Advent  wreaths

Advent  wreaths are used to celebrate the start of the Christmas season. It begins on the Sunday nearest November 30, the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle, and covers fours Sundays. Because the day it begins changes from year to year, so does the length of each Advent season. In the year 2002, Advent begins on December 1 and lasts 22 days.

The word advent, from Latin, means "the coming." For centuries, Advent has been a time of spiritual reflection as well as cheer and anticipation. Even as the Christmas season has become more secular—with advertisers urging holiday gift-givers to buy and buy some more—Advent still brings joy and the observance of ancient customs. Christian families find quiet moments lighting candles in the Advent wreath, and children use Advent calendars to count the days until Christmas.

Advent wreaths have their origins in the folk traditions of northern Europe, where in the deep of winter people lit candles on wheel-shaped bundles of evergreen. Both the evergreen and the circular shape symbolized ongoing life. The candlelight gave comfort at this darkest time of the year, as people looked forward to the longer days of spring.

Later, Eastern European Christians adopted this practice. By the sixteenth century, they were making Advent wreaths much as we know them today. An Advent wreath traditionally contains four candles—three purple and one rose.  The three purple candles in the Advent wreath symbolize hope, peace, and love. These candles are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The rose or pink candle, which symbolizes joy, is usually lit on the third Sunday.

Sometimes 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. Another variation is to remove  the four colored candles after Advent has passed and replace them with four white candles to be lit every evening during the remaining holiday season.

Because Advent wreaths are an informal celebration, not all are the same. Many wreaths featured blue or white candles and the wreaths are made up of a variety of greens or dried arrangements.

Whatever Advent wreath you choose it is important to remember the birth and ascension of Christ and to use the holiday season as a time of reflection and quality family time.