Of wreaths and poinsettias
Less than two weeks to go before Christmas Day and you're probably immersed in work, which normally piles up during this time of the year. Well, in the next couple of weeks there will be more things to do, including preparations for get-togethers, gift-giving, out-of-town trips (if these are among your holiday traditions) etc.
Don't let the season pass by like a typhoon, leaving you reeling and exhausted without even taking a minute or two to ponder what it's all about. Hopefully, this post will help you weave in the significance of Christmas into your days as you go about business as usual throughout the rest of the month. I plan to post a couple more Christmas-related tidbits in the next week to keep up with the season.
Though we're on the third week of Advent already (the Advent season this year started Nov. 27), it's not too late to try to know more about it. We have our own advent wreath at home but to me it's been acquiring more than mere decor status as I learned more about the significance of the season.
The word Advent is from the Latin adventus for "coming" and is associated with the four weeks of preparation for Christmas. Advent always contains four Sundays, beginning on the Sunday nearest the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, (November 30) and continuing until December 24. It blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the Bethlehem event.
The traditional color of Advent is purple or violet which symbolizes the penitential spirit.
Customarily the Advent Wreath is constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which are inserted four candles. According to tradition, three of the candles are violet and the fourth is rose. However, four violet or white candles may also be used.
The rose candle is lit the third Sunday of Advent, for this color anticipates and symbolizes joy.
And here's a tidbit on the poinsettia...
Poinsettias are associated with Christmas as the lily is with Easter. In Mexico it blooms at Christmas time and is called the "Flower of the Holy Night." Its name is from the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Poinsett.
posted by sunnyday at 3:57 PM
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