If you are new to the practice of marking the season of Advent, here are a few things to know. Advent is a season of preparation: the four Sundays preceding Christmas Day, so this year we’ll begin on November 28. The traditional wreath consists of greenery in a circle with four candles, three purple, one rose (pink), and one white candle for Christmas Day placed in the center of the wreath. The candles symbolize the light of Christ coming into the world. The evergreens symbolize renewal, and the circular shape represents the completeness of God.
If this sounds complicated, it doesn’t have to be! Even if you don’t have any evergreens (real or artificial), you can just place four candles in a circle with one in the center… the minimal version will still do the job! Children love taking turns lighting the candles and helping with a reading each week. Light an additional candle each successive Sunday, sing an Advent hymn, read a Bible passage on the coming of Christ, and pray together. The two most important elements from a kids’ eye view: fire (candles) and a Bible! The main thing is to take time together to think about the coming of Christ with joy!