Quick answers
When is Advent 2026? It begins Sunday, November 29, 2026 and runs until Christmas Eve, December 24.
When is Advent 2027? It begins Sunday, November 28, 2027.
What is Advent? The four-week season of waiting and preparation before Christmas.
A simple blessing: “May this season of waiting fill your home with hope, your days with peace, and your heart with joy.”
Advent is the quiet stretch before Christmas, a season that asks us to slow down while everything else speeds up. Whether you light a wreath at home, follow a church calendar, or simply want a few kind words to share during December, the blessings below are meant to be used. Read them aloud, send them in a message, or tuck one into an Advent calendar.
If you are looking ahead, our Christmas blessings pick up where this page ends, and our Thanksgiving blessings are a good companion for the days just before Advent begins.
What Is Advent?
The word comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming.” In Western Christianity, Advent marks the four Sundays before Christmas and looks forward to the celebration of the birth of Jesus. For a longer overview of its history and customs, see Wikipedia and Britannica.
Advent 2026 and 2027 Dates
| Week | Advent 2026 |
|---|---|
| First Sunday of Advent | November 29 |
| Second Sunday | December 6 |
| Third Sunday (Gaudete) | December 13 |
| Fourth Sunday | December 20 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
In 2027, Advent begins on Sunday, November 28.
What Do the Advent Candles Mean?
An Advent wreath usually holds four candles: three purple and one pink, lit one at a time on each Sunday. The pink candle belongs to the third Sunday, sometimes called Gaudete (“rejoice”) Sunday. Many families add a white Christ candle in the centre on Christmas. The weekly themes are most often hope, peace, joy and love, though churches arrange them differently, so follow whatever tradition you belong to.
Advent Blessings for Each Week
Week 1: Hope
- May the first light of Advent remind you that hope is already on its way.
- Wherever you feel tired or uncertain this week, may hope meet you there.
- Bless this home with patient, steady hope as we begin to wait together.
First week of Advent prayer. “Lord, as we light the first candle, awaken hope in us. Teach us to wait without worry. Amen.”
Week 2: Peace
- May peace settle over your home like quiet snow.
- In a busy season, may you find small pockets of calm every day.
- Bless every conversation this week with gentleness.
Second week prayer. “Lord, as we light the second candle, quiet our hearts. Make us peacemakers at home and beyond it. Amen.”
Week 3: Joy
- May joy find you in ordinary moments: a warm cup, a kind word, a song.
- Rejoice, for the wait is nearly over. May your day be bright.
- Bless this table with laughter and this house with light.
Third week prayer. “Lord, as we light the pink candle, fill us with joy that does not depend on circumstances. Amen.”
Week 4: Love
- May love be the first gift you give and the last thing you forget.
- Bless the people you love, near and far, and keep them in your care.
- As the last candle is lit, may your heart be ready for Christmas.
Fourth week prayer. “Lord, as we light the fourth candle, make us generous with love. Prepare our hearts for Your coming. Amen.”
Advent Blessings for Family
- May our family grow closer with every candle we light.
- Bless the little ones counting down the days, and the grown-ups who keep the traditions alive.
- May our home be a place where everyone feels welcome this Advent.
- Bless the cooking, the wrapping, the singing and the endless to-do lists.
- Keep us patient with one another, especially when the days get busy.
- For the family who are far away, we send our love across the miles.
Advent Wishes for Friends
- Wishing you a peaceful, hopeful Advent, my friend.
- Thinking of you as the first candle is lit. May this season be gentle with you.
- May the weeks before Christmas bring you rest, not just rush.
- Thank you for being a light in my year. Happy Advent.
- Praying you find joy in small things this month.
- May your waiting be full of hope and your hope full of company.
Advent Calendar Messages
Use these as daily notes for a handmade calendar or a family chat. Each is short on purpose.
- Day 1: Light a candle and say one thing you hope for this month.
- Day 5: Send a message to someone you have not spoken to in a while.
- Day 10: Write down three things you are grateful for today.
- Day 15: Do one kind thing and do not tell anyone.
- Day 20: Sit in silence for five minutes and listen.
- Day 24: Tonight, we are ready. Peace be with you.
Bible Verses for Advent
Short readings from the King James Version that fit each week.
- Hope: Romans 15:13, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.”
- Light: Isaiah 9:2, a promise of “a great light” for people in darkness.
- Joy: Luke 2:10, the angel’s announcement of “good tidings of great joy.”
- Love: 1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.”
Simple Ways to Keep Advent
- Light the wreath at the same time each evening. A fixed time makes it a habit rather than a chore.
- Read one short passage and one blessing. Five minutes is enough.
- Add a giving habit. Many families donate food, toys or time during Advent.
- Protect one quiet evening each week. Advent is about waiting well, not doing more.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Advent start in 2026 and 2027?
Advent 2026 begins on Sunday, November 29 and ends on Christmas Eve. Advent 2027 begins on Sunday, November 28.
What are the four weeks of Advent?
Many traditions name the four Sundays hope, peace, joy and love. The order and names vary between churches, so check your own tradition.
What do the Advent candles mean?
Three purple candles and one pink candle are lit one per week, and a white Christ candle is often added on Christmas. They mark the stages of waiting and the themes of the season.
What is a good Advent prayer?
“Lord, as we wait, make our hearts ready. Bring hope to our home and peace to our days. Amen.”
What should I write in an Advent calendar message?
One or two lines per day: a small act of kindness, something to be grateful for, or a short blessing.
Is Advent only for Christians?
Advent is a Christian season, but its themes of patience, hope and generosity are welcome to anyone who finds them meaningful.
Final Thoughts
Advent is not a countdown to a deadline. It is a practice of making room. Choose one blessing from this page each week, say it slowly, and let the season unfold at its own pace. When Christmas arrives, our Christmas blessings will be waiting, and for the turn of the year you will find New Year blessings as well. For a gentle start to any week, visit our new week blessings.
Wishing you a peaceful and hopeful Advent.
