Advent Wreath Explained - for the children
Blessed Childhood, especially at Christmastime, included Advent Wreaths and Calendars. Happily Married with children later, it was easy to carry on such glowing customs and fill the house with all the good things in preparation for the Winter Holiday !
The Advent Wreath is perfect for homes with young children, and if candles are a safety issue, you can get non-flaming ones, but I simply stay alert - they are lit, honored and then extinguished, always with adults present. And soon the children are old enough and can even help light them - adding the appreciation of the children's growth to the event - it is all symbols!
Advent, itself is a commemoration of the ages and ages that mankind was urged to wait in darkness, and worked hard finding bits of the light to prepare for the Coming of the Messaiah - at Christmas, through our sharing of Him in Communion , to the Parousia, or Second Coming , yet to be !
The Advent Wreath as we know it today was the creation of a Priest in 1839, to help deal with wiggly little ones, enthusiastic for the coming of Christmas.
At our home for over 40 years now, this wonderful permanent brass wreath is brought out and shined, and sometimes we add some evergreen boughs around it. Our home in those years was a true Holly House, surrounded by the shrubs - since we'd begun our married life with a Christmas Wedding - and this one has bells for berries, and one of the leaves snuffs the candles afterward. It supports the Four candles lit at the four Sundays of Advent, in certain order and at every suppertime with prayer.
The Stag at the center holds the CHRISTMAS CANDLE, and both are symbols of the Christ. The Candle is always large enough to be lit each day thru the Christmas holidays until the Epiphany on January 6th. It is always white and the wick always "virgin" - never lit before Christmas. The Stag is also a Jesus symbol, especially among Irish since the stag will route the Irish archenemy, snakes - along with the Irish icon, Saint Patrick; "the Deers's Cry" his famous Lorica, calls to the symbol of the Christ - the stag.
The Irish French and Polish American culture is ours and so we chose the style to suit it. So think and have fun choosing ones that symbolize YOUR family's way.
Next, after some prayer for guidance for a moment, look online for a nice presentation of Advent Wreath Prayers and Liturgy. This one is from Loyala Press
Gather your family at some regular time - before , during or after the evening meal, and at the first week of Advent, light only one of the purple candles....second week two purple candles, third week is Gaudete Sunday and so the two purple candles are now joined by lighting the pink or rose one...then finally at the Fourth Week of Advent all four candles - three purple and one rose are lit, and each evening the candles and prayer are offered to prepare for Christmas. JUBILANT - the four candles are now taken away and the one large White candle in the center Reigns - The Savior Christ is Born and we celebrate in prayer and song and gifts and treats and fun social events and fine foods and more....until January 6th when the candle is put away and we thank God for one more Lovely Winter Holiday and its bounty of the spirit to warm us till Spring!
There is the feeling of immersion in the spirit of the Birth of the Messiah and a beautiful sense of family spirit growth and faith formation...no matter the faith. Such traditions help us to develop a very special sense of the spirit, of personhood and quality of life.
The Candle set is found at churches and at Amazon for very little cash - the large white one I always buy specially - this one is beeswax and elegant, but any good white candle is fine - also the large broad pillar candles that stand alone - all that is important is that it be white and never lit before. So you will want to use it up at special moments thru the year, so it is all gone by next Advent season.
Elle
p.s. the pedestal is mine and unique - not required; you can probably do a search for wizard pedestal and find some like it...... but to me it is a holyman and passionately supportive spirit - like Gandalf, Tim Cook from Apple and all Wizards who uphold the best.
I bought it on impulse and am not silly, so I looked at it , wondering what I was going to do with it and it has been busy ever since. Not always lit...but....When Advent is done the Christmas Tree takes its place. My apartment sized tree is a dazzler and takes tending and delights me and never dies from house heat before the holiday is done ! But the pedestal then gets set to one side till the next holiday - soon displaying a fancy Valentine, then the Easter Egg display and later flags and pumpkins. LIFE - it's about life - and please enjoy my wish for a Happy Holiday to you.
Celtic Christmas
Growing up with seven Irish uncles , one dolly auntie, "The Chief" their Da and his Else our Grammie, who was the true power, there was exultation in the popularity of Bing Crosby and several others of the Irish persuasion and their take on the winter holidays - "White Christmas", "Christmas in Connecticut" , "Christmas in Killarney" and more shared the grand heart with our fine-hearted family. Sharing here, once more in their memory.
Growing up with seven Irish uncles , one dolly auntie, "The Chief" their Da and his Else our Grammie, who was the true power, there was exultation in the popularity of Bing Crosby and several others of the Irish persuasion and their take on the winter holidays - "White Christmas", "Christmas in Connecticut" , "Christmas in Killarney" and more shared the grand heart with our fine-hearted family. Sharing here, once more in their memory. Bing-o sings it - click here!
Christmas In Killarney
The holly green!
The ivy green!
The prettiest picture you've ever seen!
It's Christmas in Killarney,
With all o' the folk from home!
It's nice, ya' know,
To kiss yer' beau
While snugglin' under the mistletoe!
And Santa Claus
You know, of course
Is one o' the folk from home!
The door is always open!
The neighbors pay a call!
And Father John, before he's gone,
Will bless the house 'n' all!
How fine it feels!
To click yer' heels,
'N' dance to the tune of the Jimson Reel!
I'm tellin' you no blarney!
The like' you've nivver known!
It's Christmas in Killarney!
With all o' the folk from home!
There really is a Killarney And its message still rings true!
I hope to get there one day, But, for now, the song may do!
Special thanks to Bing Crosby, whose American
recording of the song, above, was "Top40" in the '40's!
Photo above is of the Killarney Park Hotel
in "actual" Killarney, near Dublin and its airport.
find it online and visit...lovely! Spa! I do hope to get there!
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Ireland's "Sacred Space" offers so much ! "Pray as you Go" and get the new APS for you mobile.
and ADVENT RETREAT FEATURE - "MESSENGERS OF JOY" - a fine Christmas Preparation
There are also two "Chapels" - one for intentions in Life and one for Remembrance of those Gone.
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One for the New Year
"The Finest Music"
Fionn Mac Cumhail was a legendary Irish hero, urbane, cultured and cunning,
who combined elements of warrior, seer and poet.
In one story, Fionn sparked a debate when he asked his followers
what they thought was the finest music in the world.
"Tell us what you think," said Fionn, turning to Oisin.
"The cuckoo calling from the highest tree in the hedge," cried his jolly son.
"That is a good sound," said Fionn. "And Oscar," he asked,
"what do you think is the finest music?"
"The best music to my ears
is the ring of a spear on a shield," cried the sturdy lad.
"That is a good sound," said Fionn.
And the other champions told what
best pleased them:
the bugling of a stag across water,
the baying of a melodious pack heard from afar,
the song of a lark,
the laughter of a gleeful girl,
or the whisper of a moved one.
"Those are all good sounds," said Fionn.
"Tell us, chief," one ventured, "what do you think?"
"The music of what happens," said great Fionn,
"that is the finest music in the world."
James Stephens, Irish Fairy Stories
May the "music of what happens" be sweet and light all year long !
note: This is a serious update to my old, extensive Celtic things, so I apologize if ones you liked are not here yet. Suggest good ones you might like to see here, as well. Happy Holidays! elle.