The Advent Wreath
The Advent Wreath is the widely recognized symbol of Advent. The wreath is made of a circle of evergreen branches laid flat to symbolize eternal life. Four candles (traditionally red) stand in the circle and each one represents one of the four Sundays of Advent. In the centre of the circle is a fifth candle (traditionally white), the Christ Candle, which is lit on Christmas Day.
Why is the Advent Wreath so special to Christians?
The circle of the wreath reminds Chrisitans of God, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end.
The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that Chrisitans have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life.
Candles on the wreath
 Advent worship is like a journey through the Christmas story. Christians use the Advent candles to celebrate this period with one lit every Sunday of Advent so that during the last week before Christmas all four candles are lit. The last central candle (which represents Christ), is lit on Christmas Day.
Candles symbolise the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son, Jesus.
There are normally three purple and one rose candles. (Purple dyes were one so rare and costly that they were associated with royalty; the Church has long used this colour around Christmas and Easter to honour Jesus.)
The three purple candles in the Advent wreath symbolise hope, peace, and love. These candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The rose candle, which symbolizes joy, is usually lit on the third Sunday.
A fifth candle is placed inside the Advent wreath. This candle is lit on Christmas Day. It is white, the color associated with angels and the birth of Jesus.
The four traditional advent themes for the four advent Sundays are:
God's people -The Candle of hope.
The old testament prophets - The Candle of Peace
John the Baptist - The Candle of Love
Mary the mother of Jesus - The Candle of Joy (a pink candle)
With thanks to Woodlands
|
|
|
|
Advent Calendars
 During Advent, some people make or buy Advent calendars as a way of counting the days to Christmas. Usually these calendars have twenty-four 'windows'.
The calendars do not necessarily start from the beginning of Advent. Advent Calendars always start on 1 December.
This popular tradition arose in Germany in the late 1800s and soon spread throughout Europe and North America. Originally, the images in Advent calendars were derived from the Hebrew Bible.
Traditional calendar windows open up to show a picture of something linked with this time of year. One may show an angel or one of the shepherds who visited baby Jesus. Others may show pictures of Christmas presents, a candle or anything else to do with Christmas. The last window to be opened usually shows Jesus himself, lying in a manger.
Popular advent calendars today usually have chocolate hidden behind each window. The theme/ picture displayed is a character from a TV show or film.
Click here to visit an interactive advent calendar
With thanks to Woodlands
 Advent Candles
An Advent Candle has 25 marks. Every day it is lit and is burned down by one mark each day.
|
|
|
|
|
|