By Suzanne Downing 
For millions of Christians around the world (and thousands in Alaska), Nov. 30 marks more than the end of Thanksgiving weekend. This is the beginning of Advent, the season of anticipation that leads to Christmas and the start of a new liturgical year in the Western Christian tradition.
Advent Sunday, known as the First Sunday of Advent, is a cornerstone of the Christian calendar. In Alaska, 56% of adults identify as Christian, although that does not define them as being practicing Christians.
Advent signals the shift from ordinary time into a sacred season of preparation, reflection, and expectation. Observed in most Christian denominations, Advent is a dual observance: Christians preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and preparing spiritually for Christ’s Second Coming.
This year, Advent runs from Sunday, Nov. 30, through Christmas Eve on Dec. 24. The season always begins on the Sunday nearest to the Nov. 30, a date that coincides with the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, and it spans four Sundays leading up to Christmas.
Churches mark the beginning of Advent by lighting the first candle of the Advent wreath. Today’s candle is purple, symbolizing Hope, the theme of the First Sunday of Advent. Each subsequent week carries a traditional theme and a corresponding candle, progressing through the spiritual journey that leads to Christmas.
Here is the framework of this year’s Advent season:
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First Sunday of Advent – Nov. 30, 2025 – Hope
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Second Sunday of Advent – Dec. 7, 2025 – Peace
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Third Sunday of Advent – Dec. 14, 2025 – Joy
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Fourth Sunday of Advent – Dec. 21, 2025 – Love
Across Alaska, as daylight grows shorter, Advent takes on a special resonance. It’s a time of gathering, prayer, and simple traditions: wreaths, candles, daily readings, and acts of charity as they experience the Christmas season with hope, peace, joy, and love. For those who are not practicing Christians, it is the four weeks before the first day of winter and the longest night of the year.