THE ADVENT WREATH

One of the nicest Christmas customs we Christians have is to make an Advent Wreath.

The idea of the wreath was taken from a pagan solstice practice.  They would decorate a cartwheel with evergreens and place candles among the greens, lighting them to bring the return of the sun during this dark time of the year.

Christians in the sixteenth century Eastern Europe took the idea and turned it into a Christian custom.  Christians have always used fire and light to represent Christ's coming into the world.  We use the wreath as a sign of waiting for the glorious return of Jesus Christ, our Savior.  The circle of the wreath represents the victory over death through Jesus Christ.  The evergreens are a sign of God's faithfulness to his people, even in death, and the lighted candles are a reminder of the light of Christ brought into the world.

Anyone can make an Advent wreath.  It is nice to make them out of the natural materials of the earth; you can use evergreens, holly, berries and pine cones.  Four candles are placed around the wreath, one for each week of Advent.  The color of the candles is not significant since the symbolism is primarily in the flame, which symbolizes the light for which we wait.  However, the traditional colors are three purple candles and one pink or rose-colored candle.   The purple candle is a sign of penance.  Some focus on hope and expectation of the coming of Christ.  The pink or rose candle is a sign of joy.  The third Sunday in advent is called Caudate Sunday.  Caudate is the Latin word for “rejoice”.

Beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, the first purple candle is lit.  The third Sunday before Christmas the first and second purple candles are lit, the following Sunday the first two purple candles and the pink candle is lit, and on the Sunday before Christmas all four candles are lit.  Some Advent wreaths have a white candle in the middle.  That candle is lit on Christmas Eve.

The making of an Advent wreath can be a family activity.  The appropriate candles can be lit followed by daily devotions, meditation and singing.
 

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