Advent

This year the season of Advent begins on Sunday, 29 November and ends on Thursday, 24 December.

 

Meaning of Advent

 

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia.  “Advent” means “arrival” or “coming,” and it prompts us to pause each day in December and remember why Jesus came at Christmas. Advent, the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas, is observed in commemoration of the coming of Christ into the world. The Advent season not only symbolizes the waiting for Christ's birth but also for his final return.

 

History of Advent

 

Advent began as early as the 4th and 5th centuries as a time of fasting and prayer for new Christians. The first mention of Advent occurred in 300 AD at a meeting of church leaders called the Council of Sargossa. It gradually developed into a season that stretched across the month of December.

 

Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839. A Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart. He placed twenty small red candles and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays and the four white candles were lit on Sundays.

Eventually, the Advent wreath was created out of evergreens, symbolizing everlasting life in the midst of winter and death as the evergreen is continuously green. The circle reminds us of God’s unending love and the eternal life He makes possible.

Advent candles are often nestled in the evergreen wreath. Additional decorations, like holly and berries, are sometimes added. Their red colour points ahead to Jesus’ sacrifice and death on the cross, shedding his blood for our sins. Pinecones symbolize the new life that Jesus brings through His resurrection.

 

Advent candles

 

A new candle is lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. Each candle represents something different, although traditions vary. Many Advent wreaths also have a white candle in the centre to symbolize the arrival of Christmastide, sometimes known as the "Christ candle." It is lit on Christmas. The wreath and candles are full of symbolism tied to the Christmas season.

 

Advent worship is like a journey through the Christmas story. Christians use the Advent candles to celebrate this period with one lit every Sunday of Advent.

The first candle represents hope. The second candle peace. The pink candle, generally lit on the third Sunday of Advent, represents joy. The fourth candle signifies love.

This first candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah. The first candle, which is purple, is sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle” or the “Prophet’s Candle” symbolizing the prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, who waited in hope for the Messiah’s arrival.

The second candle, which is a purple candle, represents faith or peace and is called "Bethlehem’s Candle." Prophet Micah had foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, which is also the birthplace of King David.

The third candle, which is a pink candle, symbolizes joy and is called the "Shepherd’s Candle." To the shepherd’s great joy, the angels announced that Jesus came for humble, unimportant people like them, too. In liturgy, the colour rose signifies joy.

The fourth candle, which is of purple colour, represents love and is called the "Angel’s Candle." The angels announced that Jesus came to bring peace and love – He came to bring people close to God and to each other again.

The (optional) fifth candle, which is white in colour, represents light and purity and is called "Christ’s candle." It is placed in the middle and is lit on Christmas Day.