Advent
The season of Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Christians light candles on Advent wreaths and children open Advent calendars to count the days to Christmas.
Many schools and churches present the Nativity to audiences, to explain the Christmas Story.
Advent, in the Christian calendar, is the anticipation of ‘the coming of Christ’ – the build up to His birth in Bethlehem.
The Advent wreath itself is made from fir branches which are traditionally knotted together with red ribbon and decorated with pine cones, holly, laurel and, sometimes, mistletoe. There is a lot of symbolism to be found within the Advent wreath/crown for Christians:
- The wreath/crown symbolises victory, the sun and the return of the sun every year
- The 4 candles are symbolic of the 4 Sundays in Advent, and one is lit every Sunday during Advent
- The green twigs are a symbol of life and hope
- The fir tree is a symbol of strength and the laurel is a symbol of victory over sin and suffering
- The holly and mistletoe never lose their leaves, which represents the eternity of God
- The flames of the candle represent the approach of the Christmas light, bringing hope and peace, and the struggle against darkness
- The ‘crown’ is also symbolic of Christ the King, who wore a crown of holly/thorns as He was led to His death
- The 4 candles on the wreath usually consist of 3 violet or purple ones and one pink. The pink candle is lit on Gaudete Sunday (the 3rd Sunday of Advent)
- Some add an additional white candle in the centre of the wreath, which is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and is known as the Christ Candle
Merry Christmas to everyone who is celebrating!
