Advent...

[Solars Toy]

Do you participate in Advent?  Maybe you have an Advent calendar you pull out or purchase every year.  Do you light candles - 3 purple, 1 pink, and maybe a white one. 

My sisters and I have committed to completing a Advent bible study together. (We do our bible studies over the phone once a week.)  And my older sister (actually they are all older than me. ) sent me the Daily Guideposts 25 Devotions for Advent.

As I start this season focusing on the true meaning of Christmas I wonder if anyone else here has Christian traditions they observe.

Toy

[supsalemgr]

The main thing I do is reminding myself what Christmas is all about.

[Solars Toy]

I have to admit living on the mountain has really changed my perspective.  This last year my sisters and I have been doing a lot of reconnecting over bible studies.  This has also helped refocus my faith and reminded me to do more than just give "lip service" to the true meaning of Christmas.

Toy

[Solars Toy]

A little history lesson.... As I move forward trying to learn more.  Toy



The term advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means "coming." In the early Middle Ages, this term came to apply to a period of preparation for Christ's birth, his "coming" into the world, on Christmas Day.

The origin of the advent calendar can be traced back to the 19th century, when religious families would draw a chalk line every day in December up until Christmas Eve. The first known advent calendar made by hand was in 1851.

The first printed Advent calendar was created in 1908 by a German named Gerhard Lang. As a boy, his mom would sew twenty-four cookies onto the lid of a box. Each day of December, he ate a cookie. This tradition inspired him to create a calendar entitled, "In the Land of the Christ Child." Today, Advent calendars are a popular tool for families to count down the days until Christmas.


https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/advent-wreath-candles-understanding-the-meaning-history-tradition.html

[Possum]

A little history lesson.... As I move forward trying to learn more.  Toy



The term advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means "coming." In the early Middle Ages, this term came to apply to a period of preparation for Christ's birth, his "coming" into the world, on Christmas Day.

The origin of the advent calendar can be traced back to the 19th century, when religious families would draw a chalk line every day in December up until Christmas Eve. The first known advent calendar made by hand was in 1851.

The first printed Advent calendar was created in 1908 by a German named Gerhard Lang. As a boy, his mom would sew twenty-four cookies onto the lid of a box. Each day of December, he ate a cookie. This tradition inspired him to create a calendar entitled, "In the Land of the Christ Child." Today, Advent calendars are a popular tool for families to count down the days until Christmas.


https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/advent-wreath-candles-understanding-the-meaning-history-tradition.html

Brings back good memories.

[Solars Toy]

Next lesson....

The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839. A Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart. He placed twenty small red candles and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays and the four white candles were lit on Sundays.
Eventually, the Advent wreath was created out of evergreens, symbolizing everlasting life in the midst of winter and death as the evergreen is continuously green. The circle reminds us of God's unending love and the eternal life He makes possible.



A new candle is lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. Each candle represents something different, although traditions vary. Often, the first, second, and fourth candles are purple; the third candle is rose-colored. Sometimes all the candles are red; in other traditions, all four candles are blue or white. Occasionally, a fifth white candle is placed in the middle of the wreath and is lit on Christmas Day to celebrate Jesus' birth

•   The first candle symbolizes hope and is called the "Prophet's Candle." The prophets of the Old Testament, especially Isaiah, waited in hope for the Messiah's arrival.

•   The second candle represents faith and is called "Bethlehem's Candle." Micah had foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, which is also the birthplace of King David.

•   The third candle symbolizes joy and is called the "Shepherd's Candle." To the shepherd's great joy, the angels announced that Jesus came for humble, unimportant people like them, too. In liturgy, the color rose signifies joy.

•   The fourth candle represents peace and is called the "Angel's Candle." The angels announced that Jesus came to bring peace--He came to bring people close to God and to each other again.

•   The (optional) fifth candle represents light and purity and is called "Christ's candle." It is placed in the middle and is lit on Christmas Day.

https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/advent-wreath-candles-understanding-the-meaning-history-tradition.html

[T Hunt]

Do you participate in Advent?  Maybe you have an Advent calendar you pull out or purchase every year.  Do you light candles - 3 purple, 1 pink, and maybe a white one. 

My sisters and I have committed to completing a Advent bible study together. (We do our bible studies over the phone once a week.)  And my older sister (actually they are all older than me. ) sent me the Daily Guideposts 25 Devotions for Advent.

As I start this season focusing on the true meaning of Christmas I wonder if anyone else here has Christian traditions they observe.

Toy

Thats really cool. My church has the candles up front for advent and light one each sunday leading up to xmas. I love these traditions.