Advent (Latin _Adventus_, the coming,) signifies the coming of our Saviour, the period of the approach of the nativity. As Advent-tide lasts from Advent Sunday to Christmas, the length of the season depends upon the day of the month on which Advent Sunday falls. As it may happen as early as the 27th of November or as late as the 3d of December, so Advent-tide will contain no more than twenty-eight days nor less than twenty-two. It should be borne in mind that, though this festival is classed among the movable feasts, it does not depend upon the date of Easter, but upon the day of the month on which Advent Sunday falls. The four Sundays before Christmas were made preparation days for the festival of Christmas, and were called the first, second, third, and fourth Sundays in Advent. Ember days and Ember weeks are the four seasons set apart by the Western church for special prayer and fasting, and the ordination of clergy; known in the church as _quatuor tempora_, (the four seasons.) The Ember weeks are the weeks next following St. Lucy's Day (Dec. 13th), the first Sunday in Lent, Whitsun Day, and Holy Cross Day (Sept. 14th). The Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays of these weeks are the Ember days distinctively. The name by some is supposed to be derived from a German word signifying Abstinence; by others it is supposed to signify Ashes. _b_--Christmas (from Christ and the Saxon _maess_, signifying the mass and a feast), is a festival held in commemoration of the nativity of our Saviour throughout nearly the whole of Christendom. It is occupied, therefore, with the event (the incarnation) which forms the center and turning point of the history of the world. Though the day of Christ's birth cannot be ascertained from the New Testament, nor from any other source, yet the whole Christian world for more than 1300 years have concurred in celebrating the nativity on the 25th of December. This is the first of the four great feasts in the ecclesiastical year; the other three are Easter, Ascension, and Whitsun Day. The length of Christmas-tide or season is twelve days, lasting from the 25th of December to Epiphany. _c_--Epiphany (Greek _Epiphania_, _Theophania_ or _Christophania_,) is a festival in commemoration of the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the world as the Son of God, and referring to the appearance of the star which announced our Saviour's birth to the Gentiles, and the visit of the Magi, or wise Men of the East to the infant Jesus. This festival is held on the 6th of January invariably, consequently is not a movable feast, though the length of Epiphany-tide depends upon the date of Easter. As Easter may happen as early as the 22d of March or as late as the 26th of April (a variation of thirty-five days), so Epiphany-tide may consist of no less than twelve days nor more than forty-seven, as the season always ends the day before Septuagesima Sunday. (See tables at the close of this chapter.)