Seen in Down Town in Charleston, SC
Seen at Boone Hall Plantation in Charleston, SCThe origins of the Advent wreath are found in the folk practices of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples who, during the cold December darkness of Eastern Europe, gathered wreaths of evergreen and lighted fires as signs of hope in a coming spring and renewed light.
Christians kept these popular traditions alive, and by the 16th century Catholics and Protestants throughout Germany used these symbols to celebrate their Advent hope in Christ, the everlasting Light.
From Germany the use of the Advent wreath spread to other parts of the Christian world. Traditionally, the wreath is made of four candles in a circle of evergreens with a fifth candle in the middle. Three candles are violet and the fourth is rose, but four white candles or four violet candles can also be used. Each day at home, the candles are lighted, perhaps before the evening meal-- one candle the first week, and then another each succeeding week until December 25th. A short prayer may accompany the lighting of each candle. The last candle is the middle candle. The lighting of this candle takes place on Christmas Eve.
It represents Jesus Christ being born.
Hi my friends,
Thank you so much for visiting my blog yesterday and for writing all your kind comments, they are very much appreciated.
These two photos are, as promised, the start of a series of Christmas themed postings until Christmas Day. Personally, we don't celebrate Christmas for certain reasons, but Dave and I still enjoy the colorful lights and decos in the streets and on houses.
I hope you'll enjoy too!
See you back again tomorrow?
Susanne
The CALENDARS 2010 are for sale - don't forget anybody to buy a last minute gift!
Christians kept these popular traditions alive, and by the 16th century Catholics and Protestants throughout Germany used these symbols to celebrate their Advent hope in Christ, the everlasting Light.
From Germany the use of the Advent wreath spread to other parts of the Christian world. Traditionally, the wreath is made of four candles in a circle of evergreens with a fifth candle in the middle. Three candles are violet and the fourth is rose, but four white candles or four violet candles can also be used. Each day at home, the candles are lighted, perhaps before the evening meal-- one candle the first week, and then another each succeeding week until December 25th. A short prayer may accompany the lighting of each candle. The last candle is the middle candle. The lighting of this candle takes place on Christmas Eve.
It represents Jesus Christ being born.
Hi my friends,
Thank you so much for visiting my blog yesterday and for writing all your kind comments, they are very much appreciated.
These two photos are, as promised, the start of a series of Christmas themed postings until Christmas Day. Personally, we don't celebrate Christmas for certain reasons, but Dave and I still enjoy the colorful lights and decos in the streets and on houses.
I hope you'll enjoy too!
See you back again tomorrow?
Susanne
The CALENDARS 2010 are for sale - don't forget anybody to buy a last minute gift!
