Advent vs. Lent — What's the Difference?

Advent is a season of the liturgical year observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity, and is part of the wider Christmas and holiday season.

Lent (Latin: Quadragesima, 'Fortieth') is a religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later; depending on the Christian denomination and local custom, Lent concludes either on the evening of Maundy Thursday, or at sundown on Holy Saturday, when the Easter Vigil is celebrated. Regardless, Lenten practices are properly maintained until the evening of Holy Saturday.

The coming or arrival of something or someone that is important or worthy of note

(in the Christian Church) the period preceding Easter, which is devoted to fasting, abstinence, and penitence in commemoration of Christ's fasting in the wilderness. In the Western Church it runs from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, and so includes forty weekdays.

The liturgical period preceding Christmas, beginning in Western churches on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and in Eastern churches in mid-November, and observed by many Christians as a season of prayer, fasting, and penitence.

Past tense and past participle of lend.

The coming of Jesus at the Incarnation.

A 40-day period of fasting and penitence observed by many Christians in preparation for Easter. In Western churches, Lent lasts from Ash Wednesday until Easter, usually excepting Sundays.

See Second Coming.

Simple past tense and past participle of lend

Arrival; onset; a time when something first comes or appears

A fast of forty days, beginning with Ash Wednesday and continuing till Easter, observed by some Christian churches as commemorative of the fast of our Savior.

The period including the four Sundays before Christmas.

Slow; mild; gentle; as, lenter heats.

The first or the expected second coming of Christ.

See Lento.

Coming; any important arrival; approach.

A period of 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday

Arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous);

The season including the four Sundays preceding Christmas

(Christian theology) the reappearance of Jesus as judge for the Last Judgment