This Sunday, November 28, begins a new liturgical year, Year C, with the First Sunday of Advent. In Year C we primarily read the Gospel of Luke on Sundays. The Gospel of John is read during the Easter season in all three liturgical years.
Advent has a twofold character. First, it is a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ's first coming to us is remembered. Second, it is a season when we also look forward to Christ's Second Coming at the end of time. Thus Advent is a period for devout and joyful expectation.
The liturgical color for Advent is violet (bluish-purple.) The violet color for Advent is not the purple of Lent, which is symbolic of penance and repentance. During Advent the color is more of a blue-purple, like the sky just before sunrise. This is the time of year when the Church waits in joyful hope to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the light of the world.