by Emma Copleston-Trent - Healthy Shelf Partner
For me Advent means a special treat in the form of a chocolate a day to count down to Christmas. But recently I started to wonder how this fun tradition began, what did it actually represent? So I decided to do a little digging...
The tradition of Advent celebrations date back to the 4th century, when some Christian churches began a ritual of fasting for a period of time to prepare for the big feast they held for what later became known as Christmas Day. In the beginning each branch of the church had its’ own interpretation of how long this fasting and preparation was to last. But over time those that followed Western Christianity came to accept that Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which is the Sunday that falls from November 27 to December 3 inclusive, and ends on the 24th of December. In Eastern Orthodox churches Advent begins on the 15th of November and runs for 40 days.
Originally Advent was a preparation for Epiphany and not in anticipation of Christmas. Epiphany celebrates the manifestation of Christ by remembering the visit of the wise men and, in some traditions, the Baptism of Jesus.
Later, in the 6th century, St. Gregory the Great was the first to associate this season of Advent with the coming of Christ. Originally it was not the coming of the Christ-child that was anticipated, but rather the Second Coming of Christ.
By the Middle Ages the church had extended the celebration of Advent to include the coming of Christ through his birth in Bethlehem, his future coming at the end of time and his presence among us through the promised Holy Spirit. Many modern-day Advent services include symbolic customs related to all three of these "advents" of Christ.
There are many different customs and symbols related to Advent, but some of the best known are Advent Calenders, Advent Candles, Advent Wreaths and Advent Colours.
Advent Colours
The colours of Advent are purple, pink and white. Purple has traditionally been the primary colour of Advent, symbolizing repentance and fasting. Purple is also the colour of royalty, demonstrating the anticipation and reception of the coming King celebrated during Advent. Today, however, many churches have begun to use blue instead of purple, as a means of distinguishing Advent from Lent.
Pink (or rose) represents joy and reveals a shift in the season away from repentance and toward celebration.
White represents purity; Christ as the sinless, spotless, pure Saviour. It also represents the belief that those who receive Christ as Saviour are washed of their sins and made whiter than snow.
Advent Wreath
An Advent Wreath is a circular garland of evergreen branches representing eternity. Set on the branches of the wreath are four candles: three purple candles and one pink candle. In the centre of the wreath sits a white candle. As a whole, these candles represent the coming of the light of Christ into the world. During the season of Advent one candle on the wreath is lit each Sunday as a part of the Advent services.
On the first Sunday of Advent the first purple candle is lit. This candle is typically called the "Prophecy Candle" in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. This candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah. Each week on Sunday, an additional candle is lit.
On the second Sunday of Advent the second purple candle is lit. This candle typically represents love. Some traditions call this the "Bethlehem Candle," symbolizing Christ's manger. On the third Sunday of Advent the pink, or rose-colored, candle is lit. This pink candle is customarily called the "Shepherds Candle" and it represents joy. The fourth and last purple candle, oftentimes called the "Angels Candle," represents peace and is lit on the fourth Sunday of Advent. On Christmas Eve, the white centre candle is traditionally lit. This candle is called the "Christ Candle" and represents the life of Christ that has come into the world.
Advent Candle
Believed to have originated in Germany, an Advent Candle is a candle marked with the days of December up to Christmas Eve. It is typically used in a household rather than a church setting. Each day in December the candle is burnt down a little more, to the mark for the day, to show the passing of the days leading up to Christmas. It does not strictly mark the days of Advent, but rather the calendar date. Some households will make a Christmas decoration out of sprigs of evergreen and Christmas ornaments, with the candle at its centre; others will simply put it in a candlestick. It is usually burned at the family evening meal each day.
Advent Calender
An Advent Calendar is a special calendar which is used to count or celebrate the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas. Some calendars are strictly religious, whereas others are secular. Despite the name, most commercially available Advent Calendars begin on December 1.
Today, many Advent Calendars take the form of a large rectangular card with "windows" of which there are often 24; one for each day of December leading up to Christmas Day. One is opened every day during Advent. In many of these calendars each window opens to reveal an image, a poem or a yummy piece of chocolate.
The first known Advent Calendar was handmade in 1851 and the first printed Advent Calendar was produced circa 1902. Gerhard Lang was certainly the progenitor of today's calendar. He was a printer in the firm Reichhold & Lang of Munich who, in 1908, made 24 little coloured pictures that could be affixed to a piece of cardboard. Several years later he introduced a calendar with 24 little doors. He created and marketed at least 30 designs before his firm went out of business in the 1930s.
The use of Advent Calendars disappeared during World War II, apparently to save paper. After the war, Richard Sellmer of Stuttgart resurrected the commercial Advent Calendar and is considered responsible for its widespread popularity today.
References
Advent Wreath image © Mary Fairchild
Advent Candle image © Joel Bez
