“Advent is the time of preparation for the birth of Christ. Historically, however, Advent was not the beginning of the Christian year, [which it is now,] but the end. The original themes of Advent focused on the second coming of Jesus. Gradually Advent also came to mean preparing for the coming of Christ. Today we inherit both themes: the end of the Christian year and the expectation of the second coming of Christ as well as the beginning of the Christian year and the expectancy of the birth of Christ, the Redeemer.” (Webber, The Services of the Christian Year, 107)
