Anybody who is a consistent church going person will know what is celebrated in the first four weeks of December. It is a very important time in the church, probably tied with the first most important time in church celebrations next to Easter festivities. Advent is a celebrated time in any church which recognizes and celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Advent is the first four weeks of December and using an advent reef the church keeps track of the countdown of one of the most important holidays celebrated in the church year.
Using four candles or sometimes five and lighting each one, one week at a time until the week of Christmas arrives. Three purple candles will be lit each week; purple symbolizes Christ The Prince of Peace, the first two weeks a purple candle is lit and then on the third week a pink candle is lit, the pink color symbolizes rejoice and the color of early dawn. If you have a Celtic advent reef with five places for candles to be placed the last one would be a white candle. Traditionally the white candle would be much larger in diameter then the rest and be placed in the middle of the reef to be lit on Christmas eve or Christmas day. As each candle is being lit in the church usually the pasture will be reading a special prayer from the bible, a passage that represent that week in advent and what is important about that week in advent.
The Celtic advent wreath and the practice of special prayer at the time of advent has been celebrated since 300 A.D. Lent and advent has said to be started at the same time and was used to practice the coming of the second birth of Jesus and to rejoice on the death of Jesus. Both lent and advent is for a person to take the time for dedication to both repentance and more prayer.
All though the advent reef may not be the most popular Christmas symbol that is put up around Christmas time but possibly one of the most important symbols to anybody who is very religious and takes religion very seriously. The Symbolization of the Celtic advent reef is a very important part of the church at Christmas. Advent is not taken lightly by church organizations and preparation for advent and the second coming of Christ is usually something that is thought about months in advance.
Usually larger advent reefs are placed in churches for the price tag on them are quite expensive but if you were looking for one to go into your house to fit with the rest of your Christmas decorations then they do have much cheaper versions that will not only fit into your house with no problem but also will not hurt your pocket book as much. Also having one in your home can remind everyone who lives there that as each candle is lit they are one more week closer to Christmas.
This article was published on Monday 28 September, 2009.
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