The Advent Wreath And Candles

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THE ADVENT WREATH AND CANDLES


The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839. A Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart. He placed twenty small red candles and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays and the four white candles were lit on Sundays. Eventually, the Advent wreath was created out of evergreens, symbolising everlasting life in the midst of winter and death. The most common Advent candle tradition involves four candles. A new candle is lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. Traditions vary but the four candles traditionally represent hope, faith, joy and peace.