Updated September 26, 2010
Advent, the beginning of the liturgical year in the Catholic Church, is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. It was historically known as "little Lent," because, like Lent, it is a time of repentance, with prayer, fasting, and Confession.
Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas, and therefore varies in length between 22 days and 28 days. (In 2013, it is 24 days long.) The following is a list of the dates of the Sundays and major feast days that fall in Advent 2013.
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- First Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 1, 2013)
- Feast of Saint Nicholas (Friday, December 6, 2013)
- Immaculate Conception (Sunday, December 8, 2013)
Holy Day of Obligation
- Second Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 8, 2013)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe (Thursday, December 12, 2013)
- Feast of Saint Lucy (Friday, December 13, 2013)
- Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) (Sunday, December 15, 2013)
- Fourth Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 22, 2013)
- Christmas Eve (Tuesday, December 24, 2013)
- Christmas (Wednesday, December 25, 2013)
Holy Day of Obligation
