This pre-Christmas time celebrates the expectation of the Messiah as king. This season is both the beginning of the church year by directing our thoughts to Christ’s first coming in the flesh, and the culmination of the church year by anticipating our Lord’s second coming in glory.
In some more liturgical churches you may see the color purple prominently displayed to symbolize royalty and penitence in preparation for the coming of the King. A five-candled wreath is also used, at church and in the home, to mark off the weeks of expectation until Messiah comes.