Advent is the waiting period before Christmas and spans the four Sundays before Christmas Day. The word means coming or arrival, and the first Sunday in Advent is counted as New Year's Day of the church year.
Dims Studio's own figures: Among more than 1,000 Advent candleholders sold from November 2025 to October 2026, half cost under 170 DKK. Products in this category also have an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars across 40 customer reviews.
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As the calendar approaches the end of November, many Danish homes start lighting the first candles and bringing out the Christmas decorations. This period has a name, namely Advent, and it follows its own rhythm, which doesn't always fall on the same dates as the rest of the Christmas preparations.
In this guide, you'll get a clear explanation of what Advent actually covers, when the Sundays fall in the coming years, and how traditions such as the Advent wreath, Advent candleholder and Advent stars connect with the period.
The short answer: how Advent fits together
Advent covers the four weeks leading up to Christmas, where each Sunday marks a new step in the run-up to Christmas Day. In the church calendar, the first Sunday in Advent is also the start of a whole new church year, which means that both hymns and Sunday readings change, while most homes start decorating and lighting candles. The four Sundays are simply called the first, second, third and fourth Sunday in Advent, and they follow closely one after another towards Christmas Eve. Because Advent is tied to Sundays rather than fixed dates, the start falls differently from year to year, but always within the same period at the end of November.
What does Advent mean
Advent comes from the Latin adventus Domini, which means the Lord's coming. The name points directly to what the period is about: the preparation for Jesus's birth on 25 December. In the Christian tradition, Advent is therefore not just a practical run-up to Christmas, but a time when the church marks the wait for an event celebrated as the very heart of Christmas.
Historically, Advent goes a long way back. As early as the 11th century, the Christmas fast was given the name Advent, and the period was set at four weeks. That structure with four Sundays has been preserved ever since, and that's also why we today talk about the first, second, third and fourth Sunday in Advent, whether you experience the period as a church tradition or mostly as a cosy run-up to Christmas at home.
Dates for Advent in the coming years
Because Advent always begins on a Sunday, the first Sunday in Advent doesn't fall on a fixed date. It falls on the Sunday in the week from 27 November up to and including 3 December, and the following Sundays come right after with a week's gap between them. Below you can see the dates for the coming years.
| Year | First Sunday | Second Sunday | Third Sunday | Fourth Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 29 November | 6 December | 13 December | 20 December |
| 2027 | 28 November | |||
| 2028 | 3 December |
For 2027 and 2028, only the first Sunday in Advent is mentioned here. The remaining Sundays follow the same pattern: a new Sunday every week leading up to Christmas.
Advent traditions: candles, wreaths and stars
One of the most widespread traditions in Advent is the Advent wreath, which holds four candles, one for each Sunday. You light the first candle on the first Sunday in Advent, the second candle on the second Sunday, and so it continues until all four candles are burning at the same time by Christmas. Many choose, instead of or as a supplement to the wreath, an advent candle holder, where the candles stand in a row and are lit in the same order.
As well as the candles in the holder or wreath, many windows are decorated with advent stars that light up the dark afternoons. The tradition comes from Germany, where the first advent star was hung up in the 1880s, and since then it has spread to Danish homes as a fixed part of Christmas decorations.
Finally, calendars are also part of the tradition. The advent calendar follows the Sundays, while other types of calendar count the days in December, which you can read more about in the next section.
Tip: Light the candles in the same order each Sunday, so you always know how many should be lit. Get more ideas for cosy candlelight in How to create hygge with real candles.
Advent calendar, Christmas calendar or gift calendar: what's the difference
Advent calendar, Christmas calendar and gift calendar are often used interchangeably, but they actually follow different rhythms. An advent calendar is tied to the Sundays of advent, that is, the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, and therefore only has four or five doors, depending on whether Christmas Day itself is counted.
A Christmas calendar or gift calendar, on the other hand, follows the 24 days of December leading up to Christmas Eve, and here you open a door every day, regardless of the day of the week. This is the version most people know best today, with chocolate, pictures or small gifts behind each door. So when someone talks about an advent calendar with 24 doors, strictly speaking they mean a Christmas calendar, even though the names are often mixed up in everyday language.
Find an advent candle holder that suits your home, and get off to a good start with the four Sundays.
See advent candle holdersHow to decorate for Advent at home
If you're decorating for advent, candles are the natural starting point. A advent candle holder gives a calm and unified look, with all four candles standing in a row, and it works well both on the dining table and on a console table in the hallway. If you have a taste for figurative candle holders, a hot dog candle holder from Kersten or a croissant candle holder from Kersten can add a playful twist to the Christmas table, while a peacock candle holder from Kersten or a sardine candle holder from GiftCompany adds colour and character if you'd rather move away from the classic look. If you want a touch of green, a green fish candle holder from &Klevering can also be used to build on your Christmas decorations all year round.
Around the candles, it's a good idea to gather other Christmas decorations, such as Christmas hanging decorations in the window or on the branches, and preferably candles in several sizes, so you can mix short and long candles depending on how far you've got into advent.
Frequently asked questions
What does advent mean?
The word comes from the Latin adventus Domini, meaning the Lord's coming. It covers the period in the church year when people prepare for the birth of Jesus on 25 December.
When is the first Sunday of Advent?
The first Sunday of Advent falls on the Sunday in the week from 27 November to 3 December. In 2026, it's Sunday 29 November.
What is an Advent wreath?
An Advent wreath is a wreath with four candles, where you light one extra candle for each Sunday of Advent, until all four are burning together in the run-up to Christmas.
What's the difference between an Advent calendar and a Christmas calendar?
An Advent calendar follows the four Sundays of Advent, while a Christmas calendar and gift calendar follow the 24 days of December leading up to Christmas Eve.
Why do we light candles during Advent?
The candles mark each Sunday in the run-up to Christmas, and the tradition of Advent stars in windows, which originates from Germany in the 1880s, supports the same mood.
When does Advent begin?
Advent begins on the first Sunday of Advent, which falls on a Sunday between 27 November and 3 December, depending on the year.
Summary
Advent is the four Sundays before Christmas Day, when both the church year and many homes shift to a brighter, cosier mood. With the dates in place and traditions such as the Advent wreath, Advent candle holder and Advent stars, you can plan your Sundays and decorations to suit your own home.
Read also
- How to create hygge with real candles
- Christmas decorations for the home: Create the perfect festive mood
- Christmas decorations with personality: How to build a unique Christmas collection
- Candle guide: Types, sizes and burn time
- Lucia procession: When is St. Lucia's Day, and why do we celebrate it
- Calendar candle: when do you light it, and where does it come from?
Ready to decorate for Advent?
At Dims Studio, all Christmas decorations and candle holders are hand-picked by Dinna, so you can easily find pieces with personality for the four Sundays.
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