Advent 2010 #4

For the four Sunday's before Christmas at church we light one more candle on the Advent wreath. Then on Christmas Day the fifth candle is lit. I think we may do this Christmas Eve. A different family in the church reads the scripture and lights the candles each week. The full story may come later but  here is the picture of Sunday's third candle:

Advent Wreath - Week Three

I forgot to mention in an earlier post on our family traditions that the third major activity we did with the girls during Advent was to light the candles on the Advent wreath at home each night. This was the favored activity and the rotation was strictly adhered to, at least once all three girls were old enough to do it. Since the tradition faded as the older girls were not around as much, MCP probably had fewer opportunities to light the candles. (Warning: This probably means that she is the one who is most interested in playing with fire.)

Cheap Advent Wreath Story?

There are lots of sites that tell the story and symbolism of the advent wreath. My search started with the realization that I had lots of options if I wanted to purchase the story of advent.

I started to post a list of the more interesting web sites that give the story. But since each story has a little different focus and the symbolism behind each element of the advent wreath varies I will spare you all the variations on the theme. Here is the quick summary. Multiple sites identify the meaning of the candles and the traditional colors:
Week 1: Prophet's Candle (Purple)
Week 2: Bethlehem Candle (Purple)
Week 3: Shepherds Candle (Pink or Rose)
Week 4: Angels Candle (Purple)
Christmas Day: Christ Candle (White)

Catholic Advent wreaths have 4 candles in stead of the 5 we use at our church. On Christmas day they switch out all four candles for white ones. I imagine some Scottish Presbyterian probably determined that it would be much more frugal to 5 candles rather than 8. Undoubtedly this is the cause for some serious seasonal debate somewhere in the world. Maybe not. I just like the fact that each day and each week I am reminded about why we celebrate. And a good discussion of the variations on the theme probably would point out a whole lot more reasons to rejoice.