Advent calenda r& Advent wreath

The origins of the Advent calendar come from German Lutherans who, at least as early as the beginning of the 19th century, would count down the first 24 days of December physically. Often this meant simply drawing a chalk line on the door each day, beginning on December 1. Some families had more elaborate means of marking the days, such as lighting a new candle (perhaps the genesis of today's Advent wreath) or hanging a little religious picture on the wall each day.
The 24 candles might also be placed on a structure, which was known as an "Advent clock". In December 1839, the first verifiable public Advent wreath was hung in the prayer hall of the Rauhes Haus (relief house) in Hamburg, although it had been a family practice in parts of German-speaking Europe since the 17th century.
The first known Advent calendar was handmade in 1851. According to the Lower Austrian (NÖ) Landesmuseum, the first printed Advent calendar was produced in Hamburg in 1902 or 1903. Other authorities state that a Swabian parishioner, Gerhard Lang, was responsible for the first printed calendar, in 1908.
Lang was certainly the progenitor of today's calendar. He was a printer in the firm Reichhold & Lang of Munich who, in 1908, made 24 little colored pictures that could be affixed to a piece of cardboard. Several years later, he introduced a calendar with 24 little doors. He created and marketed at least 30 designs before his firm went out of business in the 1930s. In this same time period, Sankt Johannis Printing Company started producing religious Advent calendars, with Bible verses instead of pictures behind the doors.
The practice disappeared during World War II, apparently to save paper. After the war, Richard Sellmer of Stuttgart resurrected the commercial Advent calendar and is responsible for its widespread popularity. His company, Richard Sellmer Verlag, today maintains a stock of over 1,000,000 calendars worldwide. Other companies such as Cadbury's who specialise in the making of calendars have similar stocks, if not higher.

The Advent wreath, or Advent crown, is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church. It is usually a horizontal evergreen wreath with four candles. Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, the lighting of a candle can be accompanied by a Bible reading and prayers. An additional candle is lit during each subsequent week until, by the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit. Some Advent wreaths include a fifth, "Christ" candle which can be lit at Christmas. The custom is observed both in family settings and at public church services.

The Meaning of Advent

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
“Advent” simply means coming as in Christ is coming, and for us now He has arrived. This is referring to His birth in history and in humanity. It meant the welcoming or the arrival of a special king and for us; it is our King of kings. This is what the Old Testament prophecies foretold concerning Jesus’ Incarnation, the Word made flesh for our hope and Atonement that brought us our deliverance. Advent represents our expectation, anticipation, and preparation for who Christ is and what He has done for us. He arrived into the world as a human being, being fully God and fully man. He came to identify as one of us, as the Son of Man, as a baby born in a manger. He came for us, He came for you and He comes into our lives and into our hearts. He is coming again in great power and glory to bring His Kingdom into fruition.

The Advent Wreath

And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him." May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 15:12-13).
Traditionally, during the Christmas season we have an “Advent Wreath” in our Churches, and this is remarkably celebrated in all Denominations, including Orthodox, Catholic, liturgical, Mainline and Evangelical. The Advent Wreath is a venerable tradition that cuts across denominational and theological boundaries. It dates to the beginning of the 19th century in Europe. This Advent Wreath is arranged with 4 or 5 Advent candles, 3 or 4 of which are in a circle, along with one in the center, all on a base of evergreens each has a powerful message for us about our Lord. This has prevailing imagery we should not take for granted or consider just another holiday decoration.
The Wreath: The wreath itself means “victory” as Christ’s victory over sin so He can save us. The Advent Wreath has 4 or 5 candles that are arranged in a circle symbolizing Christ’s eternity, as a circle has no beginning and has no end, it is a symbol for God, Who is eternal and thus without beginning or end. The evergreens mean He is “ever with us,” they are usually pine branches or holly that are used as a base that represents anticipation, newness, renewal and His everlastingness. The red berries of the holly represent the shedding of Christ’s blood.
The Candles: The Advent candles mean the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His Son. This refers to the significance that Christ is the Light of the world. When they are lit, the illumination is to symbolize the Christ of eternity and His coming as the “Light of the World” and our worship and honor of His most precious gift of His Grace and mercy. These candles also have a color theme too, purple, blue, pink or rose and while. The first two or three are purple meaning royalty and this is also the color of suffering and the darkness of sin, connecting Jesus’ birth and crucifixion and His triumph over sin. Blue means sky and life, pink means joy, and white means purity.
Each candle has a special meaning:

• The first candle (purple) “CANDLE OF HOPE" means His promise and hope. We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises He made to us. Our hope comes from God. (Romans 15:12-13)
• The second candle (purple) "CANDLE OF PREPARATION" means His light and preparation. Preparation means to 'get ready'. "Help us to be ready to welcome YOU, O GOD!" (Luke 3:4-6) (Some traditions combine the first two)
• The third candle (pink or rose) "CANDLE OF JOY" means the angels sang a message of JOY! (Luke 2:7-15)
• The fourth candle (purple or blue) "CANDLE OF LOVE" symbolizes Christ love. God sent His only Son to earth to save us, because He loves us! (John 3:16-17) (some traditions omit this one)
• The fifth candle (white) "CHRIST CANDLE" symbolizes the incarnation, the heart and reason of the season, God giving light to the world. Its location is in the center as Christ’s light is central and radiant. This reminds us that Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God, sent to wash away our sins! (in wreaths that have 4 candles, it is in the circle among the rest of the candles

Each candle is lighted during the worship services each week in progression until Christmas Eve or Christmas Day when the last candle is lit. (some denominations and traditions have different color schemes and some only four candles) Each week the new unlit candle for that week is lighted, and then the previous candles are re-lighted. A family is sent up to do the lighting as a passage is read, a carol sang and or a prayer said. The four weeks are a period of waiting also signifying the four centuries of waiting between the last prophet Malachi and the birth of Jesus. All five candles should continue to be lighted in worship services through Epiphany on January 6 (epiphany means "to show," is the climax of the Christmas Season and the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” It is observed to denote the coming of the wise men bringing gifts and their worship to Christ).

Advent Verses

The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD-- (Isaiah 11)
Typical Liturgical Lectionary Verses (Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Episcopal and many Evangelical Churches too):

• Week 1: Isaiah 11:1-10 and/or Isaiah 7:10-14; 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-5 and/or Jeremiah 33:14-16
• Week 2: Psalm 25:1-10 and/or Psalm 27:1-7,18-19 and/or Micah 5:2 and/or Matthew 2:1-12
• Week 3: I Thessalonians 3:9-13 and/or Romans 15:4-13 and/or Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38
• Week 4: Matthew 3:1-12 and/or Luke 21:25-36 and/or Luke 2:8-20;

Also: The Annunciations of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-25) and Mary’s visit to Elizabeth (Luke1:39-56) can be read every Advent Sunday and then the following passages just prior to the Advent wreath lighting ceremony:

• First Advent Sunday: Annunciation to Zachariah: Luke 1:5-25.
• Second Sunday of Advent: Annunciation to Mary: Luke 1:26-38.
• Third Sunday of Advent: Mary’s visit to Elizabeth; The Birth of John the Baptist: Luke 1:39-66.
• Fourth Sunday of Advent: Zachariah’s prophecy: Luke 1:67-80.

Christmas Day: The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 2:1-20. Typical Evangelical Verses:

• "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2)

Additional Scripture verses to be personally read during Advent: FOUR WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
SUNDAY: Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2 MONDAY: Matthew 1:18-24 and Luke 1:26-33 TUESDAY: Luke 2:1-5 WEDNESDAY: Luke 2:6-7 THURSDAY: Luke 2:8-9 FRIDAY: Luke 2:10-12 SATURDAY: Luke 2:13-14
THREE WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
SUNDAY: Luke 2:15-16 MONDAY: Luke 2:17-18 TUESDAY: Luke 2:19 WEDNESDAY: Luke 2:20 THURSDAY: Luke 2:21 FRIDAY: Matthew 2:1-2 SATURDAY: Matthew 2:3-6
TWO WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
SUNDAY: Matthew 2:7-8 MONDAY: Matthew 2:9 TUESDAY: Matthew 2:10-11 WEDNESDAY: Matthew 2:12-15 THURSDAY: Galatians 4:4-5 FRIDAY: Ephesians 2:8-9 SATURDAY: 1 John 4:7-16
ONE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS (You may or may not have a full week before Christmas Day.)
SUNDAY: Ephesians 2:12-22 MONDAY: John 7:37-38, and 14:6 TUESDAY: Matthew 28:19-20 WEDNESDAY: John 8:12 THURSDAY: John 9:4-5 and Matthew 5:14-16 FRIDAY: Psalm 98:1-6 SATURDAY: John 1:1-3, 14 and Romans 6:23
CHRISTMAS DAY
Psalm 100, Revelation 3:20-21
His birth was for his death; his death was for our birth! (John 1:29 and John 3:1-8)"
"To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. Show me your paths and teach me to follow; guide me by your truth and instruct me." (Psalm 25)