Make an Advent “wreath” to bring home!

What is Advent? What are Advent wreaths?

Celebrating Advent is an excellent way to prepare your mind and heart for Christmas. Advent encompasses the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas. It is a time of preparation for our hearts and minds for the anniversary of Jesus’ birth. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, and one candle is lit each Sunday.

The first candle, which is purple, symbolizes hope. It is sometimes called the “Prophecy Candle” in remembrance of the prophets, especially Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. It represents the expectation felt in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

The second candle, also purple, represents faith. It is called the “Bethlehem Candle” as a reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

The third candle is pink and symbolizes joy. It is called the “Shepard’s Candle,” and is pink because rose is a liturgical color for joy. The third Sunday of Advent is meant to remind us of the joy that the world experienced at the birth of Jesus.

On the fourth week of Advent, we light the final purple candle, the “Angel’s Candle,” that symbolizes peace. It reminds us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward All.”

How to:

1. Take 4 jars with lids & take lids off

2. Put about a 1/4 scoop of rock salt into each jar

3. Place a tea light inside each jar

4. The top of each lid gets a sticker:

Week 1: Hope

Week 2: Peace

Week 3: Joy

Week 4: Love

5. The bottom of each lid gets a sticker that matches the focus of the week

Week 1  (Love): Romans 15:13

Week 2  (Peace): Luke 2:14

Week 3 (Joy): Luke 2:10-11

Week 4 (Love): John 3:16

6. Close the lids and take your travel advent “wreath” home!