Churches around the Island will tomorrow usher in the season for preparing for Christmas -- Advent.

Advent is a Latin term which means "coming'' or "arrival'' and according to the Christian Book of Why, Advent is the four-week period in which Christians prepare themselves for the "coming of Jesus into this world''.

The four weeks of Advent emphasises two related themes.

The first is the coming of Christ into the world as a baby in Bethlehem and the other is the second coming of Christ into the world on the Day of Judgment.

During the Advent season Christians sing traditional hymns like "O Come, O Come Emmanuel'', decorate in purple -- the colour most associated with Advent, and some parishioners will hold special Church Services.

Many years ago, Advent was mainly a period of fasting and worship for those who were scheduled to be baptised on the Epiphany (January 6). It later developed into the current four-week observance.

Tomorrow, Christians will mark Advent Sunday with the lighting of the first of four candles which are set in a wreath. The Advent Wreath is traditionally made of twigs from a fir tree -- the traditional Christmas tree -- and is shaped in a circle, representing the "Eternity of God''.

The four candles mark the four Sundays of Advent which immediately precede Christmas. One of the candles will be lit tomorrow and each week thereafter another candle will be lit.

As the number of lighted candles increases, Christians are reminded that Christmas is drawing nearer.

Each Advent candle has a name and the candle which will be lit tomorrow is known as the Prophecy Candle.

According to the Christian Book of Why, the Prophecy Candle is a reminder of the foretelling of Jesus' birth by the Old Testament prophets.

The second Candle is called the Bethlehem Candle. It recalls the words of Micah that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.

The Shepherd Candle is a reminder of the first people (shepherds) who worshipped baby Jesus.

And the last Advent candle, the Angels' Candle is lit in remembrance of the angel who spoke to Mary at the conception of Jesus. It also remembers the angels who appeared to the shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem on the first Christmas Eve.

Advent Sunday has additional meaning for those in the Catholic Church since it also marks the first day of the Catholic Church year.

Most of the Catholic Church will mark Advent Sunday in their Masses tomorrow and St. Theresa's Cathedral will observe the day with a 7.30 p.m. vespers service.