Talk:Advent wreath
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The season of advent prepares us for the coming of Christ, by lighting the candles we recognize that Christ is the light of the world. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.66.241.155 (talk) 20:35, 15 November 2007 (UTC)
I rewrote this page for form, clarity, and to remove redundancies. I also removed the sentence “Increasingly, due to changes in the Roman Catholic Church's lectionary in the United States, all four candles may be violet.” as I could not find any support for the statement. Either pink or purple vestments were allowed for Gaudete Sunday before the Second Vatican Council, when the lectionary changes began. If anyone has a reference for that statement, please restore it. MacPhilbin (talk) 00:28, 17 December 2007 (UTC)
[edit] history
Here are two links (sorry in German) http://www.rauhes-haus.de/stiftung/geschichte/ and http://www.engelchen.de/advent/kranz.htm By the way if the history requires footnotes, than the symbolic part requires footnotes, too - Citius Altius Fortius (talk) 05:52, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
Needs footnotes! --Cajuntx (talk) 05:21, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
I have added the history of the advent wreath Citius Altius Fortius (talk) 20:43, 28 November 2007 (UTC)
The first violet candle is known as the “Prophets” candle and symbolizes the hope that Old Testament Jews had that a Messiah would one day come. The second violet candle is the “Bethlehem” candle and represents the peace that the new God/Man savior would bring, ending the long spiritual rift between God and mankind. The rose candle is the “angel’s” candle (or in some traditions, the “Mary” candle) it symbolizes the joy of Heaven that a Savior was finally to be born. The last violet candle is the “Shepherds’” candle and represents the love or adoration of those ready to accept the gift of the Christ child. The large white candle in the center, often lit on Christmas or Christmas Eve is the “Christ Candle” and represents Jesus as the “Light of the world,” or the Epiphany, God on Earth.
The wreath is meant to represent God's eternity. It is a circle, which has no beginning and no end. Pine is used because it is "evergreen," also representing eternal life. However, the wreath is also forshadowing of Christ's passion. Pine needles and/or holly leaves represent the crown of thorns and holly berries and/or pointsettia flowers represent the blood He shed on the cross.
[edit] candle colors
actually I think that advent candle colors range from blue-violet, not just for anglicans, but catholics, and protestants too. I believe it just depends on what you buy, or what's available.
- Yes and no. Blue is officially an alternate liturgical colour for Anglicans during Advent, deriving from the Sarum Rite. Officially, Roman Catholics use violet as a liturgical colour during Advent (except for the Third Sunday). This is less an issue for most Protestants. But in one's home, one can do whatever one wishes.Rockhopper10r 05:56, 25 November 2005 (UTC)
The article states: "Typically, three of the candles are violet-coloured, and one is rose-coloured. Increasingly, due to changes in the Church's lectionary in the United States, all four candles may be violet." What is the basis for this assertion? I thought the third candle was always pink/rose.
- Accoring to page 260 of the United Methodist Book of Worship, "Some traditions use the color rose on the Third Sunday of Advent and for this reason usee three purple candles and one rose candle. United Methodists, however, encourage purple for the whole season of Advent and therefore use four purple candles."
Community of Christ, headquartered in the US, it will very from congregation to congregation, however from the offical worship resources published each year "There is no universal tradition for the color and names of the four candles in the wreath. Three purple or blue candles can be used to symbolize the expectant hope of Advent and a rose candle to represent rejoicing that Christ is coming soon. A white candle is often used for the Christ candle in the center." On this note though, Community of Christ does differ from the 3rd Sunday always being the "rose" candle, as the themes for advent very from year to year. For example Advent 2005 Year B the order was: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love. This year, Advent 2006 Year C, the order is Peace, Hope, Love, Joy, and for Advent 2007 Year A, it will be Peace, Hope, Joy, Love. Thus Last year and next it will be the ninth sunday but this year it will be the forth Sunday for Community of Christ congregations and families that choose to use a different colour for Joy. Is the changing of themes unique to Community of Christ?
