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The Advent wreath is a long held tradition among Christians. Although not all Christians oversee this tradition, it is still in modern day celebrations. As many people may or not be aware, the Advent is in the month of December, following the days before Christmas. Many of these wreaths are made of evergreens that are placed on a hard surface and candles are placed in holders in four positions on the wreath. Some more modern versions of this wreath may include a fifth Christ candle which is lit on Christmas Day. However you wish to celebrate this time is up to you.

Tradition holds that the Advent wreath is a marker for the weeks until Christ is born. On the first Sunday in December the first candle is lit and each following Sunday an additional candle is lit until they are all lit. if you choose to have the Christ candle at the center of you wreath, then on Christmas Day you light all five candles. These candles are normally supposes to be violet or rose colored, or may be white. But there are preferences out there and some may choose to include larger more elaborate or simple candles to take this place.

The Advent wreath is used in both church settings and in the family home. Normally during mass, the additional candle will be lit in church service so that everyone may experience the significance as each day passes by that is closer to the birth of Jesus. Normally a piece of scripture is read and then a short period of prayer and meditation follows the lighting of each candle. What prayers and scriptures you may choose in your own home should be about Jesus and his birth as this is the time in which you are celebrating his coming.

Each candle in the Advent wreath stands for something different. The first candle is called the prophet’s candle, the second the Bethlehem candle, the third the shepherd’s candle, and the fifth the angel’s candle. If you have the fifth, this is the Christ candle representing the light of Jesus coming into the world. In the Church of England the candles have different meaning, but they all represent the Liturgical Year. The symbolism behind the wreath is very important and learning all that you can about Jesus and his way into the world or teaching others of this is something that is also part of the tradition of Advent.

The Advent wreath is a deeply religious symbol that many Christians use as representing the Advent during the Liturgical Year. The wreath is a circle of evergreen that are topped with four or five candles. Each candle represents a different meaning in the month of December as the days grow closer to Christmas Day and the birth of Jesus. Each Sunday a candle is lit and prayers are said and scripture read. This is a long standing tradition that many people choose to do in the comforts of their home along with the church for its symbolism and powerful message.