The Advent Wreath
I was asked today the significance of the Advent wreath. So, with Advent only a few days away, here is
my response.
Of recent years, Advent wreaths have taken on many forms
both religious and secular. It interests
me that at least the greenery and the circular wreath remain a Christmas
ornament without Christian significance.
It has become part of our secular culture.
Origin
The origin of the Advent wreath lies in Germanic pagan
culture when, in the dark of winter, lights were lit and the circlet of
evergreen leaves symbolised the return of new life.
The Christian Advent wreath was developed in Medieval
Europe, originally in Germanic cultures.
This pagan symbol helped Christians express the meaning of this
liturgical season. Like so many things,
it was how Christianity became embedded in a culture. By using existing symbols, people were able
to express their Christian faith in intelligible ways for that time and place.
As a small excursus:
Pope Francis, in his journeys in Asia has encouraged people to express
the Gospel in terms of their own culture, not European culture.
Greenery
In the Northern Hemisphere, winter with its darker days, cold
weather and deciduous trees, Earth seemed to sleep or even die. The evergreen trees held on. They were life. I remember, when I lived in Florence, Italy
seeing green Christmas trees in an overcast grey piazza at twilight. The green shone with light and life and the
smell of the trees lifted the spirits.
So, the evergreen symbolises life, hope, survival and
renewal.
The circle
The circular wreath reminds us of the eternal Trinity
without beginning or end. This Triune
dance which holds all creation in being.
It also symbolises our destiny – eternal life in the Life of the
Trinity.
As with the evergreen, we are prompted to live in hope. In the words of the liturgy, ‘as we wait in
joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ’
The candles
There are four candles – three purple and one rose in colour. These are the liturgical colours of Advent.
Purple is the colour of penitence. We use it in Lent. We use it in Advent. The penitential aspect of Advent is joyous
and hope-filled. It’s a bit like spring
cleaning and for us in the Southern Hemisphere this may be a useful
analogy. We make space for Jesus.
The Scripture readings in the liturgy emphasise God longing
for us, our longing for God, clearing the pathway for the Holy One, making
space in our lives for God to fill us.
It is about embracing the Reign of God here and now and to come at the
end, whether our personal end or the final Parousia when Christ will be ‘all in
all’.
So, the purple of penance is to keep the spring cleaning
going, not as an end in itself but for space for God. And to continue the analogy, this includes
material things (caring for those people in need) as well as attitudes (both
psychological and spiritual) which do not reflect the Gospel.
The Church wears purple for three Sundays of Advent – first,
second and fourth.
However, the liturgy is wise and knows we need a breather so
the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete Sunday, taken from the first word of the
Entrance Antiphon, Gaudete – Rejoice! We
are given a breather, a time to rest, refocus and rejoice. So, the liturgy wears rose (or pink).
Lighting the candles
On the first Sunday of Advent, the wreath is blessed and the
first candle is lit and accompanied by prayer.
The second Sunday, the first and second candles are lit; the third
Sunday, the first, second and third (Gaudete) candles are lit until we come to
the fourth Sunday when all four are lit.
Some wreaths have a white candle in the middle which
symbolises the Christ child. This candle
is lit with the other four on Christmas eve.
Conclusion
The Advent wreath and the ritual lighting of the candles
helps us focus on and live the great story of Advent, the coming of our God in
human flesh and blood and this same God will welcome us at our ending and all
creation’s ending in this present form. St
John writes ‘Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has
not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like
him, for we shall see him as he is.’1 John 3:2)
So, Advent is a time of joyful, expectant penance (house
cleaning) as we wait in hope and we know that our hope is never, ever in vain.
For other pieces about Advent see:
