Advent Wreath Advent begins on Sunday, December 2, 2012; Ends on Monday, December 24, 2012.  Save as Bookmark  Send this Page to Friend. Advent Home   Advent Wallpapers   Advent Customs   Advent Greetings   Advent Prayers   Advent Recipes   Advent Wreath   History of Advent   Advent wreath is placed on our dinner table every evening through the season of Advent. The Advent Wreath is a simple way to honour Advent and an increasingly popular symbol of the beginning of the Church year in many churches as well as homes. The wreath is made of evergreen branches with four candleholders and candles, often hung from the ceiling. The wreath is symbolic and a vehicle to tell the Christmas story. The evergreen circle stands for the eternal life that Christ has won for all believers. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. xyz     Lighting a candle reminds us of Christ as light of the world. The colors of the Advent candles vary. Some churches use four blue candles to emphasize the hopeful anticipation of the season. Others follow an older custom of three purple candles and one pink or rose candle. The purple signifies that Advent is a season of repentance as well as expectation. A purple candle is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, with another one lit on each succeeding Sunday. The joyfully colored pink candle is reserved for the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete, which means "rejoice" in Latin, is the opening word of the traditional Introit for that Sunday: Rejoice!‘ the Lord is near. (Philippians 4:4). In addition to the four Advent candles, most Advent wreaths also have a larger, white candle in the center called the Christ candle. The central location of the Christ Candle reminds us that the incarnation is the heart of the season, giving light to the world. This candle is lit on Christmas Eve and throughout the Twelve Days of Christmas. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Advent, which themselves symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ. As the candle is lit, it's customary to sing two verses of "O Come O Come Emmanuel". One candle is lit for each Sunday in Advent : one on the first Sunday, two on the second, and so on. Making Advent Wreaths Our Advent wreath stays on the table for the Christmas season, the twelve days between Christmas and Epiphany. There are many ways to construct an Advent wreath. They can be simple or elaborate, made from fresh material or from artificial greenery. It is important to use something green which symbolises the new life brought to us by the birth of Jesus, and that it be circular as a reminder of eternity. A fresh wreath requires: * shallow bowl or dish, * oasis (also known as florist's foam, it is available from any florist), * three purple candles, * one pink candle, * four white candles, * pine or cedar boughs, or ivy. Make the wreath by first soaking the oasis in warm water until it is completely saturated. Fit it into the bowl, carving it and packing it in tightly as necessary so that it will not shift around. Then carve four holes in the oasis for the candles. Place the candles in the holes you have made and begin sticking greenery into the oasis to completely cover it. It's nice to have some trailing over the edges of the bowl, and closely packed around the candles to hide all the foam. Keep the foam well watered, and try not to let the candles burn down so low that they scorch the greenery, and the wreath will last from the first Sunday of Advent until Epiphany. A more permanent wreath requires: * a plate or tray, * a four candle candelabra or four small candle sticks, * three purple candles, * one pink candle, * four white candles, * artificial garland, holly branches, branches from an artificial tree, or some other artificial greenery. To make the wreath, arrange the candlesticks or candelabra on the tray. The tray allows the wreath to be moved easily. Then place the greenery around the candles in a pleasant arrangement. It can be embellished with red berries, a small creche, ribbons or whatever else is available. Bless your wreath on the first Sunday of advent by sprinkling it with holy water and saying a short prayer.