How Make and Advent Candle Wreath
Advent marks the start of the Christmas season. It begins on the Sunday nearest November 30, the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle, and lasts four Sundays. The date it begins changes from year to year.
As a result, so does the length of each Advent season.
(This year the first Sunday in Advent is Sunday November 30, 2008)
The word advent, from Latin, means "the coming." It is a time of spiritual reflection as well as cheer and anticipation. The home or family Advent devotion includes the ceremonial lighting of candles in the Advent wreath.
An Advent wreath is made from greens to symbolize continuous life and contains four candles— three purple and one rose. Often a fifth candle (white) is added to the center of the wreath for lighting on Christmas Eve, in celebration of the birth of Jesus. Scroll down this page to see suggested instructions for making an advent wreath at home.
The family or home advent devotion time can be flexible to your family's personal taste. Adding bible verses, carols, discussions questions or whatever your family chooses.
If your children are older, pick a leader for every week.
The leader can then select the format they want the lighting ceremony
to take. Often the lighting of the candle/s is before dinner or right after sunset. We've provided some suggested bible verses to get you
started but they are not intended to imply a set form.
The candle lighting is progressive from week to week,
preparing the way for the coming of Jesus.
First Sunday of advent : Hope
light one purple candle to symbolize Hope
Prayer
Read Isaiah 60:2-3
Extinguish the flame
Second Sunday : Peace
Light two purple candles - Hope and Peace
Prayer
Read Mark 1:4
Extinguish the flames
Third Sunday : Joy
Light two purple candles (Hope and Peace)
and one rose to symbolize Joy
Prayer
Read Isaiah 35:10
Extinguish the flames
Fourth Sunday: Love
light all four candles - Hope, Peace, Joy and Love
Prayer
Read Isaiah 9:6-7
Extinguish the flames
Christmas Eve
After Sunset...
Light all four candles and add the fifth white candle
(the light of Christ)
Prayer
Read Luke 1:68-79 and Luke 2:1-20
Keep the candles lit a bit longer, or safely
throughout the evening.
Click here for suggested Advent prayers and readings
(link opens in a new window)
To make your own advent wreath...
Create your own wreath every year, using greens from the yard, florist wire, pine cones, candles and candle holders. Insert your greens pine cones candles etc. into a Styrofoam ring. You can also find wood or
metal bases to be used year after year.
Make Your Own Candy Advent Calendar...
Remember those chocolate advent calendars from your childhood?
Well you can make your own sweet calendar using last years Christmas cards and chocolates. Then add this calendar to your candle lighting
tradition for a daily reminder of the season.
Cut the pictures from the cards. Draw a calendar with a marker, ruler and large piece of poster board. Leave enough room around the edges of the calendar for decorations. Help your children decorate the poster board with the Christmas card pictures and a glue stick. Write the dates in the upper corner of each day, leaving room for the candy. Attach the candies to the days of the week using a glue gun (adults only) or glue dots. Place one candy per child in each day until the 24th.
You can also make smaller individual calendars for every child in your household. Unwrap a candy each day until Christmas Eve.
Related Links
Our Christmas Page
Christmas Crafts
Unique Christmas Gifts for Kids
Gifts for Kids to Make
Home Page
History of the Advent Calendar
