ADVENT - AND THE ADVENT WREATH - THE HISTORY BEHIND IT

NOVEMBER 29:

What do you know about ADVENT and the traditional ADVENT WREATH used in Denmark and Germany ?  

As most people know Advent in the Western Christian church is the period from the 4th Sunday before the birth of Jesus. You talk about the 1st, the 2nd, the 3rd and the 4th Sunday of Advent. The word advent comes from Latin:  Adventum, which means Coming.  The coming of Jesus. The first Sunday in Advent is also the start of the new church year.

The traditional colour of Advent is purple. It is a symbol of fast, which in a way is also part of the Advent period. This colour is also the royal colour. Perhaps originally with reference to the arrival of the king Jesus.

In the Orthodox church you do not celebrate Advent in the same way. You talk instead about Nativity Fast, fast before the arrival of Jesus. It starts some days before Advent. And it is not the start of the church year.

The so-called Advent Wreath ( see photo ) started in Germany in the 19th century and came to Denmark after World War II.   It is normally made of branches of pine ( grangrene ) and has 4 candles - one for each Sunday in advent.  On the first Sunday you light 1 of the candles . On the second Sunday you light 2 candles, etc.

Photo:  A Danish ADVENT WREATH:



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