Advent 2013

It is hard to believe that we are halfway through Advent 2013!  I have "written" many blogposts in my head, but regretfully have not gotten them down on "paper" to share with you in the past few months.

We've begun to decorate our tree!  Rachel is much more interested this year
and enjoyed trying to fit as many ornaments on one branch as she could!

As we did last year, we wanted to share with you some of our family traditions.  One distinct part of my Advent experience every year up until we moved to Malawi was that of helping out with my family’s Christmas tree business.   Ever since I was in middle school, I helped make wreaths and decorate them for customers.   

The Advent wreath was always one of my favorites as it helps us walk through Advent, remembering why and how Jesus came to earth to live among us, teach us and eventually give His life for us to be forgiven for our disobedience towards God and live forever with Him!  I delight both in the symbolism behind our traditional Christmas decorations as well as finding new ways to symbolize the reason for our joy at Christmas!

 

Advent Wreath
Week 1 of Advent

 For the first week of Advent, I made a wreath from the same materials I found last year with an addition of the oranges (keep reading in week 2, I’ll tell you about it).  For the symbolism of the wreath, seed pods and red leaves, revisit last year's post here.  The first week's candle represents Hope.  As we wait throughout Advent, there is an expectancy to our preparation - a hope of the good news we receive through Jesus, beginning at His birth!

I really enjoy using the seed pods we find around here!  Although
evergreen cones can be found, these are much more plentiful!

My wreath making station this year.  Instead of the bamboo
wreath ring from last year, I made one of metal so I can reuse it.
I also added wire to hold up the candles.

As week 2 of Advent rolled around, however, the greens in my wreath were not so green anymore, browning a week ahead of last year's pattern.  So, I set out to find some other green options with which to make a wreath.  Here's what I came up with!

A close up for my Dad so you can really see the leaves :)

This week's candle represents Love.  This week we look at the oranges on our wreath!  One of my Malawian friends here told me that a lot of Malawian churches will use oranges to hold the candles on their Advent wreaths.  Why?  The orange is round, representing the world Jesus was born into and the candle is the Light he brought to that world.  The light of truth!  Jesus is the Light of the world!  And that is who we celebrate at Christmas!  

As I said, I enjoy new symbols to use in our Christmas decorations.  This year we added the orange!  I remember receiving an orange each Christmas at church as a child, but never quite knew why.  Perhaps this was part of the meaning behind that gift.