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Advent is the church season before Christmas. It starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. The wreath, which is made to lay on a table or to hang from the ceiling, is used as a symbolic means of counting the time until Christmas. In former times this was a time of reflection and preparation ( a 'Little Lent') for the Christmas Season (the Twelve Days of Christmas), so the penitential colors of purple and deep pink are used in its decoration. It holds four candles - one is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, two are lit on the second Sunday and so on until all are lit the Sunday before Christmas. (Sometimes you find that you have to replace a candle or two because they've become too short!) It's especially nice to use with children since it gives a visual way of counting the weeks to that anticipated event.
Materials Needed
10" vinyl saucer
1 block of oasis
bulldog tape or other water proof tape
4 candle holders with spikes on end
4 16" candles - all purple, or three purple and one pink (pink one is lit 3rd Sunday of Advent)
Greens to cut into 4 or 5 inch lengths
appropriate herbs
small bunch pink heather
optional - 1 18 in. white candle (Christ candle) to be used from Christmas to Epiphany.
Make base for wreath by cutting the oasis block in half lengthwise. Place each piece on its side and carve a half circle. Cut out center (making about a 3 to 4 inch circle). Put oasis in a vinyl saucer and secure by using tape around saucer and oasis. Put the candle holders in oasis directly across from each other. Fill the vinyl dish with water and allow the water to soak into the oasis. When no more water can be absorbed by the oasis, insert your greens starting on the outside rim. Insert greens on the inside to cover the oasis. Insert herbs and heather in center covering around the candle holders, place candles in holders. Light 1st candle on 1st Advent Sunday, 2 on the next Sunday, and so on, until Christmas.
ADVENT WREATHS
Christians awake, salute the happy morn,
Whereon the Saviour of the world was born.
- John Byron 1692-1763
Cut out a Christmas tree from green construction paper. Use a paper hole punch to punch out dots from various colors of construction paper. Glue the dots to the tree for decoration and add sequins or glitter and a star at the top.
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