The Advent
of Christmas
“In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that
has been made.”
John 1:1-3
Christmas
was celebrated quite differently in Colonial times than it is today. While
there may have been festivities in some places, it was generally a religious
celebration of the Savior’s birth. In some denominations, then and now,
Christmas was also more than one day, it was an entire season.
Advent,
which means “to come” would begin the Sunday nearest to November 30th,
the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle and be celebrated each Sunday culminating
with Christmas Eve/Day, the time of Christ’s birth.
Advent,
the beginning of the church calendar is a penitential season of preparation as
we wait for the birth of Jesus each year. In colonial times as well as now, it
was a time of fasting, prayers, reflection, reading from the Scriptures, and in
the Anglican tradition, reading of The Book of Common Prayer.
The
Advent wreath originated in
“In him was life, and that life was
the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness,
but the darkness has not understood it.”
John 1: 4-5
The
colors of the candles have significance. Purple represents repentance and royalty;
pink or rose represents joy, and white represents purity and Christ. Each
candle has significance, the first Sunday’s candle represents HOPE and the
prophecy associated with the coming Christ, the second candle (purple) signifies
LOVE. The third candle (pink) signifies JOY, and the fourth candle (purple) signifies
PEACE. Some faith traditions use blue candles instead of purple and recognize
alternate meanings for the various candles.
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk
in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
The season continues after Christmas for another twelve days until Epiphany on January 6th, when the feast of the three kings is celebrated. Epiphany, the coming of foreign kings to worship and give gifts to Jesus, reveals that Christ came not only for the Jews, but for the entire world.
As
Advent is celebrated each year at this time, Christians are also awaiting the Second
Advent.
We
are painfully aware of the sin, evil, disease, and darkness that pervades a
broken world rebelling against God. Like those who hoped and long waited the
coming of Messiah, we also hope and wait for His return, this time not as the
Babe born in a humble manger, but as the King of Glory.
“At that time they
will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud
with power and great
glory.
When these things
begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption
is drawing near.”
Luke 21:27-28
Amen! Great post, Janet. A powerful message and very interesting to learn of the history of the wreath and the tradition of the candles and Advent. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love Advent. I am drawn to more traditional, liturgical worship. While many people look at liturgy and the church calendar as too Roman Catholic, there are many Protestant denominations that still follow this tradition. Some of my favorite hymns are Advent hymns too ~ Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Comfort, Comfort Ye My People, Creator of the Stars of Night; there are so many good ones!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post, Janet. I love the words from "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"-
ReplyDeleteAnd in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Susan, thanks for sharing these beautiful words from this Christmas carol.
DeleteThank you, ladies. I, too, love the Advent season and it helps me to prepare spiritually for Christmas. (But then I also need Lent to truly experience Good Friday and Easter.)
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Janet! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJanet, an interesting and beautiful post. Blessings to you and your family at Christmastime!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carrie and Carla. A blessed Christmas to you.
ReplyDeleteJanet, yesterday we visited a friend and while the kids were sitting around the table admiring a wreath with candles (and unable to keep their fingers off it), I shared your post.
ReplyDeleteMy friend, who is German found it interesting, and while her take on it was a little different, it was neat to compare the traditions. I did not grow up with Advent being anything other than a calendar with pictures to count off the days to Christmas. We had our own traditions, but they were much more subtle than many of the mainstream churches' traditions.
Traditions are such a wonderful way to anchor us and help us to reflect on God's truth. Thank you so much for sharing this. :)
I agree, Lynn, I love following the church calendar and the meanings behind the different seasons.
ReplyDeleteComing in late here, Janet-- but had to THANK YOU for this lovely presentation about Advent and the Christmas wreath. The wreath (very much like the picture!) sits on my dining room table as we speak--and I've lit the final candle-- the Christ candle for tonight!
ReplyDelete