On the Season of Advent

Happy New Year to you! Today, Advent Sunday, is the start of the new church year.

The Advent Wreath at Holy Trinity, lit for the First Sunday of Advent

Advent, as a Church season, used to be different in different parts of the world. Some countries had nine Sundays in Advent whilst others only had two or three. But in the 9th century, two things were agreed. First that Advent would last for four weeks beginning on the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew’s Day – that was yesterday, and secondly that Advent Sunday would be the first day of the new Church Year.

Advent is a period of time before Christmas to prepare ourselves – to get ready. That doesn’t mean buying presents and putting decorations up - rather it means preparing ourselves spiritually to welcome again Jesus into our lives. Often Advent is associated with penitence and making our confession in a similar way to Lent.

Now, what connects all these things? A large wagon wheel (not the chocolate but a wooden wheel), Blue Peter – the TV programme, a 16th century German family home, and our church today? Answer: The Advent Wreath. At church today, the first candle on the wreath was lit, showing that today is the first Sunday of Advent.

If we go back in time, there would have been at least 24 candles on the Advent wreath and instead of a decorated circle like ours, the candles were stuck onto a very large wooden wagon wheel. One was lit for each day from Advent Sunday to Christmas Eve. The idea came from a German pastor who introduced the Advent wreath not into churches but into peoples’ homes – or more likely farms, as the wagon wheels were very big. This was in the 16th century, by the way.

So how and when did it cross the Channel and become popular here? 1964 is the first recorded use of an Advent wreath in the UK – though with only five candles – not 24. And it was Blue Peter who introduced the Advent Wreath to this country! Yes – bent coat hangers, holly and candles led to nearly every church in the UK having an Advent wreath.

Back to ours then – what do the candles represent? Each one tells us something about the people who prepared for the coming of Christ. The candle we lit today, Advent one, is for the patriarchs - that’s people like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They weren’t Christian but they represent the foundations of our faith – that’s Judaism. Abraham is honoured by Jews as the Father of their Faith.

Next week’s candle stands for the prophets. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, Amos – there’s loads of them in the Bible all telling the Jewish people that the Messiah was coming. On week three, we meet John the Baptist - he’s seen as the last prophet. Tradition tells us that he was the cousin of Jesus and, of course, it was John who baptised Jesus in the River Jordan and prepared the people to receive him.

And then the fourth candle is for Mary. She needs no introduction. Mary is the Mother of Jesus and she’s had a very special and unique place in Christian history ever since.

So what about the last candle? This is lit on Christmas Day and of course, it’s for Christ himself. The wreath will be complete as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour. Christmas time in the church officially ends at Candlemas so the candles on the wreath will be lit again each Sunday until the end of January.

Now all that’s easy to understand – one candle for each week representing various people who prepared the world for Jesus. But there’s still one question unanswered - why have a pink candle on Advent three? Christmas Day moves through the days of the week, so Advent can be as short as four weeks or as long as five. Advent three – pink candle day, is symbolically the mid-point of Advent. It’s got nothing to do with John. Pink represents the mid-point of Advent, in exactly the same way that the mid-point of Lent – Mothering Sunday – is also pink. Traditionally these days allowed monks and nuns to break their fast, to eat meat, drink wine and have a party. So really pink stands for having fun! Interestingly the Latin name for the third Sunday of Advent is ‘Gaudete Sunday’ meaning ‘Rejoice’. I’m sure they did and still do in monasteries and convents today.

As you get ready for Christmas with all the cards and cakes, and presents and trees – the list goes on, don’t forget to find time for Jesus and prepare to celebrate his coming in just 25 day’s time!