The word Advent is of Latin origin and means COMING. It is the time when Christians prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ. Advent is four weeks before Christmas.

A significant and helpful custom for living this time is the Advent wreath, the first announcement of Christmas.

Origin:

The Advent wreath finds its roots in the pre-Christian customs of the Germans (Germany). During the cold and darkness of December, they collected crowns of green branches and lit fires as a sign of hope in the coming spring. But the Advent wreath does not represent a concession to paganism but, on the contrary, is an example of the Christianization of culture. The old now takes on a new and full content in Christ. He came to make all things new.

New reality:

Christians knew how to appreciate the teaching of Jesus: John 8:12: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life". The light we turn on in the darkness of winter reminds us of Christ who overcomes darkness. We, united to Jesus, are also light: Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on the top of a mountain cannot be hidden."

In the sixteenth century German Catholics and Protestants used this symbol to celebrate Advent: Those primitive customs contained a seed of truth that could now express the supreme truth: Jesus is the light that has come, that is with us and will come with glory. Candles anticipate the coming of light at Christmas: Jesus Christ.

The Advent wreath is made of green foliage on which four candles are inserted. Three candles are violet, one is pink. On the first Sunday of Advent we light the first candle and each Sunday of Advent we light one more candle until Christmas. The pink candle corresponds to the third Sunday and represents joy. While the candles are lit a prayer is made, using a passage from the Bible and songs are sung. We do this during the Advent Masses and it is also advisable to do it at home, for example before or after dinner. If there are no candles of these colors can still make the crown because the most important thing is the meaning: the light that increases with the proximity of the birth of Jesus who is the Light of the World. The crown can be taken to the church to be blessed by the priest.

The Advent wreath contains several symbolisms:

The circular form: The circle has no beginning and no end. It is a sign of God's love that is eternal, without beginning and without end, and also of our love for God and neighbor that must never end.

Green branches: Green is the color of hope and life. God wants us to wait for his grace, forgiveness of sins and eternal glory at the end of our lives. The most important longing in our lives must be to come into closer union with God, our Father.

The four candles: They make us think of the darkness caused by sin that blinds man and alienates him from God. After the first fall of man, God gave little by little a hope of salvation that illuminated the whole universe as candles illuminated the crown. Just as the darkness dissipates with each candle we light, the centuries were illuminated with the ever closer arrival of Christ to our world. Four candles are placed in the crown and are lit one by one during the four Sundays of Advent when praying in the family.

The red apples that adorn the crown: They represent the fruits of the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve who brought sin into the world but also received the promise of the Universal Saviour.

The red ribbon: Represents our love for God and the love of God that surrounds us.

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