ADVENT WREATH

Christmas symbolism: the advent wreath

Christmas is approaching and with it a time to fill our homes with renewed energy, in the hope that it will be a time of good omens. This waiting for Christmas Eve is called Advent.

The word Advent means “time of waiting and hope”; for Catholics it is the moment of spiritual preparation to receive with joy the reminder of the birth of Jesus. Advent begins on the first Sunday of December, although the custom sets December 8 as the starting date for the Christmas arrangement, in commemoration of the Immaculate Conception, taking it as one of the most important dogmas of faith for the Catholic religion.

One of the details that indicates the beginning of the season is precisely the Advent wreath, whose meaning is not known to all families.

I. The Advent Wreath

The wreath represents eternity, since it is circular, it symbolizes that which has no beginning and no end. This symbol has the purpose of gathering the family in prayer, so that together from the heart, they prepare to receive Christmas.

In its pagan origins, it represented a petition to the sun god to return with its light and warmth during the winter season, by derivation, it now adopts the intention of receiving light and life in the person of Jesus.

The crown is composed of the following symbols:

Element
Symbology

Circle
Eternity

Green branches of pine or ivy
Life of grace, spiritual growth and hope.

Candles
3 red and 1 pink: penance, conversion, grace and praise to Mary as Mother of the world.

Christmas flowers and bows with colorful ribbons.
Not necessary, but aesthetically they are included as a festive touch.

Dried fruits
Sour cherries, walnuts, apples, candied orange slices, etc., are used as a representation of abundance.

Pineapples
Symbolize the immortality of plant and animal life. It represents the cyclical and eternal return of Nature and expresses the hatching of spring life.

Try it and build your own. Ideally, you should have it ready on the first Sunday of December, so you can pray with your whole family lighting a candle that corresponds to the first week, then you start with the one that corresponds to the second week and so on, successively. When the night of the 24th arrives, you light the fourth one together with the others that have been consuming and let them burn until one centimeter before they are finished (to symbolize that nothing ends and everything is transformed).

The Advent wreath is usually placed as a table centerpiece, rather than an ornament, because it is there that the family will gather to put their intentions, read some reading, reflect as a family and above all, pray together.

Another propitious place, depending on the space, is near the tree and the manger, taking care that the candles are not a potential danger. In this sense, it would be to put together three important symbols of good omen (the tree, the manger and the crown), always forming powerful trinities regarding ceremonies.

Christmas symbolism: the advent wreath

Christmas is approaching and with it a time to fill our homes with renewed energy, in the hope that it will be a time of good omens. This waiting for Christmas Eve is called Advent.



The word Advent means “time of waiting and hope”; for Catholics it is the moment of spiritual preparation to receive with joy the reminder of the birth of Jesus. Advent begins on the first Sunday of December, although the custom sets December 8 as the starting date for the Christmas arrangement, in commemoration of the Immaculate Conception, taking it as one of the most important dogmas of faith for the Catholic religion.



One of the details that indicates the beginning of the season is precisely the Advent wreath, whose meaning is not known to all families.








I. The Advent Wreath



The wreath represents eternity, since it is circular, it symbolizes that which has no beginning and no end. This symbol has the purpose of gathering the family in prayer, so that together from the heart, they prepare to receive Christmas.



In its pagan origins, it represented a petition to the sun god to return with its light and warmth during the winter season, by derivation, it now adopts the intention of receiving light and life in the person of Jesus.



The crown is composed of the following symbols:



Element
Symbology

Circle
Eternity

Green branches of pine or ivy
Life of grace, spiritual growth and hope.

Candles
3 red and 1 pink: penance, conversion, grace and praise to Mary as Mother of the world.

Christmas flowers and bows with colorful ribbons.
Not necessary, but aesthetically they are included as a festive touch.

Dried fruits
Sour cherries, walnuts, apples, candied orange slices, etc., are used as a representation of abundance.

Pineapples
Symbolize the immortality of plant and animal life. It represents the cyclical and eternal return of Nature and expresses the hatching of spring life.









Try it out and build your own. Ideally, you should have it ready on the first Sunday of December, so you can pray with your whole family lighting a candle that corresponds to the first week, then you start with the one that corresponds to the second week and so on, successively. When the night of the 24th arrives, you light the fourth one together with the others that have been consuming and let them burn until one centimeter before they are finished (to symbolize that nothing ends and everything is transformed).



The Advent wreath is usually placed as a table centerpiece, rather than an ornament, because it is there that the family will gather to put their intentions, read some reading, reflect as a family and above all, pray together.



Another propitious place, depending on the space, is near the tree and the manger, taking care that the candles are not a potential danger. In this sense, it would be to put together three important symbols of good omen (the tree, the manger and the crown), always forming powerful trinities regarding ceremonies.