What is Advent?

According to the Church’s General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar:

#39. Advent has a twofold character: as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ’s firth coming to us is remembered; as a season when that remembrance directs the mind and heart ot await Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. Advent is thus a period of devout and joyful expectation.

#40. Advent begins with evening prayer I of the Sunday falling on or closest to 30 November and ends before evening prayer I of Christmas.

#41. The Sundays of this season are named the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Sundays of Advent.

#42. The weekdays from 17 December to 24 December inclusive serve to prepare more directly for the Lord’s birth.