women, children, the elderly, and labourers.
The fasting not only reflected religious discipline but also ensured supplies lasted through the winter months. When Christmas arrived, the joy of indulgence was all the greater, with feasting replacing fasting.
This is something we mirror here at Weald & Downland Living Museum, as we spend all of November, and most of the rest of Autumn, preserving foods, filling our storehouses and harvesting the last of the garden crops. Using traditional techniques, methods and recipes, we relive this practice of preparation before the partying in December.
Advent Wreaths
The Advent wreath originated as a wheel-shaped bundle of evergreen, its candles symbolising light during the darkest part of the year. The circle represented the unbroken cycle of life, and the evergreen foliage symbolised hope and renewal. The light too, was symbolic, representing Christ, the Light of the World.
By the 16th century, German Lutherans had popularised the Advent wreath. It carried rich symbolism: three purple candles for peace, love, and hope (matching the Church’s penitential vestments), a rose candle for Gaudete Sunday (Joy Sunday), and a central white candle lit on Christmas to celebrate the birth of Christ.
We have also hand-crafted our own wreaths here at the museum too. Collecting the necessary foliage from our woodland and gardens, we shape them into the iconic designs. We decorate some of our buildings, carts and structures. We use the same kinds of resources, to make the same kinds of decorations, that our predecessors would have.
Advent Boxes and Local Customs
Historical Advent had none of today’s colourful calendars. Instead, ‘Advent boxes’ were sometimes used. These wooden cases contained tiny, carefully dressed dolls of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. Carried from house to house, they invited people to reflect on the season’s spiritual significance. These shared traditions bound communities together and reminded everyone of the season’s deeper meaning. And paved the way for the Advent calendars we so enjoy today.
The Spirit of Togetherness
Despite the austerity of Advent, the season emphasised community and generosity. Childermas, or Holy Innocents Day on December 28th, commemorated the children killed by King Herod and provided a poignant reminder of the value of life and family. On St. Stephen’s Day, the precursor to Boxing Day, gifts were given to the poor, often in clay pots that evolved into today’s ‘piggy banks.’
Carol singing, too, has its roots in medieval England, when carols were deemed too boisterous for church services and were moved outdoors. Similarly, the practice of mumming – visiting neighbours in disguise to sing, dance, and perform comedic skits – brought laughter and connection to the darkest days of winter.
Christmas Celebrations
While Advent was a time of restraint, Christmas itself was a season of celebration. The Twelve Days of Christmas, from 25th December to 6th January, brought feasting, singing, and traditions such as the “Lord of Misrule,” who presided over festive revelries.
Humble Advent meals of fish and vegetables gave way to grander fare. Roasted meats, rich pies, and sweet puddings filled medieval tables. Mince pies, originally made with spiced meat and shaped like a crib to symbolise the Nativity, became a festive staple. Early versions of Christmas pudding, known as frumenty, combined grains, dried fruits, and spices and evolved over time into the dessert we enjoy today.
Rediscovering the Spirit of the Season
Reflecting on these medieval customs, it’s striking how Advent balanced quiet preparation with community and charity. Light-hearted traditions such as mumming, where neighbours performed masked plays, helped bring people together in the darkest days of the year. The Advent wreath and its candles served as a powerful reminder of hope and renewal.
So, as we open the doors of our Advent calendars, perhaps we can reflect on the deeper roots of the season. By embracing some of these older customs, we might rediscover the spirit of Christmas – one centred on family, friends, and community. Fuelled by their understanding and celebration of the birth of the Messiah, generations-past reflected this truth in generosity, song and feasting. After all, as our ancestors knew well, Christmas is a time to celebrate life and light amidst the darkness of winter.
Here at Weald & Downland Living Museum, we bring the traditional rhythms of the Ritual Year to life, and Advent marks the beginning of a truly special season. Through our collection of historic buildings, spanning from the Anglo-Saxon period to the Victorian era, we offer a glimpse into how people of the past prepared for and celebrated this time of anticipation and reflection.
Advent was once a season of preparation in every sense—spiritual, practical, and communal. From marking Feast Days to preparing seasonal foods, we embrace the customs that shaped life during this period. Our team demonstrates traditional practices like preserving and cooking with winter ingredients stored during the autumn, crafting decorations, and exploring the rich customs tied to Advent and its lead-up to Christmas.
A visit to the Museum offers a step back in time to experience the beauty, challenges, and traditions of Advent as they were celebrated in centuries past. Discover how people waited and prepared, drawing on both faith and practical wisdom to guide them through the darkest days of the year.
To find out how we’re marking the season, explore our festive events and activities, and see how you can take part in practicing the Ritual Year, visit our What’s On page!
