By Shelly Fillmore

Chocolates, toys, puzzles, and book countdown calendars are just a few of the items that are used to countdown to Christmas Day in 2023. It seems like every time I’m in a store I see a new version that applies to a variety of different age groups. For me as a child, it was always a chocolate advent calendar. It arrived December 1st, and I looked forward to opening that little door every morning to see what chocolate I had inside. The chocolate snowmen, Santas, and reindeer got me excited as I started each day, and as I anticipated the coming of Christmas morning.

Now with my family, we set up nativity scenes, light candles, pray, and decorate wreaths inside and outside our home to signify the coming of Jesus. Of course, we still have a chocolate calendar, too. Every year we look forward to making our Advent wreath and placing it in the centre of our dinner table.

The Advent wreath is probably the most recognized Advent custom for Catholics. It is a wreath made of evergreen branches that are put together by a circle of wire. It symbolizes the years that we have waited for Jesus' second and final coming. 

The wreath holds four spaced candles. The three purple candles are lit on the penitential Sundays, and a pink one for the joyful third Sunday in Advent. The purple and pink candles are placed on the evergreen wreath, which symbolizes the eternity of God and everlasting life. The purple candles are lit on the first, second and fourth Sundays of Advent. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday, which is a time to be joyful and celebrate the approach of Christmas.

Sharing in prayer for Advent has become one of our favourite activities as a family each year. Every Sunday we start by making what I will call a feast: roasts, hams, and chicken dinners with all of the fixings, and as a family we stand around our table holding hands, while my husband lights each candle and leads us in prayer. Our candle stays lit as we enjoy our time together in the chatter ahead of another busy work week. My daughter especially enjoys blowing out each candle as she prepares for Jesus’ birthday.

Since Advent is a time to stir-up our faith in the Lord, the wreath and its prayers provide us a way to strengthen this special preparation for Christmas. Additionally, this tradition helps us to remain vigilant in our homes and not lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas.