Tis the Season
December is just around the corner and with December comes festive celebrations, lots of hot chocolate, and Christmas! As people are starting to set out their advent calenders lets take a peak at what they actually represent.
There are many different variations of these calenders, some European village’s advent calenders are called “living” calenders where each window or door is decorated for each day of advent and some of them are built on buildings for everyone to see and enjoy. Advent usually starts on December 1 and ends on Christmas Eve.
The History
The tradition originated in the 19th century by German protestants marking the days leading up to Christmas, at first they just used chalk on walls, lighting candles, or putting pieces of straw in a manger in the Nativity to represent the preparation of Jesus’ birth. The word “Advent” derives from the Latin word “adventus” which means “arrival”, and the time leading up to Christmas has been part of the culture since the 4th century and recognized as a time of fasting and contemplation before Christmas day.
The first known Advent Calender was created in Germany in 1851 out of wood. A German-born man named Gerhard Lang was credited for the first printed Calender with illustrations in the early 20th century.
Advent Candles
The Advent Candles are another way to mark the coming of Christmas. Each candle is lit on the first four Sunday’s leading up to Christmas.
Many Advent candles have a little wreath of evergreen branches as shown by the image below, the unbroken circle symbolizes the eternity of God’s divine love and promise through Christ Jesus.
The first purple candle lit is called the Prophecy candle and it represents HOPE and the anticipation of the coming of Christ which the prophets spoke about in the Old Testament.
The purple Bethlehem candle as it is called is the second one lit representing PEACE and preparation reflecting the journey of Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem.
Number three is named the Shepherd’s candle or JOY candle and it is pink, symbolizes the rejoicing of the shepherds when they heard the news of Jesus’ birth. It is a reminder to prepare for the near arrival of Jesus.
The fourth candle is purple and is called the Angel’s candle showing the LOVE Christ gave us.
In many advents there is a fifth candle called the CHRIST candle which represents the light and purity of Him who entered the world. It is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
The lighting of the candles are a reminder to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ birth, and the increasing light symbolizes the rising anticipation of His arrival.
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Thanks for reading and please spread the word,
Le Stylo
