Advent Wreath Ideas

December is my favorite time of the year. I enjoy decorating the house and make cookies… As a child, I have never had an Advent wreath at home. However, my sweet Austrian aunt did have one; she was traditional and as a good catholic Austrian, she had her Advent Wreath specially made for her.

It was made of wood, and it was round to represent her infinite love for God. My aunt also brought other Christmas traditions to me, like to make cookies in this special time (which we made together every year) and of course the tradition of the Advent wreath. Since I am in Austria, I also continue my aunt’s tradition. Every year when I turn my Advent wreath, I think about her, and how much I wish she were here with me, to turn it together as we used to do it.

To get more Christmas inspiration this year I decide to look for some inspiration for the next decoration, you see in Venezuela we are so excited about Christmas, that we make the decorations already in November, although we are in Austria, I can’t wait for it the middle of December; consequently, I am going to start with my decorations this weekend, and bring the Christmas spirit a bit early this year!

But actually the origin of the advent wreath is not entirely Christian; there is evidence of pre-Christian Germanic people using wreaths with candles during the cold and dark December days as a sign of hope for the coming warm days of spring. Other sources might think it was established in Germany as a Christian custom only in the 16th century. But today is a Christian tradition and symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western church.

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