Advent Wreath or calander
Now this one Christmas tradition or pre tradition that people wouldn't try to throw back to the pagans - they did - but not much was found or documated on real facts. The association was made with - Pagan Fire Wheel. But there was very little or nothing to explain a purpose of a Fire wheel.
Everything I found was associated to a circle = eternity - circle of life =Birth, Life, Decline and Death - Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. I find those things everywhere not exclusive to one certian religion.
Then came a thought to my mind. Like yesterdays Yule Log was attributed to a pagan sun god - could it be as simple as a communication ( or lack of communication ) error? If you have 100 diferent people describing something you'll get 100 diferent answers. Things that people knew about 100 years ago were different than what we know about today.
Could the pagans have been describing a Sun God and ment the same thing we might call the Son of God? Ideas as well as people ,etc. will evolve over a period of time. Could we be celebrating the same things?
Anyhow .......
The Advent Wreath
This tradition comes from Germany and the Lutheran faith. It consists of a wreath with 3 purple candles and one pink one. It symbalizes the anticipation - the commining of our Lord. It is a great way to help children to count down the weeks to Christmas.
The first week - November 27th - this year the first purple candle is lit - durring an evening meal - symbolizing HOPE.
Dec. 4th. The second week - light the second purple candle as well as the first for LOVE.
Dec. 11th. The third week add the pink candle for JOY.
Dec. 18th. The fourth week all the candles are lit and the thought is PEACE.
Dec. 25th . Christmas is here - many people place a larger white candle in the center on this day - to be lit each meal untill the New Year
