Advent hymns offer reflection and longing before Christmas, contrasting with a culture that jumps straight to celebration.

"O Lord, How Shall I Meet You" is a perfect Lutheran hymn for the weeks before Christmas, but shoppers will never hear it ...

Advent comes from the Latin “ad + venire,” which means, essentially, “to come to” or “to come toward.” “Ad + venire” is the ...

The lack of church decor also teaches about the penitential nature of the season. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the ...

When “Santa Baby” starts playing at the grocery store, I thank God I’m Catholic and try not to hum along! That can be difficult because it is a catchy—if irritating—tune. During the Advent season, we ...

Advent's Lent-like waiting period is exactly why churches do not immediately whip out Christmas trees at the end of Ordinary ...

Last year, America published “An (unconventional) Advent Playlist,” an article including two playlists by Karen Nielsen and Rogelio Juárez, in response to a friend’s lament that “‘O Come, O Come ...

When many Catholics think of Advent music, what comes to mind is O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and maybe The King of Glory. However, the Church possesses a treasure house of hymns and carols that ...

The Christmas tree is up and lit at Christ Lutheran Church in Marietta, Ga., and the Rev. Rusty Edwards just can't wait to sing a few lines of "O Little Town of Bethlehem," his favorite Christmas song ...