The Making of our Advent Wreath . . .

Despite the fact that all the shops, the local high street, TV and radio, magazines etc. etc. are under the impression that it is Christmas already, we are of course only just beginning the Season of Advent.

I love Advent.  It's great to have a whole four weeks to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas and a reminder that of course we should try and be prepared for his Second Coming whenever that might be. 

We always had an Advent wreath at home and we have continued the tradition with our children who are now grown up.  Such a simple thing to do and yet like many traditions has great value.

It's also a great talking point amongst our non-Church-going friends who are always interested to know what it is and what it signifies.

Our son had kindly ferreted around in the loft and found the oasis ring from last year which is still very usable and was soaking overnight ready for decoration today.

A quick trip round our small garden with the secateurs provided the necessary greenery.  Candles found too and off we go . . .

I'll be the first to admit I'm not much good at floristry but it's amazing how you can create something quite acceptable by just randomly inserting greenery into an oasis ring!

We're going to be lighting our first candle at 6pm this evening and praying the Angelus. I'll see if I can get a photo.

I'm sure you all know the various traditions and symbolism associated with the Advent wreath.  As far as I'm aware, and very briefly;

The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent and as they are lit they represent the light of Christ coming into the world; the light growing brighter as more candles are lit as we approach Christmas day.  Some people like to put a lighted white candle in the centre of the wreath on Christmas day to represent Christ's birth.

The evergreen foliage represents the everlasting life of Christ and the circular shape of the wreath reminds us that God has no beginning nor end, He always was and always will be.  Holly is often included to remind us of Christ's Crown of Thorns.

There are various traditions associated with the four candles.  One such is that each candle represents  a thousand years, the total being the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve to the birth of Christ.

The three purple candles represent penance and the sacrifices and good works done during Advent as part or our spiritual preparation. This is of course the liturgical colour of Advent and purple vestments will be worn.

The rose candle is lit on Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday in Advent.  This is a day to rejoice as we are getting close to the time of our Saviour's birth. Gaudete takes its name from the first word of  the Mass antiphon of the Third Sunday in Advent, " Gaudete in Domino semper . . . " ("Rejoice in the Lord always . . .")

I'm sure you can add many more traditions to the ones I have mentioned.

A quick search on the Internet will lead you to many different prayers to say as you light your Advent wreath, with different appropriate prayers for each of the four Sundays of Advent.   We say the Angelus because the timing suits our family, and we can also hear the Angelus bell ringing from our local Catholic church as a reminder.

The Angel of the Lord, declared unto Mary . . . 

A blessed Advent to all!