Advent Wreath Making

Sunday December 1, 11:30 a.m.

Join us after the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday, December 1, for Advent wreath making and instruction, if needed. Evergreens and wreath trim will be here for you. Please bring garden shears. We recommend hunting through your yards now to collect pine cones, rosemary, lavender, laurel, hydrangea blossoms, ivy and other natural ornaments to decorate your wreath and to share. If you have a ring from last year, please bring it with you. Calvary will provide supplies at cost: $4 rings, $4 candles, and $4 greens.

The Origins of the Advent Wreath

The origins of the Advent wreath are found in the folk practices of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples who, during the cold December darkness of Eastern Europe, gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires as signs of hope in a coming spring and renewed light. In Scandinavia during winter, lighted candles were placed around a wheel and prayers were offered to the god of light to turn “the wheel of earth” back toward the sun to lengthen the days and restore warmth.

Christians kept these popular traditions alive and, by the 16th century, Catholics and Protestants throughout Germany adapted these symbols to celebrate their Advent hope in Christ, the everlasting Light. The tradition of the Advent wreath spread to other parts of the Christian world. Later, Eastern European Christians adopted this practice. By the 16th century, advent wreaths looked much as we know them today.

An Advent wreath traditionally contains four candles — three purple and one rose, but four white candles or four violet candles may also be used. Purple dyes were once so rare and costly that they were associated with royalty. 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 accompanied by a short prayer. The rose candle, symbolizing joy, is usually lit on the third Sunday.

Each day at home, the candles are lighted, perhaps before the evening meal — one candle the first week, and then another each succeeding week until December 25. Sometimes, a fifth candle is placed inside the Advent wreath. This candle, the Christ candle, is lit on Christmas Day. It is white, the color associated with angels and the birth of Jesus.