THE CATHOLIC LECTIONARY WEBSITE
by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

How Long Is Advent?

Many people think that there are always four weeks of Advent. Well, only in some years does the liturgical Season of Advent last four full weeks.
In most years, Advent is a little shorter, depending on which weekday December 25 (Christmas!) happens to be that year.

The more precise answer to the question posed above is that there are always four Sundays of Advent, but that the Season of Advent can be between three and four weeks long.
The following table gives the precise dates for the current year, and some past and upcoming years. Below the table are further explanatory notes.

YEAR 2000/01 C
2006/07 C
(leap)
2017/18 B
2023/24 B
2028/29 A
2001/02 A
2007/08 A
2012/13 C
2018/19 C
(leap)
2029/30 B
2002/03 B
(leap)
2013/14 A
2019/20 A
2024/25 C
2030/31 C
2003/04 C
2008/09 B
2014/15 B
(leap)
2025/26 A
2031/32 A
(leap)
2009/10 C
2015/16 C
2020/21 B
2026/27 B
(leap)
2004/05 A
2010/11 A
(leap)
2021/22 C
2027/28 C
2032/33 B
2005/06 B
2011/12 B
2016/17 A
2022/23 A
(leap)
2033/34 C
1st Sun 3-Dec 2-Dec 1-Dec 30-Nov 29-Nov 28-Nov 27-Nov
M 4-Dec 3-Dec 2-Dec 1-Dec 30-Nov 29-Nov 28-Nov
T 5-Dec 4-Dec 3-Dec 2-Dec 1-Dec 30-Nov 29-Nov
W 6-Dec 5-Dec 4-Dec 3-Dec 2-Dec 1-Dec 30-Nov
Th 7-Dec 6-Dec 5-Dec 4-Dec 3-Dec 2-Dec 1-Dec
F 8-Dec 7-Dec 6-Dec 5-Dec 4-Dec 3-Dec 2-Dec
S 9-Dec 8-Dec 7-Dec 6-Dec 5-Dec 4-Dec 3-Dec
2nd Sun 10-Dec 9-Dec 8-Dec 7-Dec 6-Dec 5-Dec 4-Dec
M 11-Dec 10-Dec 9-Dec 8-Dec 7-Dec 6-Dec 5-Dec
T 12-Dec 11-Dec 10-Dec 9-Dec 8-Dec 7-Dec 6-Dec
W 13-Dec 12-Dec 11-Dec 10-Dec 9-Dec 8-Dec 7-Dec
Th 14-Dec 13-Dec 12-Dec 11-Dec 10-Dec 9-Dec 8-Dec
F 15-Dec 14-Dec 13-Dec 12-Dec 11-Dec 10-Dec 9-Dec
S 16-Dec 15-Dec 14-Dec 13-Dec 12-Dec 11-Dec 10-Dec
3rd Sun 17-Dec -O 16-Dec 15-Dec 14-Dec 13-Dec 12-Dec 11-Dec
M 18-Dec -O 17-Dec -O 16-Dec 15-Dec 14-Dec 13-Dec 12-Dec
T 19-Dec -O 18-Dec -O 17-Dec -O 16-Dec 15-Dec 14-Dec 13-Dec
W 20-Dec -O 19-Dec -O 18-Dec -O 17-Dec -O 16-Dec 15-Dec 14-Dec
Th 21-Dec -O 20-Dec -O 19-Dec -O 18-Dec -O 17-Dec -O 16-Dec 15-Dec
F 22-Dec -O 21-Dec -O 20-Dec -O 19-Dec -O 18-Dec -O 17-Dec -O 16-Dec
S 23-Dec -O 22-Dec -O 21-Dec -O 20-Dec -O 19-Dec -O 18-Dec -O 17-Dec -O
 4th Sun   24-Dec -O   23-Dec -O   22-Dec -O   21-Dec -O   20-Dec -O   19-Dec -O   18-Dec -O 
M 25-Dec 24-Dec -O 23-Dec -O 22-Dec -O 21-Dec -O 20-Dec -O 19-Dec -O
T x 25-Dec 24-Dec -O 23-Dec -O 22-Dec -O 21-Dec -O 20-Dec -O
W x x 25-Dec 24-Dec -O 23-Dec -O 22-Dec -O 21-Dec -O
Th x x x 25-Dec 24-Dec -O 23-Dec -O 22-Dec -O
F x x x x 25-Dec 24-Dec -O 23-Dec -O
S x x x x x 25-Dec 24-Dec -O
Sun x x x x x x 25-Dec
(For a continuation of this table, see the Moveable Feasts during the Christmas Season.)

Notes:

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This page was last updated on November 1, 2023.
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